Page 19 of Monsters' Manor

“Are you kidding?” I push up onto my feet. It makes me go a bit woozy again, and I brace my hands on my knees while I breathe through it. “That was so fucking cool.”

He doesn’t seem to agree as a low, unhappy noise rumbles in his chest, but tough. Itwasfucking cool. Feeling his magick like that. Feelingminerush up to meet it. I’m about to tell him that when I glance up and the words die in my throat.

Silas is… there. Still not quite solid, but much more substantial than I’ve ever seen him.

“I can see you,” I say, incredulous, as my greedy eyes take him in.

His body is more defined now. Tall and sleek, not so big and burly as Renwick, but with wide shoulders and an athletic build. His face, too, shines more clearly from his shadows than ever before. The firm set of his jaw and the cut of high cheekbones. A dim silvery glow from eyes watching me with surprise and concern.

Silas is handsome.

I don’t really know why I’m surprised. He’s always been attractive—his kindness, his protectiveness, the darkness of him—but getting a better look at him now startles me.

It seems to startle him, too, as he glances down at himself.

“That’s… new.”

I keep studying him as I straighten the rest of the way, my spinning head finally clearing enough for me to be upright.

“Good new, or bad new?”

He considers for a few more moments, turning this way and that to take in as much of himself as he can.

“Good, I think.”

“You think?” I tease.

Silas shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter right now. I’m more concerned about you.”

“Magick drain’s no big deal,” I say with a shrug, as though this is something that happens to me all the time. “I’ll be fine in a couple of minutes.”

Silas isn’t buying it. He folds his arms over his chest and tilts his head at me.

“You’re lying.”

“It’s nothing to be concerned about, Silas.” It’s not even a lie this time. With each passing minute, the drain is fading and I’m feeling better.

“Fine,” he relents with a sigh. “Can I at least walk you home? To make sure you get there alright?”

“Sure. I’ve got a couple more closing tasks to take care of, but I should be good to go after that.”

“I’ll have Odelia send someone later,” he protests. “You should get home and rest.”

“Unnecessary.” I toss him a careless smile over my shoulder as I head back into the booth. “I’m fine.”

And truthfully, I am. Maybe I should be a little more freaked out about using magick twice in one week, but this ishismagick, after all, not mine. It doesn’t leave me feeling nearly as unsettled as my little slip with the tarot card did.

In fact, it leaves me feeling pretty incredible. The echoes of his dark, pulsing energy, of all that skittering, static magick are still making me feel so damn alive and giddy.

It’s wild, his power, untamed and unlike anything I’ve ever felt.Silasis unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The delicious contrast of having him worrying over my shoulder like a knight in shadowed armor while his magick still lingers on my skin makes me feel even more safe and protected.

Even if I wish he wouldn’t worry so much.

“Rosemary—”

“Rose!” I remind him cheerfully, starting on the register.

Silas sighs. “Alright, Rose, I’ll stay until you’re done.”

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