"How are you able to contact someone without going through Highglaive?" Castel asked a short while later, once Boreas had left.

As a former Sentinel, he would be well aware that all communication normally went through Highglaive. The Grand Sorcerer should know where everyone was at all times and what they were doing. Isobel had been doing things without telling anyone wherever she could in her search for information about the Godstones, and if anyone were ever to find out, she'd be in trouble. Well, she probably was in trouble since Arawn had found out she was at Fort Mael—a location he had never approved of her going.

Which reminded her of the mystery of how he had found out. Who had told him? Another sorcerer who worked with Devin and wanted her chastised?

"Isobel?" Castel's voice brought her back, and she flashed him an apologetic smile.

"Pardon. I was trying to figure out who the spy at Highglaive is."

"Ah, yes." He rested his hand on the side of his chest and leaned back against a small writing desk. "With everything else going on, I had forgotten about that. There aren't a lot of options."

A sharp pain near her heart made her wince. They had lost so many in Deva's attack and the subsequent years of imprisonment. There were only six sorcerers left, and one young woman who was now their only adept.

"The one you're planning to contact," Castel said carefully. "Are you certain it is not them?"

"Yes. I have spent a lot of time with Wray, and the fury and agony he feels whenever Son of Deva or his men are mentioned is genuine. He and I have gone on several missions together, and I trust him explicitly."

"Then who?"

She sighed. "I don't know. Maybe I am wrong. The information leaked from Highglaive could have happened by chance. And maybe Arawn found out about my whereabouts from someone here who recognised me and sent him a message."

"Maybe," Castel allowed, but he didn't sound convinced. "So it's Wray you are asking to come here to take your place?"

"Yes. I trust him." If she didn't, she'd never have entrusted him with the Godstone.

"How are you getting in contact with him?"

"We both have an enchanted scroll."

Castel's golden-brown eyes widened. "I thought Arawn forbid the use of them after they were used to lure sorcerers into traps."

"He did." The enchanted scrolls allowed for messages to be written on one piece of paper and appear on another magically linked to it moments later. As a sorcerer, knowing how the scrolls worked, Deva used them to capture sorcerers, making it look as if the messages came from Highglaive. Arawn refused to use them since and didn't want anyone touching them. It was risky of her and Wray to use a set, but they needed to communicate after she had left the stone with him.

"I'm mostly shocked you got Wray to disobey a direct order." A faint smile played across Castel's lips.

Wray was known for always doing as asked and never questioning orders, but lately he was learning to rely more on his gut feeling. Isobel rather liked to believe she was an influence for that.

Shifting a little where he leaned against the desk, Castel winced. She crossed the floor and tenderly stroked his bandaged side.

"Does it hurt terribly?"

"It's not pleasant."

She met his gaze, and for a moment, the warmth and love she saw in his eyes stunned her with its intensity. "Would you allow me to heal you? As you know, I'm not a healer, but I think I can mend a broken rib."

His hand gently cupped her abdomen. "I'd rather you use your strength to heal your own wound."

"I believe I can do both." She smiled. "When all that magic transferred from you to me, I feel like my powers finally returned. The magic of the Godstone didn't only burn away the Orc's Blood poison, it also seems to have revitalised me."

"If you can handle more, there is still some inside me." He shifted again. "It's rather uncomfortable to tell you the truth, and I would love to be rid of it. You can control it in a way I cannot. I can only absorb it."

She gasped, horrified that she hadn't even noticed that part of his discomfort was because of the magic. "Of course. What do I do?"

"Take my hand as before."

He held his hand up, and she grabbed it, interlacing her fingers with his. Their gazes met above their joined hands, and she noticed there was still a tiny spark of green hidden in the depths of his eyes. The small speck mesmerised her and she couldn't pull away. Her mouth opened on a soft inhale of air as magic poured into her through their hands. It was different to before, slow and careful without the rush of anger and fear. The magic caressed across her skin and weaved through her hair, not unlike a lover's touch. Her body hummed, and she wasn't sure if it was in response to the power or the seductive tilt of Castel's lips.

She could feel the magic settling inside her, adjusting and merging with her own. Whatever she had lost to the Orc's Blood poison was fully back, and she suspected she might even have a little more power than before. At least for now. Whichever Godstone Devin was in possession of, she could sense the light touch of divinity with its distinct character. She recognised it from when she had spent time with Goddess Dhim during the days of Deva's reign. The Gods' magic had a distinct quality to it, just like every magic user's.

A tingling feeling in her abdomen made her look down. She gasped. The magic was healing her wound with no intervention from her. Looking up at Castel again, he seemed as surprised as she was.

"Have you seen this before?" she whispered.

"No. It must be the remnants of the Godstone's magic." A line appeared between his dark brows. "It defended Devin during your attack. Maybe the Godstones protect their user. You may not have the Godstone itself, but its magic might still work the same way."

"I think you're right."

By the time the final tendril of magic had passed from Castel to her, the wound in her abdomen was fully healed and she buzzed with power. Her skin itched with the need for a release. If only she could have blasted some of it in Devin's face.

"Are you all right?" Castel asked, releasing her. With the magic gone, he looked much more relaxed, even with his bruised body and broken ribs.

"Yes." She nodded. "I just... It's an odd feeling. My whole body tingles. Like there's just a little more magic inside than it can hold."

"It will abate as soon as you adjust. This is different to when you were immediately casting spells, so it will take a moment for your body to regulate. Grand Sorcerer Arawn and I experimented with it some."

Every fibre of her being was alight with sparkling magic. The feeling of euphoria she had experienced earlier was back, but without the pain and the fear, it was much more pleasant. She could definitely understand how this could be addictive and someone may want to chase this feeling again and again.

"It..." Her cheeks heated. "It felt rather sensual when the magic transferred between us. Was it like that with Arawn, too?"

Castel shook his head slightly, and the dark curls on his forehead swayed. Instinctively, she reached up to smooth the hair back. He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss against her palm.

"No," he mumbled against her skin. "That appears to be something unique to us."

"Oh." Heat unfurled inside her as Castel's lips moved along her sensitive skin to place another kiss on the inside of her wrist. Could he feel how rapidly her heart was beating?

"Yes."

She blinked before staring at him. Had she said that out loud?

A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Yes."

Oh. Apparently, she was speaking without realising. This buzzed feeling, this being drunk on magic, was intoxicating. She could only hope she said nothing too revealing. Like how handsome Castel looked with no shirt on, even wrapped in a bandage. Or how she wanted to drag him back to bed to continue their wicked explorations. She made a face as she caught him trying to hide a chuckle. She was still speaking out loud.

"Let me heal you," she muttered before she could blurt out any other inner thoughts. Placing her hand on his ribs, she focused on the healing magic she had never excelled at. Fortunately, cracked ribs were not so difficult to heal, and a short while later, Castel lifted his arms, moving them through the air.

"Amazing. There is no pain when I move. Thank you."

Before she could answer, he grabbed hold of her and pulled her close. Her body collided with his and her hands splayed across his warm chest. His teasing smile sent a fluttering through her. Bending down, he placed a kiss on her neck. His hot breath fanned her ear.

"I'd like to hear more about these wicked things you would like to do," he whispered.

"Oh, I have some ideas."

"Tell me."

She smiled at the soft order, only to gasp when he hoisted her into his arms.

"Better yet," he said as he walked across the floor. "Show me."

He dropped her on the bed and she giggled as he covered her with his body. Why not make use of their remaining days together before Wray arrived? She wasn't leaving yet. Castel seemed to be of the same mind, his hands travelling across her body, chasing sparks along the way. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. They had some time, and she would make the most of it before she had to leave this amazing man behind.

~~~~~~