Muriel picked up her bag and brushed past him, heading for the stairs. She could feel his eyes on her back, feel his anguish through the bond. Part of her wanted to turn around, forget everything, and forgive him.
Which was exactly why she needed to leave.
At the bottom of the stairs, she paused. “Brandon?”
“Yes?”
“Tell me honestly. Can the bond be broken?”
Silence stretched between them. Then, quietly: “Not that I know of. But if you want it broken... I'll find a way.”
The words should have brought comfort. Instead, they just made her chest ache more.
Muriel nodded once and waited inside the door for Zarek, feeling more lost than ever.
Behind her, she felt Brandon watching over her protectively, devastated but steady, giving her the space she'd demanded even though he clearly wasn’t happy about it.
Maybe he was telling the truth. That this wasn’t his choice, and he’d had only her best interests at heart.
Or maybe that was just the bond talking, making her want to trust him even when that trust had been shattered.
Either way, she'd find out the truth. In Armand's library, surrounded by centuries of knowledge andwomen who understood supernatural bonds, she'd learn to distinguish what was real and what was magical compulsion.
Then—only then—would she decide what to do about the mage who'd stolen her choice, right along with her heart.
Even if part of her had apparently wanted him to.
14
DAMAGE CONTROL
BRANDON
Brandon stoodin his office and surveyed the space with a critical eye. He'd cleaned up the chaos from Muriel's emotional storm. The vines were gone, the storm clouds dispersed, the flower petals vanished with a thought. But he'd left the plants themselves untouched.
The Glas Tann now looked like a botanical garden. The lemon tree had tripled in size, branches heavy with fruit. Philodendrons cascaded from shelves in verdant waterfalls. New growth sprouted from every surface that could support it.
It was evidence of her power. Even with his magic stabilizing hers, she was incredible. He shuddered to think what might have happened otherwise. Tedi’s vision seemed even more realistic now.
Looking around, Brandon made a mental note tomove rarer texts to a less climatically-volatile room before their next argument. Assuming therewasa next argument. She might never speak to him again.
He felt a surge of pride despite everything. She was the most powerful elemental he’d ever come across. Her potential was off the charts. He could only imagine what she’d be capable of when she learned to channel that magic deliberately.
The downside was, the Magisterial Consilium would imagine it too. And they'd want to own it, control it, or destroy it.
They'd have to go through him first.
Brandon had spent the hours since Muriel left doing what he did best: preparing. The Glas Tann was now a fortress, wards layered so thickly that anyone who tried to enter with bad intentions would find themselves inexplicably needing to be somewhere else. If they somehow managed to ignore that warning and push through that compulsion, theyou don’t belong herespell he’d layered in there would make them wish they hadn’t. Their bodies would turn on themselves in an autoimmune cascade that would drop them to their knees.
Horrific, but effective. Also, one hundred percent organic, which he thought Muriel would appreciate.
He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
He’d kept his word and hadn’t contacted her—not once. But he couldn’t stop himself from reaching out with his senses, needing to know she was okay.
She was. Physically, anyway. Mentally, she was hurt and confused, but determined to find answers.
He hoped she did. Perhaps if she discovered the truth from neutral sources, her feelings toward him might soften.