Page 45 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

“Think of it that way if it helps,” I said, pleased by her humor. “Close your eyes, if that makes it easier.”

Arabella exhaled and did as I suggested. She took a long breath that drew my reluctant attention to her figure, and the air above her hand began to shimmer.

“So far, so good,” I murmured. “Concentrate and give it purpose.”

A spark of light appeared. It trembled on the verge of extinction.

“It’s... slippery,” Arabella whispered.

“That’s a typical first attempt. Nurture it. Let it feed on your will.”

The spark brightened until it was about the size of a coin. Arabella’s eyelids fluttered open, her face lighting in triumph. But the second her attention shifted from quiet focus to celebration, the spark swelled and flared.

A blinding flash scorched the air. I cursed as fierce light burst outward, knocking me back a step. The warded runes in the floor sizzled blue, containing most of the energy, but a wave of heat still pummeled my chest.

When my vision cleared, I realized Arabella was gaping. I also realized my tunic was on fire.

She sounded horrified. “Your shirt!”

I patted the flaming fabric, but the fire danced along the cloth faster than I could snuff it out. “Yes, I noticed.”

She shifted uselessly on her feet. “Can’t you, I don’t know, command it to stop?”

“That’s not how—” A lick of flame nearly singed my eyebrow. I let out a sharp oath and yanked the tunic off entirely, tossing it to the floor. Flare after flare ate at the remains until I smothered them with a single, vicious twist of dominion magic.

Arabella’s cheeks flamed almost as brightly as those damned sparks. “I—I’m sorry. I have no idea what happened.”

I silenced her with a terse motion, kneading the soreness in my chest where the flames had caused my protective runic markings to throb. Then I focused on thestill-sizzlingruins of my shirt, muttering another spell to extinguish the last flickers. Only the charred scraps remained.

“Well,” I said after a beat of silence, “that was unexpected.”

She bit her lip, as though trying to hold back a laugh. “I did warn you about my track record.”

I glanced down at the soot marking my chest. “If you wanted to see me shirtless again, you could’ve asked.”

“If this had been deliberate, I’d have aimed for your pants, too.” The moment she said it, she choked in horror, her faceturning scarlet. “I mean—I didn’t—I’m just—” She covered her eyes with her hand and muttered a curse.

It was adorable watching her flail, though I refused to let it show on my face. “We can save the pants-on-fire scenario for advanced lessons,” I said drily. I knelt to brush my hand over what had been my favorite tunic. “This wasn’t just a mild slip in control. The power you channeled was substantial.”

She folded her arms, but the mortification still burned on her cheeks, making her freckles stand out. “Is that criticism or praise?”

“An observation.” I rose, dusting ash from my hands. “Most novices struggle to conjure more than a flicker on their first day. You created a full-blown magical inferno.”

“Lucky me,” she muttered. “I have a gift for accidental destruction.”

I shrugged. “No real harm done.” Apart from the throbbing ache in my vaguely singed chest.

“Any chance you’d like to find another shirt before we continue?” She tried to keep her gaze up, and mostly succeeded. The faint upward twitch of her lips suggested she noticed far more than she let on.

I chuckled, impressed by her resilience. “We’ll carry on. I have a few more shirts… if I feel the need.”

But instead of finding one, I rummaged in a nearby cabinet for a crystal sphere. “Here,” I said, returning to the circle. “A focus stone. It’s meant to absorb and regulate raw magic. It should spare my clothes, at least for now.”

Arabella accepted the crystal, cupping it between her palms and letting out a soft gasp. “It’s warm.”

“It responds to your energy,” I told her, standing near enough to guide her without crowding her. “Try again, slowly. Pour your magic in, but imagine it filling a vessel. If you visualize it as water, control how fast you let it flow.”

She nodded, a resolute set to her jaw. Arms trembling slightly, she closed her eyes. The crystal’s faint inner light flared from pale blue to a richer gold as she channeled her power.

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