“That was fun,” Layla exclaimed, refilling her lungs.
“You’re fun,” Brietta countered. “I’m so excited you’re here.”
“Me, too. It just keeps getting better.”
“As it should,” Brietta approved, keeping Layla’s hand as they descended.
Layla should have been extremely embarrassed by their jubilant welcome—twenty-six pairs of eyes staring, fifty-two hands clapping—but her dance partner’s profound confidence must have rubbed off on her, because her blush only flared once as she landed and took a bow.
The applause faded, and Brietta pulled Layla into a hug, giving her a dramatic, lip-smacking kiss on the cheek. “Have fun,” she chirped. Then she flew away, making room for Layla’s grandparents.
“Ready?” Caitrin asked, taking her shoulders.
“Yes,” she answered, so Caitrin tucked her under his arm and turned toward the coven.
“Let us connect with our newest members, and strengthen the bonds that keep us together.”
“Hear, hear,” everyone chorused.
Caitrin kissed Layla’s head. Then he moved behind her, touching a palm to her lower back as the rest of the coven lined up for individual rituals. Layla stood to Serafin’s left, while Daleen stood to his right, prepared to launch the ceremony.
Alana was first in line, and Selena carried her forward, letting the toddler place tiny palms on Daleen’s cheeks. Morrigan performed the spell work, mumbling her magical request while touching Daleen’s back, and Layla watched every second, muscles twitching as her nerves wavered.
Morrigan’s murmuring ceased, and Alana’s and Daleen’s auras pulsed as they kissed each other’s cheeks. Selena shifted Alana to her hip, connecting with Daleen using one hand instead of two. Then mother and daughter moved to Serafin as Brayden’s dad carried him to Daleen.
Finally, it was Layla’s turn, and she grinned at Alana, getting a beautiful smile in return.
“Where would you like her to hold you?” Selena asked.
Layla glanced up, surprised her opinion mattered. “May I hold her?”
“Sure,” Selena agreed, passing Alana over.
“Hi, angel,” Layla whispered, hugging her close.
Alana’s skin was velvet soft, and her scent—orange blossom and magnolia—was sweet and calming.
Enraptured by the baby, Layla didn’t notice Caitrin’s murmurs, so she jolted when tingles erupted from the skin contact she’d made with Alana. The tickle grew stronger and more delightful as it seeped deeper, awakening flesh and blood en route to her chest. By the time the mumbling ceased, Layla’s heart was bigger, but not big enough, because it was bursting with love for Alana. She never wanted to let her go.
Alana kissed Layla’s cheek then pulled away and smiled. “I wuv you.”
“I love you, too,” Layla whispered.
She blinked back sentimental tears as she kissed Alana’s forehead. Then she passed her to Selena, who shifted her over and touched a palm to Layla’s face.
Layla didn’t expect to feel as strongly about Selena as she did Alana. How could she? It seemed impossible. But her second connection almost compared to the first, and she had no problem accepting the kiss Selena offered afterward.
And that’s how it went time and again—slight nervousness mixed with bubbling anticipation, then a pulse of the heart, a swell of love that stretched the organ’s boundaries. After completing ten out of nineteen, her discomfort disappeared altogether. Her heart thumped with love, her veins pulsed with warm adrenaline, and her brain sped, trying to absorb the wonder of it all.
The line dwindled, and Layla knew the lovely experience was coming to an end. Her magical life, however, was just beginning.
Rhiannon gave her a hardy hug before stepping away, and Layla raised an eyebrow at the last three people in line. Throughout the ritual, as she looked at each new face, trying to remember their names, Quin repeatedly entered her mind but never her line of sight. Distantly and without considering his reasoning, she predicted she wouldn’t connect with him until she finished with the others. Now, as he approached Daleen, Layla wondered if he intended to save the best for last, or if he thought she would complete the task more avidly in a race to reach the alluring finish line.
Kemble stepped forward and took Layla’s cheeks, which warmed as she timidly met his familiar gaze. Caitrin worked his magic. Then Kemble kissed her forehead and moved aside, letting Cordelia take his place.
“Hi,” Cordelia greeted, an excited grin brightening her features.
Before Layla could return the greeting, Cordelia pulled her into a hug and urged Caitrin to hurry up. Layla laughed at her enthusiasm, but Caitrin took it seriously and began murmuring.
Once the spell had completed its purpose, Cordelia leaned back, finding Layla’s face with shiny lilac eyes. “You’ve blessed us this night,” she whispered, taking Layla’s cheeks. Then she kissed her forehead and stepped away, making room for the final connection of the evening.
Layla anxiously looked up, and Quin flashed gorgeous dimples as he raised his eyebrows. “Ready?”
She was beyond ready and would have flung herself into his embrace if twenty-six people weren’t watching. “Yes.”
He hesitated then stepped forward, wrapping his hands around her waist and lifting her from the ground.
“Oh,” she gasped.
But he ignored her shock and pulled her close, burrowing through her hair until he found her neck. “Mmm...” he sighed, slipping one hand up the back of her shirt.
And with that, Layla melted, eyes drifting shut as one of her hands slid under his collar and the other got lost in his hair.
Caitrin began murmuring, and Layla jolted as powerful magic flooded her, its flux so electrifying she thought she might literally be sparking. When connecting with the others, the current had soaked from her skin to her chest, but with Quin, it deluged her extremities, saturating her entire body before fiercely invading her heart. The organ expanded and thumped with pure love, and their bodies quaked as soothing heat flowed between them. The pulsing energy came in waves, surging with tingly elation before plunging them into a sea of security and unity.
They were right in the middle of a rush when Caitrin’s hand left her back, and while the thrill eased, the elation remained. Layla held tight, not giving a damn about her audience. If they wanted her attention, they’d have to pry her off him.
After several minutes… or hours—Layla couldn’t be sure—the light seeping through her eyelids shifted, but she refused to break her connection with Quin to find out why. What she felt wrapped in his arms as well as his love, however pure it might be, was unlike anything she’d felt before. She would hold him as long as possible—a pledge he didn’t seem to mind. His grip remained firm as he brushed slow kisses across her neck, keeping the tingles going without the assistance of magic.
His face eventually left her hair, and she sighed as she opened her eyes, surprised to find the fire and family gone. “Wow,” she breathed, meeting his stare. “That was amazing.”
“You’re amazing,” he countered, smoothly flipping her legs up. Then he pulled her into a deep kiss.
Layla’s fingers curled in his hair as she urgently kissed him back, feeding the desire that had been escalating for hours. But all too soon a lack of oxygen peppered her vision with bright spots, and she had to lay her dizzy head on his shoulder.
“That was crazy,” she gasped. “Why was it different with you?”
“Was it?” he teased.
“You know it was,” she countered.
He laughed and softly nipped at her neck. “Yes I do. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“Do you know why?”
“I know an existing level of intimacy strengthens the ritual, and I know the extra skin cont
act intensifies the sensations, but I never imagined it would make that big of a difference. So, no, I don’t know why, and I don’t care. It was the most amazing moment of my life.”
“It was wonderful,” she agreed. “I’m sad we won’t get to do it again.”
“We’ll connect in other ways,” he assured. “If you’ll only give me the chance.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Quin.”
“My heart soars to hear you say that, Layla, but you need to know that there are other options.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean there are thousands of wizards out there looking for a woman like you, and every coven in the world would love to welcome you into their family. When you start meeting people, you need to know it’s okay to consider a life outside of me and your coven, because this community is a tiny piece of the world you’re stepping into. You just got here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t leave should you find somewhere else you’d rather be.”
“You sound like you want me to look,” she objected, scowling at his neck.
“No,” he whispered, kissing her ear. “You got it all wrong. I don’t want another man touching you the way I have, or hearing the wonderful things you’ve said to me. I want all your attention all the time, and I never want to give it up. But I can’t keep you locked away from the rest of the world and its endless possibilities. You need to see what else is out there before settling for what you have, otherwise I’ll feel like I robbed you of opportunity, and you’ve already had too much stolen from you.”
“So where does that leave us?” she pressed, raising her head. “Is our relationship on hold until I see what else is out there?”
“I hope not,” he returned. “We’re doing okay, right?”
“Well, I thought we were, but now I feel like you’re stepping away.”
“Nuh-uh,” he assured, tapping the tip of her nose with his own. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing while you get to know the world you’re in, and we’ll see where it goes. We have all the time in the world to do this right. There’s no reason to rush things or put them on hold. I’ll be here when you’re ready to settle in.”
“What if I said I’m ready now?” she asked, stubbornly tilting her chin.
He laughed as he touched his forehead to hers. “I’d say you want to argue, because nothing about what I said changes what we have together. We’re in the same beautiful place we were before this conversation.”
“Prove it,” she challenged, trying to scowl, but her lips twitched in hungry anticipation of his proof.
“You think you’re clever,” he whispered, flashing dimples as he leaned close.
His lips touched hers, and she freed her smile. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“Mmm…” he murmured, raising his eyebrows, “and it will every time.”
He kissed, slow and deep, and he must have used magic, because soft tingles flowed from his lips, flipping her stomach and swelling her heart.
Yes, they were in the same beautiful place they’d been before the unnerving conversation, and neither of them really believed the other could be replaced.
Chapter 16
“What time is it?” Layla asked, still cradled in Quin’s arms as he landed on the deserted lawn.
Quin lowered her feet to the ground and took her hand, leading her home. “Around midnight.”
“Oh no,” she whispered. “I didn’t get to talk to Travis today.”
“You didn’t talk to him earlier?”
“He didn’t answer.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ll get to talk tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, feeling like she’d forgotten something. Then she remembered mid-stride. “Oh!”
“What?” Quin asked, flashing his gaze over her aura.
“I forgot to tell someone. I can’t believe I forgot.” She slapped her forehead, flustered by her recent absentmindedness. Until Quin came along, sweeping her into a blissful world absent responsibility, she had the sharpest memory of anyone she knew.
Quin took her shoulders and turned her toward him. “Tell someone what?”
“I talked to the man in charge of selling my house,” she explained. “Actually, he’s in charge of more than that. You could say he’s my financial lawyer. Anyway, he said a man came to his office looking for me, and the way he described him, he could have been talking about a wizard.”
Quin straightened and tightened his grip. “What did he look like?”
“Like the rest of you—tall and muscular. And he had long red hair and yellow eyes...”
Quin cursed and turned, forcing her to follow as he crossed her rose garden.
“Hey,” she objected. “Where are you going?”
“To Caitrin. What else did your lawyer say?”
“I don’t want to wake them up. We can tell them tomorrow.”
“What else did he say?”
“The guy wanted to know where I’d moved. That’s it.”
“Did your lawyer tell him?”
“No, and it made him angry, but he just walked away.” She huffed and pulled on his hand. “There’s no reason to wake them up, Quin.”
“They would want you to wake them,” he countered.
She dug her heels in and pulled harder. “Quin, stop. You’re scaring me.”
She’d found his emergency brake, and he came to a halt, softening his expression as he faced her. “I don’t want you to be frightened, but this situation warrants it. It would be foolish to be unafraid.”
“We don’t know that there’s anything to be afraid of.”
“It’s not safe to assume there isn’t. On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt to prepare for trouble that may or may not come.” He started walking again, urging her along. “It’s best to be alert to the possible risks so we can make plans to protect ourselves.”
“I get that, Quin. But don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
He stopped on Caitrin’s landing and took her cheeks. “No. If you’re in danger, I’m not doing enough.” He abandoned her cheeks then turned toward the door, ringing the doorbell twice.
The lights flipped on, and Layla rubbed the side of her neck, feeling like a teenager busted for underage drinking by the sheriff. She was guilty and scared and nervous and wanted to go home and curl up in bed
“They would want us to come straight here with this information,” Quin reassured.
Despite the encouragement, Layla’s cheeks burned when Caitrin opened the door, his bare chest inflated as he worriedly scanned her face and aura.
“What’s going on?” he asked, ushering her inside. “Are you okay?”
Morrigan rushed forward, taking Layla from Caitrin as she scanned the air around her company. “What’s wrong with you two?”
Caitrin turned to Quin, and Layla knew by her grandfather’s tense posture and pulsing aura that his calm demeanor was cracking. “Why do you look like this, Quinlan?”
Before Quin could answer, Serafin and Daleen flew downstairs. “What’s going on?” they demanded, flocking to Layla, who huffed and threw her hands in the air.
“Everyone needs to calm down.” The room came to a standstill, and Layla flashed Quin an aggravated glance. “I’m fine. There is no emergency.”
“That’s not true,” he countered.
Layla scowled at him, but he just shook his head. “You can look at me like that all you want. It doesn’t change anything.”
She rolled her eyes then headed for the couch, running a hand across the top of a baby grand piano along the way. Unable to curb her attitude, she flopped down on the sofa and crossed her arms, but then she softened when Caitrin’s basset hound curled up on her feet and Daleen’s cat stretched out on her thigh.
Layla looked from the animals to Quin and raised her eyebrows. “Don’t keep them up any longer than you have to. Tell them what you need to tell them so they can go back to bed.”
Quin moved to the couch and sat beside her. “I’m sorry you’re upset, but this is something we can’t ignore.” He kissed her hand then looked at her grandparents. “Layla’s lawyer might have been visited by a wizard.”
Daleen and Morrigan gasped, clapping their hands over their mouths, and Serafin and Caitrin tensed, letting the curses flow.
After a moment of heavy silence, Daleen shooed her cat out of the way and sat to Layla’s left; Morrigan moved behind the sofa and took Layla’s shoulders; and Serafin and Caitrin exchanged glances as they sat on the coffee table.
“Tell us everything,” Caitrin insisted.
Layla made no effort to retell the story, so Quin told it for her. “A tall, muscular man, with long red hair and yellow eyes visited Layla’s lawyer, questioning her whereabouts. When the lawyer refused to tell him, the guy looked angry, but walked away.”
“See?” Layla said. “Nothing to worry about. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She tried to stand, but Quin, Morrigan and Daleen pulled her back down.
“This most certainly is something to worry about,” Daleen disagreed. “If that man’s a wizard, you could be in terrible danger.”
“Did that community near Broken Bow get back to you?” Quin asked, looking at Caitrin.
“What?” Layla blurted. “Broken Bow, Oklahoma?”
“Yes,” Caitrin answered. “And no, they haven’t honored my request to speak with them.”
“There’s a coven near Broken Bow?” Layla whispered.
“Yes,” Caitrin and Quin confirmed. Then they turned back to each other.
Stunned by the news, Layla made to rub her head, but her hands were anchored to the couch. “I’m not going anywhere,” she noted, looking between Quin and Daleen. “You guys can let go.”
Impassion (Mystic) Page 18
