Page 105 of Fallacies

I’m in love with her. It should be that simple. It is that simple.

Lucina is the beautiful and brave piece of my heart that I never knew I was missing. She’s wild, passionate, fiercely loyal and good. So good. She’s the spark in a dark room.

None of which has anything to do with her magic.

I snap out of my thoughts when she makes to stand, but before she can take a step, I’m there. Planted in front of her.

“I’ll fix it,” I rush out, “the way I…react. My mindset, I mean. I’ll fix it.” Lucina looks up at me, and the frustration on her face softens. “I’ll learn.”

When I take a step forward, she doesn’t retreat, and when I reach up to touch her face, she lets me. Lucina exhales at the touch, lifting her chin as I curl my fingers around the nape of her neck.

“For you?” I whisper. “I’d do anything for you.”

I wasn’t expecting her to smile, but she does. It’s small and bittersweet, but a smile nonetheless.

Lucina drags in a deep breath, defeat in her voice when she whispers back, “So would I.”

26

Lucina

Dawn in Pirn was peaceful; the slow rising of the sun, the soft amber lights dimming as morning breaks. Even when summer ended, and the cool weather swept in, it was still something to be admired—how calm it all felt.

I can’t count on one hand the number of places I’ve been that have felt that peaceful.

Dawn outside the bunker is grim. Eerie. Suffocating. But perhaps it isn’t the biting breeze or the dull grey light over the miles and miles of barren plains that gives it that edge. Perhaps it’s what I’m about to endure that’s filled my stomach with this much dread.

I don’t think it’s death I’m afraid of, but failure. Letting everyone down and wasting what’s left of their hope on a plan I can’t execute.

Shoving my stiff hands into the pockets of my jacket, I distract myself by running through everything Phoenix told me about Alesi—I’ve gone over it all nearly a hundred times in the hours I was supposed to be sleeping.

I look up when Callan approaches the group, Devon in tow.

The former sweeps me head to heel, and I hate that I can’t even look at him without the accompanying pinch of pain in my chest.

Lucina, it’s poison.

It’s never been used for anything good.

I can’t unhear it, but I so badly wish I could. Of course Callan is triggered by it—my father’s people ruined his. They traumatized him at his most impressionable age, and I can’t blame him for that. It isn’t fair.

What do you expect from me?

But neither is that.

Gemma didn’t look at me any different, and the same went for Kimber and Selene. My coven is still coming to terms with the situation but Nix didn’t flinch at the sight of gold eyes. There’s no strain on me and Pax’s friendship, so why is it a challenge with Callan?

I exhale a heavy breath, pacifying my thoughts and setting aside the issue. It isn’t important right now, and he said he’d fix it. All I can do is trust that he will.

With the whole coven now gathered around what’s left of the fire—small kindlings in a pile of ash—Callan clears his throat.

“Alright.” He nods in my direction. “Let’s go over the plan again.”

Pushing my hands deeper into my pockets, I let out a steadying breath. “You and Pax are taking me through Streatham and up to the Estate gates,” I start. “I’ll cross alone, find a way into the dungeons, and find a way to take down the ward.”

I’ve spent a decent amount of time with Easton in the last few weeks, learning everything he knows about the magic of wards. Between him and Selene, I feel pretty confident that I can figure it out.

The problem is, all we have are theories. No one has ever taken down a blood ward of this size and potency. We’re just crossing our fingers that one of theories will work.