Page 73 of Tricky Magic
“That was barely an hour,” he said, picking up the dowels from the ground.
“Well, I haven’t sparred in ages.” She rubbed at her sore arms as they walked toward her cabin. “And when I did, it was nothing like that.”
“Who trained you before?” She noted jealousy rearing its ugly head again.
“Calm down,” she scolded. “My uncle, Felix.”
Ros relaxed instantly, and Ellea wondered if it would always be like that. It was too new for him to snarl at any mention of another male. It’s not like she would do the same.Would she?She tried picturing him with someone else, and her throat instantly became dry. She shook the feeling the best she could. She was being ridiculous.
“You okay?” he asked. She nodded. “You know, I wanted to ask about him. I saw an article in the paper about a man being attacked by his niece.”
“You’re looking at her.”
Ros didn’t look at her with judgment, only openness, so she continued, “I got into an argument with someone and my uncle got in the way as my magic reacted. Reacted in a way you seemed to be worried about.”
She guessed he was right about her. Eventually, she would cause destruction. “Well, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again. Or at least make it happen on purpose, not with someone who accidentally gets in the way.”
She needed to guide her magic; not contain it, but use it correctly. Her brain felt fuzzy with thoughts of no longer hiding, feeling free.
“You okay?” he asked, looking too damn cute with his eyebrows furrowed in concern. How his face had so many expressions was crazy.
“Yea, I’m just thirsty,” she half-lied, then her stomach grumbled. “And hungry, I guess.”
Ros laughed lightly. “Come on, I’ll make us lunch.”
“You know,” she started as he wrapped his arm around her, leading them toward his own cabin, “I think I had a dream about you before you began haunting my life.”
“Oh yeah?” His smile was wicked. “Was it a sexy dream?”
Ellea groaned. Why did she open her mouth?
42
Ros
The forest floor under their feet was heavy with fallen leaves. Fall was here, and Ros enjoyed every chilly moment. He had convinced Ellea to go for a long walk instead of training today. They had been going hard for three days straight, and frustrations were high, particularly for her. Ros knew she was capable, but she held onto that control. And to think he had worried about hownotin control she was. The power coursing through her veins was begging to be set free. If she would fully give in and let go, it would be a beautiful sight. Destructive, yes, but he would be there to help.
A twig snapped in the distance, and Ellea didn’t pause or notice. Ros gave her one scolding look, and she rolled her eyes in response.
Such a brat.
He placed his hand by his ear to signal she should listen. Cocking her head away from her shoulder in a dramatic fashion, she listened. She slowed her steps, and he noticed her breathing steadying as she tried to hear whatever he had.
Another twig snapped, closer this time, and when Ellea whipped her head in that direction, her steps faltered and she toppled over herself. She cursed loudly as she tried to untangle herself from the fallen branches and leaves. Ros laughed as quietly as he could, but she turned on him quickly with a vicious glare.
“What’s so funny?” she hissed at him. “You’re the paranoid one making me listen for forest bunnies when we’re supposed to be taking the day off.”
Gods, she was cute when she was angry. “You can take a day off and still be on alert.”
“There is nothing to be on alert for!” She was fuming.
Ellea continued to take her frustrations out on him, calling him everything from “ancient ass-hat” to “paranoid old man” while Ros stood there waiting for her to realize a giant gray wolven was barreling toward her.
“Why are you just standing there looking at me like that?” she screeched at him.
He only pointed behind her. She turned her head in time to see a wolven that was one stride away from attacking her. She screamed and rolled out of the way. The beast quickly recovered from his miss and headed for her again.
“Aren’t you going to do something?” she yelled.
