Page 5 of Tricky Magic
“We’ve talked about this,” he said, pulling her in tighter. “You are allowed to use your magic. You need to protect yourself.”
Had they talked about this?
Ellea continued searching for a memory, a time when they had met before. All she felt was comfort and freedom. She felt loved and powerful, and that was something she’d never thought she would have. Magic crackled under her skin, and it wasn’t scary like all the other times. His own magic answered hers, and she felt warm and settled. This was something she never knew she needed. She feared that if she closed her eyes, it would all disappear.
“I’ll see you soon, princess.” His voice had become distant.
“But you’re right here,” she grumbled. “Please don’t leave me.”
Athwacksound jerked her awake, and she winced against Billy’s hot breath in her face.
You were drooling,Billy said.
The beast was so close that Ellea’s eyes couldn’t focus on her large head. Looking around the living room, she found she was still in her reading chair, and her book had fallen to the ground.
“I was dreaming?”
Clearly.Billy sounded amused.It seemed like you were dreaming of Dean with the grumbling and moaning you were doing.
“That wasn’t Dean,” she whispered.
Ellea felt so cold now—cold and empty. She wondered if she would ever feel as content as she did in that dream.
Isaac, then?Billy asked.
“Hel no.” Ellea grimaced. “He’s getting too clingy. And the man in my dream…”
She couldn’t find the words to describe him. She knew he was tall, strong, and had a beard. Ellea looked into the big amber eyes of her beast.
“I don’t know who that was,” she whispered. “But it was awesome.”
Billy gave her a lopsided, puppy grin.
Let’s go to bed and see if you can find your new beau,she said before turning and trotting toward the bedroom.
Ellea sat up, rubbing the weariness and sleep from her face. It had definitely been a dream, not a vision. There would never be a time when she was free to use her magic and feel so safe, so loved.
Maybe one day.
She shook the thought. Her magic would stay where it was and that was that. Grabbing her book from the floor, she headed to her bedroom. It was made up of dark paneled walls, high ceilings, and in the middle hung a gold and crystal chandelier. Excessive green velvet curtains blocked out the sun, and there were too many couches for her and Billy to use for reading or napping. The beast was already in the king-sized bed they shared, her large head placed on a pillow. Ellea set her book on the bedside table and removed her shirt to crawl into bed.
Hopefully, her dreams would be more of hot men than the nightmares that usually plagued her. Sadly, they were not. As soon as she closed her eyes, she was greeted with fire and destruction.
* * *
Harsh light assaultedher exhausted eyes. Ellea’s first thought was about removing her uncle’s ability to stroll into her room without her permission. Only he, her nana, and Billy were permitted in her bedroom. No one slept with her except her beast, thanks to the nightmares that had her waking and screaming until Billy could calm her down.
“Good morning, Billy. Glad to see you two are still sharing a bed,” her uncle said, and Billy answered with a dramatic yawn and stretch.
“Why are you here so early, uncle?” Ellea grumbled, pulling the blankets over her head.
“Well, it’s nine o’clock on Friday, and we’ve trained on Friday for the past twenty years at this time,” he said. “Did you oversleep? I didn’t notice any of the boys in the house. Were you up late?”
“No, I didn’t sleep well.” She sat up and pulled at the blankets before meeting his stare. “Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll meet you in the gym.”
Felix gave her a knowing look and headed out of the room. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they trained together. They rotated between ancient weapons, martial arts, and marksmanship, along with practicing yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques. All to stay fit, healthy, and in control of her magic. Ellea groaned and looked at her familiar.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Ellea said.
