A Baron of Bonds (Conduit of Light #2)

26. Karus

Chapter 26

Karus

We half-ran down the halls and corridors, my satin slippers softly clicking on the long red carpets that lined our way. I pulled again on Revich’s hand to keep up, not wanting to show any sign to the Queen that we were two adults who could not even make it to a meeting on time.

I fussed with the ties across my dress, pulling at the cream ribbon that slipped through each loop, sometimes twisted, and making for a haphazard appearance. Or at least one the Queen would notice.

I was finally able to twist the ribbon so that it lay flat across the front of my chest and looked over to see Rev watching me with confusion.

“What?” I exhaled, starting up the second to last staircase before our destination.

“I don’t know…it’s like…like I can feel how nervous you are. More so than what you’re showing right now on your face.” He pulled on my arm to stop only a quarter way up the stairs.

We’d passed several guards and servants on our way, and two more carried trays of pastries and small meat pies up the stairs, passing us by.

“And now you’re starving. Karus, I think I can feel everything you feel.” His smile widened. “Close your eyes.”

I did, curious and taking a deep breath.

“Without looking, how am I feeling right now?” he asked softly.

I leaned in closer. I smelled the familiar draft of the castle, but also him. Earthy, pine. Even away from Felgren, he smelled like the fresh breeze of the forest and the upturned earth of a new sapling. “You’re feeling…sorrow.” I twisted my mouth into a frown and moved closer, reaching up to find his cheek. “Sorrow and a hole. Like there’s a hole, right here.” I opened my eyes and moved my hand to his chest over his heart.

His grin was brilliant, his black and blue eyes glassy. He bent down to kiss me. “It’s true then. We can sense each other’s emotions and desires. I didn’t know it would be this strong.”

“I don’t think it typically is,” I murmured. “What was that?” I patted at his chest where I had sensed that he was so wounded just now. I could not feel it again, but it was so real, as if someone had dug under his ribs and yanked out his heart, leaving behind an expanse of space that echoed through the world in a longing to be filled.

His smile fell and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought of what it was like when you were there, but not there. I wanted to see if you could feel that from me.”

I pushed my forehead into his, holding back from crying right before meeting the Queen to discuss how well and healthy our relationship was. I sniffed. “How long did it feel like, Rev? Seven years outside of Felgren—how long was it for you?”

He brushed his lips across my forehead and pulled me to his chest. The castle staff whispered to each other about this scene of the Baron of Felgren and the woman who was supposed to be dead, holding each other on carpeted crimson stairs.

“An eternity, Karus. Just one eternity.”