Page 35 of The Mating Magic
Chase yanked hard, and the gator roared and turned toward him, jaws snapping, jagged teeth moving closer. Releasing the tentacle, his hands a bloody pulp, Chase grewpaler.
He was weakening, and she saw it in hiseyes.
Her lover was dying, sinking deeper into the darkwater.
Ignoring the danger, Evie swam closer. “We can fight them off together,” she screamed. “Move with me and I’ll give youstrength!”
She wrapped an arm around his waist, dragging him backward. His heavy weight threatened to drag them bothdownward.
“No Evie. Go. Swim for shore. I won’t let youdie.”
“And I won’t let go.” Tears swam in her eyes as the gators surrounded them. Toolate.
Noescape.
With a mighty roar, Chase thrashed in the water, and shifted into a dragon. She found herself on his back as he stood, the water coming up to his waist. Chase blew fire at the gators, who swamaway.
Then he beat his wings and lifted into the air. Water streamed from his body. Evie coughed and spat out the swamp water, the taste of it flooding hermouth.
He landed on the shore and shifted back into human form, Evie atop him. Showering his face with kisses, she looked at hishands.
They werehealed.
“Chase? Are you yourself again?” Evie threaded her fingers through his wethair.
He nodded and held her close. “I thought I’d loseyou.”
Wonder filled her. Lacey had said the greatest human emotion, fear, would cure Chase as he submerged himself into the swamp waters. But fear wasn’t the greatest humanemotion.
Lovewas.
“The baby,” she gasped, remembering. “What happened toher?”
Chase rolled over, and they stood, searching. There, near the steps to the zipline.
Her jaw dropped. The tousle-headed baby was dry, and clad in a bright green onesie that glittered with… small mirrors? Evie blinked, wondering if she was seeingthings.
Before they reached the child, a cloud of bright white smoke appeared. A man stepped out of the cloud, clad in neon green trousers, and a shirt that matched the onesie. Thick, dark hair curled at the edges, each strand glittering in the sun. His hair was tipped with clear crystals. He was quite handsome, with chiseled cheekbones and full lips. A strong jaw was covered with a short, trim beard and his sensual mouth was framed with amustache.
Chase immediately bowed low. She followed suit, realizing the man was one of the wizards of theBrehon.
“Xavier, the Crystal Wizard,” Chase murmured, squeezing herhand.
As they straightened, the wizard strode over the baby and picked her, cooing to her. “How’s daddy’s littlegirl?”
Babbling, she touched his beardedcheek.
Xavier cradled her in his arms. “Drust was otherwise occupied, so I sent Sonia to nudge you both into action. She loves theswamp.”
“Sire,” Chasebegan.
The wizard snapped his fingers and an alligator appeared before Xavier, who set the child down. Sonia patted the reptile on his head. A tentacle snaked out of the beast’s mouth. Evie gasped, but her shock, the tentacle tickled the baby beneath her chubbychin.
Xavier laughed as the babygiggled.
He snapped his fingers again and the gator vanished, reappearing back into theswamp.
What did you say to a powerful immortal wizard whose child played withalligators?
