Page 32 of Tricky Magic
There were too many emotions for her to feel right now, and an unwelcoming home was not helping. Ellea had hoped it would have warmed up to her by now, but the home seemed to be holding a grudge. There was nothing to be done about it now, and she was desperate for a shower. She would have to burn these clothes after that man had had his hands all over her. Ellea would also have to scrub twice, once for that creep and another for the rude asshole that had dropped her off. Whatever had happened during that short drive was beyond anything she had ever felt before, but she couldn’t let him get under her skin. Her body tingled with so much energy and her magic was so curious, so desperate to play.
“Fucking traitor.”
Ellea leaned against the shower wall, letting the hot stream drown out her anxiety and restlessness. Most people would be more bothered by the assault in a dark alley, but she was more upset at how her body and powers had reacted tohim—Ros, his name was Ros.
Things were so much easier in Halifax. She worked, went home, hung out with the boys, watched TV with Billy, went to bed, and then did it all over again. Now she didn’t know which way was up and why she was getting turned on by some rude forest brute.
Ellea ignored the towel on her way to the bedroom, letting the air cool her wet skin as she headed toward the window. Taking in the moon hanging over the lake, she sighed. Billy was still gone, and she knew sleep would not come easy—why would it? She could count the number of times she had slept without her familiar on her hand. Taking a deep breath, she placed her forehead on the glass. She noticed a moonlit path heading around the lake. Maybe a walk would do the trick. Her body was still humming with energy, and laying in bed would be pointless. Grabbing a clean pair of yoga pants, ignoring a bra, and grabbing her favorite gray sweater, she headed for the back door.
Ellea had never realized that there was such a clear path along the lake. After a short walk, the path forked to the forest, and it was the easy choice to head deeper in instead of back toward the lake. The sounds of the night creatures welcomed her, drowning out the thoughts roaring in her head. Ellea felt her powers slowly quiet with each deliberate breath of fresh forest air.
Ellea’s whole body relaxed just in time for a paranoid shiver to run down her spine.
She wasn’t alone.
She halted and slid her left foot behind her to avoid the attacker’s grab at her shoulder. Her already cocked fist met a thick chest. A whoosh of a grunt came from the attacker—a man. She created distance between them and readied her stance again.
“Ow, that was my sternum, princess,” Ros said while rubbing at his chest.
“Stop calling me that. And maybe you shouldn’t sneak up behind people walking in the woods.” She despised the day her family had decided to build on this land. Would she ever rid herself of him?
“I have nothing else to call you since you still haven’t told me your name.” He took a step toward her, and Ellea took an equal step back. “Really, you think I am going to attack you? You are the one on my property.”
“I didn’t see any ‘keep out, a crazy man lives here’ signs,” Ellea said with a smirk.
“Are you here to take me up on my offer? So soon?” he said with a mock bow. “I feel honored.”
She was tired of his mouth, and it had been too long since she’d let off some steam. Her magic reveled in the idea, and she didn’t have the strength to tell it no.
Or do I want to let go?
Ignoring the thought, she acted fast, pivoting once and delivering a front kick to the side of his bowed head. He was so tall, and this was the only chance he would be at her height. Before her boot landed the blow to his temple, he grabbed her by the ankle and held her there. Slowly lifting his head, he winked and then pulled. She was on the ground in an instant.
“Bastard,” she spat at him. She quickly got to her feet, not about to let him think he’d won.
“Is this how you witches flirt? It has been a while, but I’m up for the challenge,” Ros said with a grin, readying his own stance.
She didn’t need to waste her time on an asshat of a brute who wanted to toy with her. “No thanks, I would rather flirt with…” She couldn’t think of anything, so she turned and walked away, with her chin lifted, she called. “Anyone but you.”
“You should never turn your back on someone. No wonder you got caught off guard in that alleyway.” His insult hit her, and she halted.
How did he know about that?
He must have been following her. That was enough of a reason for her to fully unleash her magic on him. Ellea felt raw power flow from her chest to her hands. She could feel the energy around her as the ground began to vibrate. Slowly looking over her shoulder, she took him in completely. He was tall and big, but she was powerful. Ellea raised her hand, and as she spoke, she barely recognized her own voice.
“Someone should teach you a lesson.” She closed her hand, and the two trees by Ros exploded. It was the perfect distraction.
With three long strides, she was in front of him. He attempted to grab her, but she was quicker. Ellea twisted his arm, and he bent over in pain. Using that leverage, she scissor-kicked her legs in the air, wrapping them around his head. With a loud thud, he hit the ground, groaning with the impact.
“Using magic? What a cheater,” he said, a hint of pain creeping into his voice.
“I don’t need magic to take you. Why don’t you shift and we can make this a real fight?” She bent his arm further away from his body, but instead of groaning again, he laughed.
“Shift?” His laughter died down, and she felt his chest heave in a few steady and deep breaths—then she was blind.
The darkness was suffocating. Ros slipped from her grasp, and she shuffled back on her hands and knees. Grasping at the forest floor, she tried to calm her racing heart.
“What is this? Wolven shouldn’t have magic,” she yelled at him, unable to hide the panic in her voice. As quickly as she’d been blinded, she could see again.
