Page 51 of Discovered Magic
“Step away from him, my dear,” Evie urged Abbie. “You’re not to heal him.”
Anger crackled beneath Abbie’s surface, and defiance rose up. Who the hell were they to tell her what she could and couldn’t do to help Wilder?
“She’ll have her reasons, sweetheart,” he told her through their new mental link. Aloud, he said, “Do as she says.”
She jerked, having momentarily forgotten he could read her mind. With a short nod, she rose and went to her precious paper supply.
After writing, she held it up.
Why?
“Well, I’ll be! None of us thought to ask about the poor dear’s education,” Evie exclaimed.
“Most everyone, from every class, possesses the fundamentals in my time,” Wilder replied. “Abbie actually went to college.”
Evie studied him as she moved closer. “You have the look of my son’s wife, Josephine.”
“Josephine Crandall-Thorne.” He cast her a half smile. “From all accounts, she had dark hair and eyes. My siblings always believed our exotic coloring was from our Egyptian ancestors, but it’s more likely from our great-grandmother, Jo.”
Wordlessly, she gripped his arm and pressed her palm over his burnt skin. Purple light seeped from whatever space existed between them.
Abbie gasped. She hadn’t witnessed anything like it, and her curiosity propelled her forward. “She’s healing you? Like you planned for me to do?”
“Yes,” Wilder replied, grinning at her excitement. “For some of our kind, it’s effortless. Eventually, it will be for you, too.”
“I see you have a connection,” Evie said mildly, glancing between them before returning her attention to her chore. “It’s rare to be able to communicate the way you do.”
“It’s new for us.” When he offered his hand to Abbie, it felt natural for her to clasp it. The warmth of his approval flowed through her, fueling her desire to bask in his light.
“She trusts you. Jonas told me it was immediate, but I wished to meet you for myself,” Evie said.
“I didn’t get to know you while you were around, but Cousin Alastair told me you were a wily one,” Wilder replied with a chuckle. “‘Evie saw through any BS disguised as charm,’ he once told me.”
“Alastair?” She sent a sharp glance at Jonas, then looked at Abbie. “You once called my husband Alastair.”
Had she? Abbie couldn’t remember.
“She doesn’t recall,” Wilder replied for her.
“Naturally. It was before that ugly bank business.” Evie dropped her hands with a satisfied nod. “You’re as good as new, young man.”
“Thank you.”
Hoping to inspect his skin for herself, Abbie touched his arm. Dutifully, he lifted it for her to stroke. As her fingers trailed across the pinkened flesh, it darkened to its natural tan. Her mouth dropped open, and unable to contain her excitement, she hugged him. He laughed as he tightened his embrace.
“Welcome to the world of witchcraft, sweetheart.”
Drawing back, she smiled at him. Or tried to. The painful tug on her cheek stopped the movement.
It’s truly amazing. I wish she could fix me.
Wilder sobered, and she mourned the loss of his good humor.
“We’ll find the Aether. He can do it,” he assured her.
“Damian has already said he won’t get involved,” Evie said. Regret hung in her voice. “I’m sorry.”
Anger flashed across Wilder’s face as he set Abbie away from him and stood. “Did he say why not?”
