Page 59 of Love Lives
His? How would I--
Before I could even finish that thought, it felt as if something was pressing in on my body from all sides. An invisible force that tried to rock me. Smash me, if I let it. "Holy shit. Is that...?"
"Push it back."
He said that like it should be easy, but how was I supposed to fight an invisible foe?
"It's not a good feeling is it?" As Puck spoke, the pressure seemed to increase a little more. If he kept that up, I wouldn't be able tobreathein a moment. "Focus on how much you want to get rid of it. Something should happen."
Ididwant to get rid of it. I needed to shake this pressure off before it would crush me.Breathe,I told myself.It's just like the locks. Make it yield.I focused all my energy on that thought. When the pressure first began to abate, it felt as if I was at the gym, lifting weights that were way above what I should be lifting. I forgot to breathe again, but the more I pushed, the easier it became. Just a little more and... there, I could do it now. I could force him off. The invisible force grew stronger once more, as if Puck was trying to test me, but it was no match for me now. I sent it straight back to him.
I opened my eyes again. Puck looked at me with a strange expression.
"I suppose my theory held true," he murmured as if to himself.
"What theory?"
"The reason you cannot feel your magic is because it's become so much a part of you as to be indistinguishable."
"What does that even mean?"
"Most witches start out with a small amount of natural talent that they hone over years of training until it eventually becomes strong enough to be truly useful. You however were born with a kind of power that many of us would sacrifice someone’s firstborn for."
Considering that he was talking about witches, that wasn't hyperbole, was it? "I didn't ask for this." My paranormal lineage certainly hadn't brought me much joy so far.
"No, you're right. We don't get to choose the way we're born. We do get to choose how to utilize our talents, however."
"I want to utilize mine by learning Atlus's spell."
"A wise choice." Puck paused, looking me over once more with the kind of scrutinizing gaze that made me uncomfortable. "Have you had any more dreams?"
"None of the ones you like to hear about," I said truthfully.
He scrutinized me for a second longer as if not quite convinced that I was telling the truth. "Very well," he said then. "I get the feeling you're not going to struggle with this spell." There was an edge to his voice, telling me there was more to his words than he let on.
I wasn't sure what that was, but to be honest? I didn't care all that much either.
I just needed a way to help my family.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When he leftthe house this time, no one was following him. Aldrich was pretty sure of that. It was for the better too. Talon had saved his ass last time, but right now? Aldrich needed to be alone. To process what he'd seen.
He scoffed at the thought, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the roof he was sitting on. He had a good view of the downtown area from here. It was a quiet night, though. Not many people out and about. That was okay. He didn't feel like having a midnight snack anyway.
That had been Liam's grave in his memories. It was weird how a memory buried for so long could suddenly feel so immediate. Everything he'd seen had happened at least a hundred years ago, and yet... it might as well have been yesterday.
Funny, considering he hadn't even known who Liam was just a week ago. He'd preferred that. Not knowing. But Remy had just had to go and dig in his memories as if he was a dog on a treasure hunt.
It shouldn't matter.
Aldrich swerved his gaze over the street below. A single car passed by, going way too fast. Probably drunk driving. Mortals died so easily, whoever was sitting behind the wheel of that car could easily kill someone--or himself. Yet mortals acted so recklessly, as if they weren't mortal at all. Aldrich knew that wasn't true.
Liam had been there one day, and gone the next.
Aldrich rose and walked away from the edge of the roof. Sitting there thinking wasn't going to get him anywhere. In the end, there was only one thing that mattered. Back when he'd been mortal, he'd been helpless to save the man he’d loved, but he wasn't mortal anymore, and he wasn't going to let that happen again. Remy was his, and he wasn't going to let some other vampire touch him.
It was a matter of principle.
