Page 55 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

This time, when he glanced at me, his expression was knowing. And heated. He understood exactly what I was talking about when I said that.

Then, he surprised me.

“All right. But I choose first. After we eat.”

I grinned at him. “Deal.”

Unfortunately, I underestimated his sneakiness.

After breakfast, he announced, “I know what we’re going to do first.”

My blood started to hum in my veins when he came closer. “What’s that?”

He stopped right in front of where I was still sitting at the bar and leaned down, his face only inches from mine. Our mouths were a breath apart. I licked my lips, anticipating what he might say.

“We’re going to get dressed and you’re going to practice your magic,” he stated.

I blinked up at him for a second, completely confused. Then, his words penetrated the fog of lust in my brain, and I made a sound of disgust.

That infernal smirk was back. “What did you think I was going to suggest?”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop messing with me, you evil man.”

“I think you mispronounced gargoyle.”

I nudged him back with my elbow and stood up. “Well, let’s get this over with so we can move on to what I want to do,” I groused.

I ignored his laugh as I skirted around him and headed for the stairs.

* * *

Two hours later,I made Dax carry me back into the house because my legs were trembling with exhaustion. It was crazy how difficult it was to manipulate my magic in the real world rather than when I’d dreamwalked the night before.

Dax had been quiet and watchful the entire time I worked, standing at the edge of the clearing he’d taken me to, his head moving slowly as he scanned the trees. Occasionally, his wings would appear, and he would take to the sky to scan the forest and the resort from a higher vantage point.

I hated to admit it, but his presence was distracting. I was so aware of his every movement, his every breath, that I had difficulty focusing on my intention for my magic.

It had taken me those two hours just to gather a ball of magic in my hands the way I had the night before with Talant. I hadn’t even tried to shrink anything or change it. Just gather my power.

“You’re doing well,” Dax said as he carried me through the woods in his arms.

I laughed, but the sound was more sarcastic than humorous. “Sure. Great. I can barely gather my magic, let alone cast it.”

“I’ve been around a long time, Ally. I’ve seen witches who have just manifested their magic. It’s a very dangerous time, not only for a witch or warlock, but for everyone around them. Your magic is tied to your emotions and most witches are much younger than you, which means they don’t have the control that you do. I’ve seen the damage that can be wrought from a witch or warlock who lost their temper or was overwhelmed by an emotion. It can be lethal.”

I settled into silence for a moment before I said, “It makes me wonder…”

“What makes you wonder?” he asked after my words trailed off.

I cleared my throat before I continued because it felt tight. “Just, well, if maybe my parents’ dying is why I never manifested. I was in so much pain that I eventually went numb after they were gone. I didn’t feel much of anything.”

His arms tightened around me as he carried me through the trees.

“It wasn’t until you started coming around that I woke up a little. But it still took a long time. Over a year,” I murmured, mostly to myself. “So, I’ve been wondering if I was so shut down that my magic couldn’t come through. I tamped all my emotions down for so long that it’s almost impossible for me to express them anymore. Except with Minerva and you.”

I yelped when he clutched me so tightly that my ribs compressed.

“I’m sorry, Ally.” I almost didn’t hear his apology because his voice was so low.

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