"Ah, well." His expression became slightly distracted as he ran a finger up the inside of my thigh. "You may not be too pleased about the answer to that particular question."
His finger met the junction of our bodies. I shifted slightly and his touch slipped between us, finding my clit then brushing it teasingly. A moan escaped me and I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation even as I tried to concentrate on the conversation.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," he murmured, rubbing his finger back and forth through my slickness, "that I sensed through our connection that you were about to attempt to find the keys, and I wished to be a part of it."
Alarm stirred. I stilled my movements and opened my eyes. His expression was still distracted, and he didn’t seem to notice my sudden lack of participation. "Why?"
"Because the priests will not ignore such an attempt, and I wish to offer my help. I am, after all, Aedh, even if a maimed one, and I know more than a little about fighting them."
"But if we do as you suggested and create a void, they will not even know we’ve accessed the book, let alone retrieved the key."
His gaze rose to mine, studying me for several heartbeats. Then he gripped my arms and expertly reversed our positions, pinning me underneath him with the full length of his body.
"The Raziq will feel it the minute you touch the keys, because they are part of the process that created them—even if it was the blood of your father that provided the building blocks." Despite his words, there was little in the way of concern in his expression, only a fierce determination. He wanted this fight badly, but it wasn’t for the reasons he was stating. "They will go to any length to retrieve those keys, and one lone reaper will not be enough to keep you safe."
"Azriel can call on others—"
Lucian snorted softly, and it was a disparaging sound. "If that were possible, don’t you think he would have done it earlier? How many times have the Raziq attacked you now?"
"There was no need before now—" I started, but again he cut in.
"Was it a question of need, or is the real truth the fact that there were no resources?" He shifted his weight onto one elbow and lightly ran one finger down my cheek before circling my lips. Though the caress was light, it felt heavy, as if the weight of the conversation were bearing down on it. "The Mijai are few, and they are kept busy hunting the demons who slipped into this world during the brief time that the three keys were tested."
And how did he know all this? Just how deep a connection had he formed? I wriggled, trying to get out from underneath him, but he pressed me back down. "Damn it, Lucian, let me go!"
"Not until I get an answer. I want this, Risa. I need this."