9
" And all that borrowed magic?” Des continues. “The process is called cobinding, and though Typhus made it sound cavalier and impersonal, it’s not like that,” Des says.
I stare down at my fae wine. “Then how is it?”
“Remember those horcruxes in Harry Potter?”
I begin to smile in spite of myself. “Are you seriously dropping an HP reference right here, right now?” I ask, glancing over at Des.
“I have your undivided attention, don’t I?”
“And all my love.”
I mean, I knew he was soulmate material before, but this pretty much just sealed the deal.
Des’s face grows serious. “Essentially, when you exchange magic, you’re transferring more than raw energy. You’re moving a piece of yourself as well.”
That’s massively creepy. "
― Laura Thalassa , Dark Harmony (The Bargainer, #3)
15
" And with that, we resume our trek.
It takes an annoyingly long time to get to the palace. I mean, the walk is scenic and all, the forest lush with life, the ground sprinkled with glittering pools and rippling creeks, and blah, blah, blah—lots of pretty shit. But it’s still a stupidly long walk, and now that Des and I have five billion guards hemming us in, our conversation is next to non-existent.
To be fair, I have been entertained. Des has spent most of the last hour plaiting one guard’s hair into at least fifty braids (he hasn’t yet noticed) and moving branches into another guard’s way.
“Mother fucking trees,” the fairy mutters under his breath. “I swear they’re moving in my way.”
“Lay off the spirits, Sythus,” another says. "
― Laura Thalassa , Dark Harmony (The Bargainer, #3)
18
" And if someone can lead me to him?” Malaki asks.
“Report back to me first. I don’t want to chance losing him. Oh and by the way—” Des’s eyes inadvertently land on Temper, “be discreet.”
“Why are you looking at me?” Temper’s voice is several octaves louder than everyone else’s.
The Bargainer arches an eyebrow.
“I’m as motherfucking discreet as they come,” she says.
I’m trying really, really hard not to laugh, but the struggle is real.
Malaki manages a sharp nod. “We will be discreet,” he assures Des.
The sorceress huffs. “Y’all need to get your heads checked. I am not the problem.” She turns on Malaki. “And you don’t need to go making promises for me. I never even said I was coming along.”
“And you don’t need to.” The Bargainer stands. “But if you imagined staying behind so that you could have fun with Callie, then you’ll be sorely disappointed. The future Night Queen has official business that will take her away from the palace.”
It takes me a second to realize Des is referring to me.
“Wait,” I say, “I haven’t agreed to be queen.”
“Yeah,” Temper agrees, “my girl hasn’t agreed—what?” She turns on me. “Bitch, have you lost your mind? Take that crown and wear that shit like it’s your birthright.”
Ignoring Temper, Des’s gaze falls on me, his features sharp. “I apologize, the Night King’s consort has official business that will take her away from the palace.”
I narrow my eyes at my mate. I might not have jumped onboard with this whole queen business, but I sure as hell don’t want to be known simply as someone else’s consort.
“Hoooo!” Temper whoops, falling back into her seat. “You better sleep with one eye open, Desmond. I’ve seen my girl make men pay for less.”
He’s still staring intensely at me. “That’s odd. For as long as I’ve known Callie, she’s the one who’s paid for my services. I admit, it’ll be nice to not be the prostitute in our relationship for once.”
Temper snickers, appraising Des all over again. “Fuck one eye. Sleep with both eyes open.”
I shake my head at Des as I stand, my eyes slitted. “It’s time to go.”
We give curt goodbyes to Temper and Malaki, then slip out of the library.
“You do realize how close you were to getting glamoured, don’t you?” I say as we head down the hallway.
Des’s eyes seem to be laughing at me. “You say that like I’d mind. "
― Laura Thalassa , Dark Harmony (The Bargainer, #3)
