Page 22 of #Resort Love
Samian exhaled, the tightness in his shoulders relaxing. “Good. Now, on to the lighter topics of the day. These are the books we will cover first. We’ll focus on learning how to feel foryour magic first, then how to recognize the magic of another, especially when someone tries to use it against you.” Opening the book, Samian turned to the first page and slid it to me. “Having a magical ability depends on the user’s strength. The stronger you are, the more likely you are to have a magical ability. Like Ambrose mentioned yesterday, I can use earth magic.”
Pausing, Samian put a gentle hand on the wooden table. I stared in awe when a soft green glow formed a halo around his hand. Slowly lifting it, a small pink flower bloomed. My eyes widened at the ripple along the table as Samian plucked the flower from the wooden surface and handed it to me. Hesitantly, I took the flower, studying the soft petals as a small smile rose on my lips.
“So, does that mean there are people that don’t have magical abilities?” I asked, my eyes still focused on the flower twisting between my fingers.
“Correct. They still have an immortal life, but it is a life without magic.”
Setting the flower aside, I rubbed my thumb along the palm of my other hand, my brows knitting. “How do you know what type of magic you’ll have?”
“We don’t. There are cases where a specific power is bred into families, however, like eye or hair color, a child can be born with a different magical ability. There are also a few creatures that have abilities outside of their elemental magic. Take me as an example, I have another ability called soul bonding. Once I form a bond with someone, I have access to their memories, emotions, their physical pain, even their thoughts. However, I don’t have access to them for long. The bond always remains, but I must shield myself from it or it could cause serious issues for me and those I have the bond with. Does that make sense?”
As he was describing his soul bonding, I thought back to earlier with him and Aster, remembering how odd it felt when they watched each other, their eyes conveying emotions like an unspoken language. Was he using that bond to have silent conversations with her?
I must have asked the question aloud because Samian nodded, saying, “Yes, that’s right.”
“So, you have a bond with Ambrose too.” I blurted, thinking of when we were outside of my ho—Liam’s house. He had done the same with Ambrose before we left. But if he had a bond with Ambrose, why was he so keen to warn me away?
Pausing at my statement, Samian twisted the ring on his finger. “Unfortunately, I do. But it is not because I wanted to. I was forced into creating one with him to show my loyalty. However, there are others that I have bonded with where the bond wasn’t forced, like Aster.”
Nodding, I leafed through one of the books, considering his words—and warning. Samian had known Ambrose for a long time. He had a better idea of who Ambrose was than I did. But my instincts told me that Samian wasn’t telling me everything. It was also hard picturing Ambrose as someone other than the kind and considerate man from yesterday, shielding me from my father’s scorn—and Liam’s. Not to mention, he gave me a place of my own, even if the room was too grand for someone like me. He didn’t have to go through all that trouble.
“I think we should get started with our lesson,” Samian sighed, snapping me from my thoughts. “The first thing you need to learn is how to feel for your magic. Feeling your own magic and another’s magic will each have a different sensation. Your magic will feel welcoming and safe, while others’ magic will feel foreign, like it doesn’t belong. I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind.”
Exhaling, I shifted in my seat to get comfortable and closed my eyes. Taking another deep breath, I pushed away all the questions and restlessness of my magic to focus on my breath.
Once my breathing became steady, Samian continued in a calming tone. “Good, now breathe toward your center. Tune into the sounds around you. What do you feel? What do you hear?”
Focusing on the smooth feeling of air expanding my lungs, I felt the feathery-soft smoke of power curling and twisting under my skin. I felt it dance within me, ready to be known. I concentrated harder on that feeling, and my body seemed to hum in response. Before I knew it, warmth spread through me, relaxing my body until I was sitting in the middle of a vast field with nothing but sky around me. Tall grass laid out before me, mixed flowers of pinks, purples, yellows and blues. The warmth of the sun seeped into my skin, the brightness melting away all my anxiety and loneliness—my fears. Birds flew overhead, playing in the gentle breeze, their chittering sounding like music in my ears. A quiet peace overcame me, and I felt a tear slide down my face. I had never felt such stillness before.
I heard a distant murmur calling my name, but it felt like a world away and I wasn’t ready to leave this place. The voice called my name again, and I opened my eyes, finding Samian watching me closely. Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone before I could tell what it was.
“That was your magic,” he murmured softly, as if the quiet calm of the room was something fragile and frail, something that could be easily broken with words louder than a whisper.
Opening my mouth to answer, I closed it when a blond, slender man walked up to Samian, handing him two notes. He kept his brown eyes averted, focusingon the papers Samian held.
Samian went rigid as he read the first note. “Seems like Ambrose is ready for you,” he said, his voice tight. Crumbling the note, he read the other. “It’s just as well. Your tests have come back,” Standing, Samian pocketed the second note that I assumed was from Aster, tucking it deep within his vest. “We can leave the books here for now. Follow Hale to Ambrose’s office. I’ll find you afterward.”
Unease filled my veins at Samian’s dismissiveness and looked over to Hale who gave me a slight bow and quickly walked to the stairs. I followed but glanced back to Samian as I went, catching him frowning at the note crumpled on the table before I rushed to catch up with Hale.
Chapter 13
Samian
The results are ready—come as soon as possible.
-A.
Restless, I rushed down the steps of the library. The urgency of her note, the sense of secrecy, the phoenix drawing at the bottom—it all worried me—and I knew that whatever she found wasn’t good. We created the drawing years ago in case there was something important—and secret—we needed to discuss. Sybil’s blood work was just supposed to tell us how much of her was fae and how potentially strong she could be. Ambrose assumed that her ability to use her magic while still mostly human meant that she could be incredibly powerful. Part of me feared just how right he was.
Leaving the library, I checked the hallway, making sure it was empty before summoning up mymagic, transferring me to the doors of the medical wing. As I opened those doors, I was greeted by one of the healers, just as Aster turned the corner.
“Ah, right on time,” Aster said, looking at a folder filled with documents. “I was beginning to think you were going to miss your appointment, Samian.” The sharpness of her voice was enough to send the healer running into another room.
I laughed softly, tracking the healer's movement. “My apologies, Aster. I lost track of the time.”
Aster walked past me, huffing as she led us to a room down the furthest hallway. She opened the room wide enough for me to enter before closing it softly behind her. Peering through the small window on the door, she quickly locked it and moved a tall cabinet to block the window. Raising an eyebrow, my jaw clenched tightly as I studied the tightness in her features.
“Aster,” I breathed, taking a step toward her.
