Page 32 of The Mating Magic
“Evie, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he whispered. “I feel torn in half, as if my spirit isdraining.”
She kissed him. “I know, darling. It will be better. Please, you have to trust me and do as Isay.”
“Evie, dear, we are so sorry for everything that has happened.” Mrs. Burke looked at her son, lines etching herface.
“Thank you,” she told them. “All isforgiven.”
Cal Burke stared at his son. “I don’t know what is going on with him. Is he getting this power from Drust because he’s hisapprentice?”
You might say it was from Drust. “In a way, but that’s not important now. What is important is that Chase and I need to fly right now to fly somewhere that’s critical to his well-being. We can’t waste another minutemore.”
Evie stroked Chase’s sweat-dampened hair. No time to go to Lacey’s shop. Even now she could tell Chase was growing weaker, his bodyfailing.
She glanced at his worried parents. “Can we have a momentalone?”
They exchanged glances and then went upstairs. Evie turned her attention back toChase.
“Preppy, we have to go now. You need to shift into dragon and take me to that place where you rescued me. Swamp World. There’s a cure there to make you feel better. I promise. Will you trust me inthis?”
Chase lifted his head from his hands. “Why?”
She only hoped hewould.
Chapter 12
Never hadhe felt this bad before, as if he’d aged five hundred years in fiveminutes.
A nagging voice in his mind urged him against it. Swamp World was home to the Brehon’s practice sessions, and Drust had spent much time there. The risk of running into one of the wizards was toogreat.
But Evie’s big, sad gaze beseeched him. “Trust me, Chase. It’s the only way to cure you. I would never hurtyou.”
She kissed him, her mouth warm and soft beneath his own. He took a deep breath, inhaling her essence and felt measurablybetter.
Evie stepped back, cupping his cheek. “You look strongernow.”
He was stronger. Feeling almost as invincible as he had previously. Chase figured it was the potion Lacey had made. Perhaps it would not last. If so, he needed to use this magic while itlasted.
“All right. I’ll go with you to Swamp World. But first, something for you, Evie. I have the power now. I can make you wholeagain.”
For a moment wild hope flared on her face. Then she shook her head. “Is that it, Chase? I’m imperfect, but your parents accept me for who I am. Can’t you? My malformed wing never bothered youbefore.”
“Before there was nothing I could do about it. I can now. I can heal you, punish anyone who even thinks about insulting you. I can be yourchampion.”
“You alreadyare.”
Moisture swam in her eyes. Evie hugged him tight. “I don’t want to lose you, Chase. Please, let’s go to theswamp.”
Sudden suspicion filled him. “Why the rush? What’s so important about thatplace?”
“Because when you touched the dragonspice potion, it gave you immense powers, my love. But it won’t last. You burst like a firecracker, lighting everything up and then you sizzle outand…”
Her lower lip wobbled as her voice faded. She didn’t need to say therest.
You’lldie.
There always was a price to pay for magick, Drust told him when he’d started his apprenticeship. His uncle never fully explained the cost of thatprice.
Now heknew.
