Hey, Soul Sister [Lucius/Narcissa]

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lucius's touch was gentle as he applied the Dittany, and Narcissa kept her eyes fixed on his face. Concern softened his expression, but there was still an edge to it that she couldn't deny. She imagined he was thinking about the person responsible for her situation, and though she knew she'd wanted to absolutely destroy Thorfinn and Alecto for what they'd done to him, she wished he would let the matter drop. She was grateful to be safe and healed and grateful for the love and kindness shown to her by Lucius and Seraphina, and if she could focus on that and not worry about her family for the remainder of the holidays, that would certainly be ideal.

"How did the meeting with Augustus go?" she asked, her eyes flicking up to Lucius's face from his hands as they spread the remedy over her stomach.

"It was fine. He said he's going to get to know Av, and he admitted having feelings for you, though he swore he wouldn't act on them and wouldn't hurt her." Lucius sighed and set the Dittany aside on the end table before casting Scourgify on his hands and pulling the shirt Narcissa had borrowed from him back down to cover her completely. Narcissa considered for a moment how lucky she was that Lucius Malfoy was willing to dirty his hands with plant matter for her, and then she grabbed his arm and pulled him down beside her as she sat up and leaned against his shoulder.

"I'm glad to hear it," she said, taking his hand and linking her fingers with his. She watched their joined hands as Lucius spoke.

"He also said he chased after Rowle and Carrow, after they left us on the ground, and he saw something I didn't notice while I was trying to hex them into next April."

"What was it?"

"They're marked."

Narcissa looked up to his face so quickly her head spun. "What?"

"Marked. Together. Each of them has a silver shape on their neck that wasn't there when we all left school." Lucius smirked and slid his fingers through Narcissa's curls. "What a fitting pair."

"Merlin, she helped him try to get to me in every way he could. I can't imagine she's happy about being linked to him."

"Perhaps that was why she went along with it," said Lucius, lying back and pulling Narcissa gently along with him. He turned onto his side and rested his hand on her waist. "If she already had feelings for him, she might've thought she could earn his favor by helping him get back at you for rejecting him. And me for... well, I might've threatened his life a few times."

Narcissa stared at the dark green canopy as she considered. Yes, it would make sense, in some dark, twisted manner, if Alecto had acted in the way she had to earn Thorfinn's affections. Narcissa felt a great swell of pity for the woman who'd caused her so much pain. If Alecto was so determined to win the heart of someone who might not have one at all, she was certainly in for disappointment. And if they'd been bound by their marks... she would think she'd won, and even if Thorfinn never grew to love her, she would still hold out hope. What a terrible way to live, Narcissa thought.

"Cissy?"

"Hm? I'm sorry, love, I was just thinking about how dreadful that whole situation sounds." Narcissa shifted closer and kissed his jaw.

"No, I was... wondering about something else."

"What is it?" She trailed her fingertips lightly down his chest, looking up at his face. His brows were drawn, worry etched into the set of his lips. "Lucius, what's wrong?"

"When I have to complete my final task for the Dark Lord—when I have to kill—how can you still want to be with me? What could I possibly have done to make you overlook something like that?"