Page 176 of Hidden Kingdoms

My arms trembled, the power almost too much as I fought it, yet it clung to me, reluctant to leave the constraints of my body.

“Shape it. Release it.” Marcellus’ hard voice dragged through my senses in a caress that had me shuddering, but still not a drop of magik left my body.

“Let it out, Elodie.”

My hands flew out, palms thrown up in the direction of the target, and magik surged from me. The cut on my thumb throbbed, the bangles on my wrist clanging together as it channelled down my arms before slamming into the wood. My grief, rage, confusion. Every emotion and all those I couldn’t find a name for, aided in the torrent that I channelled from my palms.

Its groans of protest under the onslaught barely registered as the rush of energy flooded my body, bringing with it a wave of euphoria that begged me for more.

The wooden frame absorbed the hit, my magik flowing into it until it began to strain, the grain warping as power poured from me in a flood that swept through me.

“That’s it,” Marcellus murmured softly.

My breath caught, magik stuttering out, and I staggered a step as my energy abruptly cut off. The well inside me still writhed with the need for release, but my mind felt settled, more than it had since Bastian had ruined my day by knocking on my door.

Whatever warmth my magik had afforded me as I wielded it abandoned me, allowing the frigid air to set my body shivering under its touch as we both stared at the buckling—and very obviously misshapen—wood.

Marcellus turned to me, face hardening before he flicked his fingers, and a layer of warmed air shaped around me, heat sinking into my body until the sting of the weather was no longer there.

The touch of his magik across my skin sent my nerves alight, warmth rushing to places that were entirely unhelpful right now. My own magik mercilessly encouraged it until I was subtly clenching my legs to ease the ache that had settled between them.

“Thank you.” My voice huskier than I would have liked, I cleared my throat, staring at the warped wood as my chest heaved from the exertion of using my magik in such a way. As the familiarity of the warm air playing through my hair and flowing over my skin hit me, I looked up at him, a burning question on my lips. “Where were you last night?”

It was a stupid thought, yet now it had been planted, I needed to know if I was right.

“Last night?” he asked, head tilting to the side and crossing his arms over his wide chest, biceps bulging indecently and drawing my intention to the taut black material of his uniform.His dark laugh, a thunderclap of sound, washed over me, and I flicked my eyes up to his. The telltale heat of a blush stained my cheeks red as I nodded in confirmation.

“In the trees, watching you.”

My eyes widened in surprise at his honesty, and my core clenched at the idea of his gaze on me. “Watching me?”

“Mm,” he replied, mirth dancing in his eyes as I squirmed under his confession.

“Do you watch other people?” I asked hesitantly.

Marcellus’ icy blue eyes bore into me, into my very soul as he spoke. “Only you.”

Well fuck.

“Only me?” I managed, grateful it came out louder than the whimper I was holding back as his gaze consumed me, the heat that trickled across my skin now nothing to do with the warmth of his magik.

“Only you,” he repeated.

“Why?” It was barely a whisper on the wind as my heart squeezed under his attention.

“Because I wanted to.”

Why do I like the thought of that?

My body was churning with this confusing mixture of emotions, and I could do little more than stare up into his rugged face, holding back the need to step forward. To fit my body against his.

“And trouble does seem to find you.” His lips quirked in a smirk, and suddenly I was more than happy with the distance between us.

“I can look after myself,” I protested.

Kind of.

“Prove it.” He gestured towards the equipment he had me throwing magik at, a challenge in his eyes.

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