Page 6 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

“That’s good,” she murmured, sounding distracted. “I’m going to do some research and I’ll call you in the morning to let you know when I’ll be there.” She paused. “Did anything happen during the altercation?”

“I’m not sure what you’re asking,” I said, even though I had a sinking feeling what she might be referring to.

“Your power, Ally. Did you feel it?”

I took a shaky breath. “I think so, but I’ve never felt magic before so I’m not sure.”

“Describe it to me.”

“It was like something happened inside me, a sort of shift, and suddenly there was all this energy filling my body. It was so much, almost too much, as though I was going to explode if I didn’t release it somehow.”

My aunt’s answering sigh was soft. “That was definitely your power,” she stated.

“I tried to reach for it again after, but there was nothing. It was like the door leading to that energy was shut and locked tight.”

When Minerva didn’t reply, I asked, “Aunt Minnie?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Did you have any thoughts? Suggestions? Advice?”

My aunt’s soft laugh drifted through the phone. “Sorry, Ally, I was thinking. It sounds like you’re blocked somehow. I’m going to do some research tonight and maybe we can figure out what’s keeping you from accessing your power. When I come to reinforce the wards at the resort tomorrow, we’ll work together for a little bit and see if we can release your magic.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“It’ll be okay,” she said.

“If you say so.”

“It will.”

I didn’t reply. I wasn’t going to repeat it and there was nothing else to say.

“I love you, sweet girl. Stick close to Dax and I’ll call you in the morning to let you know when I’ll be there.”

“I love you, too, Aunt Minnie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After we disconnected, Dax slowed the vehicle. I realized that we were at the resort. It was only a ten-minute drive from my aunt’s house, but it seemed like it had taken so much longer.

“Did you hear everything?” I asked Dax. Even to my own ears, my voice sounded tired. With his supernatural hearing, he should have been able to hear every word that my aunt said.

“Yes.”

“Any questions?”

“No.” His hand moved from the steering wheel to rest on my knee, squeezing for a split second before he released me and moved his fingers away again. “Your aunt is right, though. Everything will be okay.”

I wondered if he and Aunt Minnie were trying to convince me of that or convince themselves.

ChapterTwo

I was so depleted from the encounter with Sommerton on the road that I couldn’t summon any enthusiasm at seeing Dax’s cabin.

I’d never been to his house on the resort grounds. When Aunt Minnie told me that I’d be staying with him the day before, I couldn’t suppress the thread of excitement I felt at the idea.

Now, all I wanted to do was find the nearest soft horizontal surface and lie down. Even though all I’d done was sit in the SUV while Dax faced down Sommerton, my exhaustion went bone deep.

Dax drove the vehicle past the main lodge, the convention-slash-meeting center, and the various cabins scattered throughout the property. He passed it all, following the road as it veered off through the trees and became gravel rather than concrete.

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