Page 44 of Something Worth Keeping
“Exactly.” Cillian’s thumb stroked Julian’s knuckles. “We’ve had no intelligence suggesting Vane sourced one of these devices. The chains are concerning but manageable. If he has an apparatus…”
“Show me how the obsidian chains work.”
Cillian blinked. “What?”
“You said they’re breakable. I want to understand the mechanism and limitations.” Julian squeezed Cillian’s hand. “Knowledge reduces anxiety. I know your shadows are capable of taking on many forms, so demonstrate how the chains function and how you would escape them.”
Cillian studied him for a long moment, then nodded. He stood and moved to the center of the room, his shadows pooling at his feet. “The chains are forged from obsidian mined in remote places where the veil between the worlds is thin. They’reinscribed with binding runes that resonate with guardian essence.”
His shadows began to move, forming shapes in the air. “When activated, they manifest around a guardian’s form, locking into our fundamental structure. Like this.” Inky black chains materialized around Cillian’s wrists and throat, pulling taut. His other shadows strained against them, unable to fully extend.
“It restricts your movement,” Julian observed.
“And access to our full power.” Cillian’s voice remained calm despite the restraints. “But the chains rely on metaphysical binding, not physical containment. They can be broken through concentrated effort.” His shadows pulsed once, twice. On the third pulse, the chains shattered into dissipating fragments. “It’s uncomfortable and briefly limiting, but not permanent.”
Julian stood and crossed to him, examining where the chains had been. “How long would it take to break those chains in combat conditions?”
“Three to five minutes, depending on how much essence I’d already expended.” Cillian caught Julian’s hand. “You’re afraid.”
“I’m assessing variables.” Julian met his mate’s dark eyes. “Vane placed a bounty on me to draw you out. He has suppression technology. The logical conclusion is he’s planning a trap specifically designed to capture or kill you.”
“Yes.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
Cillian’s expression softened. He pulled Julian closer, shadows wrapping around them both. “I’m not concerned. I’ve survived worse than Marcus Vane.”
“None of those previous threats involved me as bait.” Julian’s hands fisted Cillian’s shirt. “I dislike being a liability.”
“You’re not a liability. You’re my mate.” Cillian’s forehead pressed to Julian’s. “And you’ve already proven your value - the defensive strategy, the location analysis. Thorn said you think like a tactician.”
“Pattern recognition and logic.”
“Which keeps us going.” Cillian’s shadows tightened protectively. “The chains are a threat, but manageable. We have no evidence that Vane has an apparatus. We’re prepared for both possibilities.”
Julian nodded slowly, accepting the reassurance even as his mind continued cataloging risks and variables. “If he does have an apparatus…”
“Then we destroy it before he activates it.” Cillian’s voice deepened. “Nothing will separate us, Julian. Not Vane, not suppression devices, not anything in this world or the void beyond it.”
“Dramatic, but statistically improbable to guarantee.”
“Watch me.”
Julian allowed himself a small smile. “I intend to.”
“Good. Now, come to bed.” Cillian’s voice dropped two octaves, and Julian shivered in anticipation. “I have other things to show you.” He must’ve been in a hurry because the shadows had already moved all the books off the covers.
Chapter Sixteen
“You’ve been holding back.”
Julian’s observation came as Cillian lowered him onto the bed, shadows already sliding beneath his shirt. Not a question. Never a question with his beacon. Julian saw things, noted them, and commented on them as an absolute truth.
“Yes.” There was no point lying. Cillian had been holding himself back since that first night, careful not to overwhelm his mate, cautious with his strength and his hunger. “You deserve…”
“I deserve honesty.” Julian pulled him down, fingers threading through Cillian’s hair. “I’ve read enough to understand what a claim actually entails. You’ve been a gentleman up till now, something I didn’t expect, and I do appreciate it, but you need to stop treating me as if I’m fragile.”
Cillian’s shadows writhed, responding to Julian’s words like a physical touch. “You’re mortal.”
