Page 22 of The Discovered
“And if I don’t consent?” I asked, frowning. I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of this. Was this not what Daelon warned me about, with people looking to use me as a witch battery?
Daelon reached for my hands. “Then I will accept it. I want you to feel something first though.”
I quirked a brow, staring down at my hands now clasped in his. Suddenly a trace of energy travelled through his palms and into my field of perception, and I closed my eyes. It was a part of his aura slipping through the cracks of his shield. The energy was shrouded in a murky cloud of fear, yet at its core was light and soothing and safe—like the warmth of a fire after a long day toiling out in the cold. I felt his desire for security, control, and protection, not only for himself, but for another. Forme. A flash of myself in third person passed through my mind, and I was smiling. I felt his awe, saw the way he was utterly mesmerized by me. I reminded him of something he lost, something that was pure and core to his entire sense of self—likehome. My own energy reached for his, and it was as if it, too, believed in this inherent connection that transcended all logic and language.
There was something else swimming in his aura too, something murky and dark that was quick to shift and elude me like dissipating smoke. My hands tightened around his as I searched for the source. I was met with a wall, blocking me from continuing further.
“No, Áine,” Daelon said sharply. “Permission goes both ways.”
My eyes flew open. “Sorry. I didn’t realize,” I said. “Well, that’s not true. I’m just not used to it being that way. I’m sorry,” I repeated, watching his eyes until he nodded and relaxed.
I was used to reading every part of someone at will, even the parts they desperately wanted to stay hidden. I knew there was more, but the part that he had shown me was genuine. Energy couldn’t lie.
“So that’s how you feel?” I asked, biting back a smile. I tried to come off as teasing, but it fell into a tone of shock instead. It was a surprising read of energy from someone usually so impassive and controlled.
Daelon tensed his jaw, looking away. Was he going to blush? I couldn’t help but smile at the mere idea of it.
“Yes,” he said finally. “Can you not tell how in awe of you I am?”
I scoffed. “No, I can’t Daelon. Are you really not aware of how moody and cold you can be?”
“You have no idea what I’m risking with all of this. I took a jump into the void, like I was pulled to you by forces bigger than either of us.” His voice was sharp, but as he looked at me his eyes softened, and he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you feel that way. But what I’m doing here with you could get us both killed, and I can’t bear to see you suffer that fate. I wascalledto do this, and I wasn’t sure if I was even going to accept the calling… but then I saw you, and I just couldn’t—” He trailed off, seemingly giving his next words careful consideration. “In order to continue protecting you and preparing you to protect yourself, I’m going to need to channel more power for a spell. You won’t be able to see the specific intent behind the magick, but you will feel the energy I need as it moves through you. Does that make sense?”
“Protect me from people who don’t want us working together?” I asked. The people who would kill us? The people who killed my mothers—and who maybe killed his parents too?
Daelon sighed. “Something like that, little witch. I wish I could explain more. I promise it’s not out of malice that I can’t. It’s all for you,” he said softy.
I looked down at my hands. All of the secrecy aside, what this really came down to was whether or not I trusted Daelon enough to use me as some kind of magickal battery. And, in the face of all logic,I did. Because energy couldn’t lie, and what his aura showed me was nothing but care and devotion.
“Okay,” I said. “I give you permission.” I still eyed him with suspicion. I couldn’t let go completely. Not yet. “If you really think it will protect us.”
He gave my hand a squeeze. “Thank you.”
He closed his eyes and chanted something unintelligible under his breath. I gasped as fire began to spread in the outskirts of the clearing, creating a trail of flames that encircled us.
“Casting a circle before practicing protects us while we’re at our most vulnerable, and it helps to amplify the magick we release. Think of it like an energetic wall to keep power in, and negative forces out,” Daelon explained to me. “Fire is a powerful element. Invoking it gives us a boost.”
I nodded, peering around at the circle of blue-white flames. I felt the truth of his words reflected in their magick. The sky was overcast, and the trees rustled and swayed in the wind. The ground itself came alive with energy, as if remnants of old spells awakened to us. The land itself had power.
“This is going to be intense,” Daelon said softly, concern in his eyes. “Maybe lying down would be more comfortable for you.”
“Okay.” I swallowed. I couldn’t hide the anxiety crawling beneath my skin. Daelon watched me intently as I lay down, taking my hand in both of his.
“Slow your breathing,” he instructed. “Don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you.”
I took in long, deep breaths. A sense of calm reached out to me through Daelon’s hands, and I accepted it with gratitude. It bathed me in a light, airy warmth.
“You need to stay still and not interrupt the spell until I’m done. Doing so would be very, very dangerous.”
I nodded, and soon a pulling sensation tugged at me from the hands that enveloped mine. It was similar to what I felt when the energy vampire grabbed my broken ankle, but it wasn’t painful or draining, I assumed because this time I had allowed it. Power rose up within me, and Daelon began to chant in a low whisper until he went silent.
The flow of power grew stronger and stronger. It entered through the crown of my head and moved through my body until it spread into Daelon’s palms, and as it did, I caught glimpses and impressions of its energetic makeup. Most of it was protective in nature, like what I felt from his intentions earlier. Another part of it felt dangerous, biting cold as it passed through, coiling around me like a snake. My eyes rolled back into my head, the pulling sensation growing more and more uncomfortable. Not having control of the forces Daelon was channeling through me felt invasive and unnatural, especially the ones that whispered tales of chaos and confusion.
I gritted my teeth. I trusted Daelon.I had to.
I began to shiver as the warm, softer waves of defensive energy halted, and more dark, chilling currents took their place. Daelon wasn’t just defending me. He was attacking someone, or something, and the energy he used was unlike anything I had ever channeled before. I’d felt it though, in the abyss—that place in the looming castle of my nightmares. I didn’t know how much more I could take.
The shivers evolved into full-on convulsions. This energy burned, and I didn’t want it anywhere near me. I pleaded internally for Daelon to hurry and finish whatever this spell was so I could be free from its icy, sub-zero grip.
