Page 12 of The Magic of Discovery
Everyone grabbed a paper plate and started dishing up food. Dancing in my seat, I took a huge bite of my cheeseburger, my eyes fluttering closed as a moan escaped my mouthDamn, Kai can really cook. I should thank him for inviting me.
I looked up to do just that and found four sets of eyes staring at me. Cam cleared his throat and set his burger down before his hand disappeared under the table as he shifted around in his spot a little bit.
“What? Do I have mustard on my face or something?” I picked up my napkin and hastily wiped my mouth and chin.
“No, Red. The sounds coming out of you are bordering on sexual.” Sloane’s ice blue eyes looked nearly black with how blown his pupils were. My face probably looked like a tomato.
“Well, take it up with Kai. These are amazing,” I retorted with a shrug, trying to feign nonchalance.
Fish reached across the table and put his hand over mine. “You don’t have to apologize. We should always express how we feel, however we choose to.” I looked up and gave him a small smile, grateful for his calming words.
“I was just about to thank you, Kai.” When he gave me a confused expression, I explained, “For inviting me to hang out with you guys, for cooking the best burger I’ve eaten in my life, all of the above.”
“You’re most welcome, Sprout. We appreciate you showing us around and telling us all about your sleepy little town.” Kai smiled at me and then proceeded to take a big bite of his corn.
“What were you guys talking about over here while we were throwing the ball around? Anything exciting?” Cam asked us.
“Ah, well, Kai was telling me about his affinity,” I told him, suddenly feeling shy. Affinities could be a very personal subject for some witches and mages, but I’d felt so comfortable with Kai that the question had just come up naturally, and he’d reacted just as I thought he would. But I had to remember that just because I didn’t feel weird talking about mine, that didn’t mean that these guys would want to share theirs with me. We barely knew one another.
Cam’s eyes snapped to Kai’s and then back to mine, his emerald gaze holding me captive for a few seconds, though it felt like much longer. I wanted to ask him what he could do, and he must’ve seen the curiosity on my face. Smiling, he began to speak, saving me from the embarrassment of asking and being shut down.
“I’m a storm mage. I can generate electrical currents and manipulate the weather, to an extent. Best part is, I can make that all happen with just a thought.” He tapped his finger on his temple.
“Wow, I didn’t even know that was an affinity! It must be pretty rare,” I replied, fascinated. I enjoyed researching and learning about other magical properties and powers, but I honestly had never heard of his. My curiosity was running rampant, my mind going a mile a minute just thinking about everything he could probably do.
“It’s incredibly rare. There are only a handful of families with powers like mine,” he said, confirming my thoughts.
“I bet that was fun growing up with a family like that,” I blurted out, taking a swig of my beer.
Cam visibly stiffened in his seat. In fact, all of the guys did.Gods damnit, Saige. Cam’s family is clearly a no go.Cam cleared his throat and nodded his answer to my question, but there was something more there, and that was none of my business. When Fischer spoke up, drawing my attention, I was more than eager to give it to him.
“I’m a cognitive mage, and I can sense people’s emotions and intentions,” he explained.
“Like an empath, yeah?” I questioned.
“Yes, but one that’s been given a huge boost.” His gaze left my face and swept out over the park before resting on a group that was walking our way on the path, probably about a quarter mile from us. “See the teen boy in the blue shirt? He’s smiling, but he’s not throwing off happiness vibes. The depression pouring off of him is so thick I can taste it from here.” His nose scrunched up, and his eyes narrowed, giving him the appearance he’d gotten a whiff of something rotten.
“You can pick all of that up from this far away?” I was impressed but also alarmed. The teen was Sam Campbell, a talented sixteen-year-old high school football player. This past year he’d run for more yards than any player in the history of the Emerald Lakes Sirens. Blond hair and big blue eyes, he had the boy next door look down pat, and I rarely saw him without a girl on his arm or his buddies at his back. Sometimes, he would stop by the shop and ask if I needed help with anything. He was saving up for college and everything, so I’d let him deep clean the place to make some cash. Sam was a good kid, and if he was hurting that badly and concealing it so well, I’d definitely be reaching out to him.
“I can pick up even more than that from a greater distance. Especially if I’ve met the person before. Even better if I get the chance to make physical contact through a handshake. If I’m away from the guys, I can picture them in my head, and I can feel exactly what they’re feeling. As a general courtesy, I don’t go lurking around in my friends’ headspace unless it’s an emergency,” he explained.
“So wait. You feel everyone around you constantly? Can you turn that off? I hope you can turn it off.” I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be aware of so many feelings twenty-four seven. It would be hard enough to be in a room with a group of people, but with his range, he could probably sense the entire Emerald Lakes population!Fuck, that would drive me to insanity.
Fischer tapped his fingers in a rhythm on the wooden plank of the picnic table as he responded, “Yeah, pretty much. I can’t ever turn it off completely, but people who I’m around often enough know how to put walls up so it’s not as potent. It’s just what I’m used to, but yes, it can get overwhelming.” He murmured the last part of his explanation, and my heart felt a little sad for Fish.
“What a tremendous power to possess. Are you able to pick up on my emotions?”Oh, fuck a duck! I hope he can’t see lust because it would look like four dicks floating around my head.
“I’ve picked up on a few.” He smirked at me, but luckily, before we could explore what was behind it, Sloane butted in.
“I’m a pyro mage, so I bring the heat.” He opened his palm, and a little baby flame came to life.
“Damn, you guys all have awesome powers. I’m so excited. Can I see you all in action sometime?” I raised my eyebrows, hope shining through my eyes.
“Fuck me, you look like a puppy with eyes like that. How are we supposed to say no?” Kai chuckled. I looked to Cam next and gave him the eyes as he tried and failed to look away.
“Look right here, big man. You can’t hide,” I teased, and he lifted his green eyes back to mine before glancing at Sloane and huffing a breath.
“I dare say we’ve got a brat on our hands, boys,” Cam stated.
