Twinned Shadow (The Shadow Series Book 1) by Candice Bundy (win 10 ebook reader .txt) 📗

“Not for me,” he answered. The heat in his eyes raked over her, and then he rolled her over underneath him, ravishing her neck with a line of searing kisses.

Becka countered by unbuttoning his shirt, where she could finally taste the skin of his shoulders. The feel of his body pressed up against hers was something she didn’t realize she craved until she had it. She urged him on, reveling in the touch of his fingers against her skin, gripping into her skin as they rolled back and forth on the bed.

Was it just the knowledge that he’d be gone tomorrow, and that she might never see him again, which had pushed her over the edge? Was it the same for him? Despite her curiosity, she wasn’t willing to interrupt the moment. Their kissing was passionate yet playful.

They paused to catch a breath, the intensity between them surprising Becka a little.

“I can plead with Maura directly. Privately. You’ll come with me, and we can tell her what we’ve learned, and impress upon her the importance of you continuing to direct the investigation.”

“I might be wrong, but I bet the last thing Maura wants is for her uniquely gifted daughter risking herself hunting down her twin’s murderer.”

She knew he was right. As an ungifted, the Rowan hadn’t cared much what she did or how she behaved herself. That had all changed with the testing results this morning.

Quinn must have sensed her mood, because he pulled away, propping himself up on his arm. The sudden loss of his warmth chilled her, and Becka shivered.

“As much as I am enjoying this,” he said, “perhaps we would be wise to not take things any further.”

“We may never again get the opportunity we have now.”

HIs eyes were filled with unexpected emotion as he tucked her hair behind her ear, running his finger down it after, lingering possessively as he traced the line of her jaw. “I understand that, and I’m afraid flings are not in my wiring. Within House Oak we bond rarely, but with longevity.

Becka turned toward him, mirroring his position, propped up on her elbow. “That’s funny, with your self-assured smile and cocky swagger I had you pegged as a playboy.”

He raised an eyebrow while frowning at her. “My Lady, you wound me.”

Becka laughed, but his pained expression remained. “Oh wait, you’re serious?”

“On my relationship style, very much so. On being offended? Only a little.”

They shared a laugh, but Becka’s thoughts were stewing. As an unguilded fae, she could more or less date whomever she wished. As a member of House Rowan, partnering was yet another aspect of her life they would try to control. And not only was Quinn being sent away, but likely Maura would keep her at the manor.

She desperately needed to claw back her rights before she lost them entirely. And not just because she found spending time within Quinn’s arms to be blissful, but because she needed to retain the person she’d fought to become.

Quinn was clearly saying he was interested in her, but not as a fling. Did she want something more substantial with him, or was this bonding just a matter of circumstance? Either way, she’d need to figure it out.

“I’m sorry to have offended you, Quinn.”

“Apology accepted.”

“This has been such a long day,” she said, curling up against him. He didn’t argue, for which she was grateful.

They lay there in silence for a time. Her mind couldn’t stop spinning in circles from the events of the day. Quinn shifted on the bed, moving to leave.

She reached out and grabbed his arm. “Please stay, I don’t want to be alone right now. Besides, you’ll be gone tomorrow.”

He curled back up next to her, and Becka fell asleep while Quinn held her, his arm draped around her waist.

She’d have to remember to double up her journal entries tomorrow.

Chapter 27

The morning had flown by in a rush, and to be honest, Becka hadn’t spared two brain cells to consider what to wear. Everything in her bag had shades of black, so she’d just grabbed whatever was on the top of the pile in her bags. A black wrap skirt and an open-back draped black sleeveless shirt met her comfortable, yet appropriate sensibility for the day.

Not that her outfit selection qualified for fae appropriate funeral attire, but after the week she’d been having Becka wasn’t about to give in and start wearing fae garb. The long trek out to the funerary site had taken over an hour, but the well-groomed terrain had made it an easy walk. As she paced around taking in the afternoon sun and waiting for the ceremony to begin, plenty of fae raised a brow or frowned at her, but today their scorn was held at bay.

No doubt their reaction was a result of her change in guilded status. She considered the recognition ceremony scheduled for tomorrow and, knowing how it would mark a complete change in her circumstances, shivered as a slight chill ran down her back.

Looking over the crowd, Becka wondered at the fae resilience to change. After all, over a week ago this group had arrived expecting to attend the wedding of the heir of House Rowan, only to then stay on for the funerary rites for the heir, and now the recognition ceremony Maura had planned for Becka tomorrow. No doubt those in attendance would gossip at the intrigue for years to come.

Becka’s one exception to decorum were the sea-silk gloves Maura had gifted her. They were a beautiful gesture of inclusion, and she hoped the reduced risk of skin contact with others would keep her from breaking things. The last thing she wanted was to break another priceless item on this somber occasion, especially out of respect for Tesse.

Quinn walked close behind her in silence. Neither of them had had many words, and she suspected he was as lost in his own thoughts as she was in hers. Her impending change in guild