* * *
The bright light of the morning filtered through the shutters, waking me. I was warm and tightly wrapped in Art's arms. I smiled, snuggling on his chest. I had enjoyed sleeping in his embrace. My cheeks instantly heated when the memories of last night returned to me. Art’s lips on my breasts, his hand between my legs, his fingers… Oh, Dear Mother Goddess. I took a deep breath attempting to stop the panic that was taking hold of me. I was so embarrassed, yet it had been so wonderful. It had been so long…
I lifted my head from his chest and found him smiling while he looked at me.
“Good morning, mo sgòthan,” He said with a bright smile on his lips and kissed me.
My eyes closed as his lips moved with mine, and once again I wished the love I had witnessed was already here. I let him pull me up and turn our bodies until he was on me. His lips created a trail down my neck towards my breasts like he had done last night and panic hit me once again. Why did I keep feeling this way? What was I so hesitant about? When he had asked me last night, I honestly had not been able to give him an answer. Yet I could feel it like a whole in my chest. I liked being with Art, and I had enjoyed experiencing last night with him, but I still felt like something was holding me back. I wanted to be able to let go entirely. I needed that love promised to me and in order to have it, I must be able to let Art in. All of him.
His lips returned to mine, and he kissed me deeply. I returned his kiss pulling him closer and feeling him harden against my hip. My chest tightened, and I could feel the apprehension once again growing in my chest.
“What time is it?” I asked, startled. I suddenly remembered I had to go to the cave to help Ronan and start Felix physical recovery.
“Somewhere around eight probably,” Art answered, looking out the window.
"Daingead! I am late," I exclaimed, nudging him aside and stood up. "I have to cover Ronan this morning at the cave, and I was supposed to meet Felix at five." I hurried to the dresser pulling the training shirt and pants out of the drawer and began to get ready.
"Um, I'm not sure he'll be able to see you today." Art's hesitant voice made me turn to look at him.
“What? What do you mean he will not be able to see me? Felix has no option in the matter. I have to be there with him, look over him. I gave Cyn my word.”
He took a deep breath and his brow furrowed. “That is not what I meant.”
I put my hair up and turned to face him again. “What is it that you meant?”
He sighed. “He might not be able to see you because he’s probably still healing from the burns.”
"What burns?" I asked startled. "He was all right when I saw him last night. I..." My voice left me when the memory returned. I was in the cave, and the trance took possession of me. I blinked as my breathing accelerated. "What happened to him, Art?"
His frown deepened as though he did not want me to know. “Art…” I warned.
"When the trance began, you were still in the cave, and you fainted. He reached for you and broke your fall so you wouldn't get hurt. When he touched you, it triggered the protection spell and the flames, burning him." I gasped loudly, clutching my chest. "Ronan found the two of you a while later. He was severely burned."
"And you did not consider this important enough to share with me last night?!" I shouted, horrified.
Felix had gotten burned because of me. “He was severely burned.” Art’s words ripped through me. I did not give him a chance to explain. He might have even spoken, but I could not hear anything except the thunderous beating of my heart.
I opened the portal and ran into the cave.
When I arrived, my hand flew to my mouth. My eyes instantly watered. Cyn and Ronan were standing there beside Felix. His body was scarcely covered by a sheet from the waist down, and I could see the patches along his chest and arms where he had been healed. The skin was renewed, but it was still showing signs of tenderness as though it was not fully set, it seemed reddened and shiny.
“A chara, I was hoping you would not find out," Cyn said, looking at me. His eyes instantly shifted behind me.
“She was coming here. I couldn’t keep it from her anymore.”
Art's voice filtered through but became background noise as my eyes focused on Felix. My gaze traveled over every inch of his body and I suddenly gasped when it reached his face. The first thing I noticed was the hole on his cheek. I could see the muscles underneath. A tear spilled from eyes, and I rushed to his side pushing Ronan aside. Felix was unconscious. I sat next to him and gasped once again. A soft blue light, much like the one that emanated from Cyn's hands when he was healing, slowly ran over the edges of Felix's burns. As it passed the burnt skin, it renewed. I could see it stretching and connecting over the wound covering it, until it was nonexistent. The new skin looked just like the patches on his arms and chest. My eyes inspected his body once again noticing the tender red skin went all the way to his waist. I moved the sheet gently so I could see his thigh, but I was very careful not to uncover him to my eyes. His body was evidently bare under the sheets. The top of his thigh exhibited the same newly formed skin.
I stood and faced Cyn. “How extensive where his burns?”
He took a deep breath looking at the others when his eyes returned to me concern filled them. "Very severe. He should not have survived."
I blinked another tear away and looked at Felix once more. “How is he healing? Is this one of your spells?”
Everyone remained quiet. “Cyn?” I asked, looking at him again. His gaze briefly went to Art.
“We are not sure how this is possible yet…” He paused and took a step closer looking at Felix. “But he is healing himself.”
“What?” I asked startled.
“He is a Healer.”
Cyn’s words were simple and certain. I stared at Felix as the memory of Ailidh and Marcus crossed my mind.
“I know how it is possible,” I said, looking into his eyes.
“What do you mean, a chara?”
"I should have shared this with you before, and please believe me, I was not trying to keep it from you but I was not exactly sure what to make of the visions. I experienced a few of them regarding Felix." Everyone's eyes settled on me. "I do not know how you will receive this news, but Felix is the son of Marcus and Ailidh." Their eyes widened, and Ronan gasped. I realized too late I had spoken of my secret in front of him. I took a settling breath, and prepared for the words I should have said a long time ago. "I am an Ovate, Ronan. Like my mother before me, I carry the gift of sight. I am a Seer of Prophecies, traveler of time and space."
Their eyes widened even more. Cyn and Art looked at each other, then at me filled with shock and awe. My eyes watered once again, as I realized I had just called this ability a gift. Asrhia would be proud of me. Cyn walked towards me and hugged me. I could almost feel the pride seeping from his pores. I smiled.
"I have only just begun to practice and try to control it, but I had different visions of Marcus and Ailidh together. He loved her, Cyn. She was a prisoner of the Romans, and he defended her and set her free. He genuinely loved her, and Felix is the fruit of that love."
Cyn took a deep breath and nodded. “Do you think he is aware?”
I shook my head. “I do not.”
My eyes returned to Felix, and I sat next to him again. I reached for his hand and gently held it between mine. My eyes roamed his skin again, and my heart constricted. He had gotten hurt because of me. To stop my fall, to make sure I was not injured. I owed him a great deal.
“Please remove the protection spell.”
"What?" Art asked, obviously upset by my request.
“He risked burning to make sure I was not hurt by the fall. If this had not occurred and his body was not capable of healing he would be dead.” I turned my gaze to Art’s. “If my head would have hit the stone floor it would have cracked open.” Asrhia’s words returned to me. “I would be as good as dead at this moment, if it were not for his help.” A tear ran down my cheek. "He wil
l not hurt me or anyone else. There is good in him." I looked at Ronan, hoping he would confirm my words.
He offered a small smile. "What she says is true. There is good in him. I can see it now more than ever. He just needs guidance. Someone to show him our ways." I nodded, realizing I had been wrong before.
“I will do it. Please, Cyn. Remove the spell.”
Art complained, but Cyn ignored him. He placed his hand on the stone wall, and it briefly glowed as he whispered something too low for the rest of us to understand.
“It is done.”
I nodded gratefully, and my gaze returned to Felix. "I shall stay here with him until he awakes," I said, holding his hand tighter in mine.
Their words became background noise, but I knew Art was fighting my decision.
"Let us leave, brother. She has requested to stay, and we shall respect her wishes." Cyn's voice was firm and final.
“Fine!” Art appeared beside me and cupped my cheeks.
“You should have told me last night.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry. Cyn wanted us to keep it a secret.”
“You still should have told me,” I said knowing there had been a different reason he had kept it from me.
“I’ll be back for you later.”
“I am not leaving this cave until he awakes, Art.”
He took a deep breath obviously upset by my answer. "Can you, at last, promise me something?"
“What?”
“Do not tell him the spell has been lifted.” He looked at Ronan and Cyn extending his request to them. Cyn sighed but agreed. Ronan looked at me then nodded, hesitantly.
"All right," I said, not having another option.
Art kissed my lips. “Thank you. I will still come back later.”
I nodded and allowed my gaze return to Felix as the others left.
ASRHIA
* * *
I blinked, and the white glow receded from my eyes. I smiled.
“So? What did you see?”
I turned towards Jennyver. “It’s working.”
“Really?” She asked, excited. I nodded. “Eeek!!” She squealed and hugged me. “So she’s in love with him already?”
And just like that, I deflated again. "No, not that. She admitted she's an Ovate and there was no hesitance or pain in her voice which was awesome! She even called her ability a gift." I sighed. "But no, she's not in love with him yet."
"Oh, come on! What the hell is she waiting for? If I were in front of a hunk-a-hunk like that right now, you would have to restrain me." I laughed. "No seriously, you'd have to like physically tie me down. I mean, YUM."
"You are making this really weird for me. Stop." She laughed.
“How’s my uncle doing? Did you come from his room?”
Her eyes filled with sadness. “He’s not well. I had to increase his medication and place him under a sleeping spell so he could rest. He’s worsening Asrhia. We are running out of time.”
“I know! Don’t you think I know that?” I stood from the bed and walked to the window. My gaze blurred as the tears gathered in my eyes. I couldn’t lose him. “I’m doing everything I can. I just… I’m afraid it won’t be enough.”
"Don't say that. You are helping. You have already made a huge difference in Eisha's life and The High Priestess'. You told me she was doing great. That her abilities were becoming so natural for her she barely thought about the magic anymore." I nodded. "Then let's focus on that, and come up with something else we can do."
I frowned, wiping my cheeks. “What do you mean?”
She smiled. "Well, it never hurts to nudge a few people in the right direction."
I smiled and hugged her. “You are brilliant.”
“I know,” She answered, batting her eyelashes. “Wait, where are you going?”
I closed the cloak around me and touched my necklace.
“To nudge the hell out of people.”
FELIX
“Lift your eyes to the sky my boy, my baby boy.
Everything shall be all right…
La lo lorolu ala. Le misea luru la. La lorolu ala.”
* * *
Her eerie melody slowly disappeared, leaving me with a feeling of peace I didn't think I had ever felt, except with her presence in my dreams. The woman's beautiful melodic voice always brought me comfort. I felt the warmth on my chest, and I sighed. I liked the feeling. I craved it. I wasn't sure what caused it, but I wish I could feel it all the time.
The minutes passed as the haze that engulfed me slowly receded. The mind fog disappeared, and my eyes slowly opened. I took a deep breath and the oxygen filling my lungs felt like it would never end. I could feel it reaching every cell in my body, and I felt alive. My gaze slowly roamed the room, and I frowned. Everything seemed so clear and crisp. My eyes found Eisha sitting beside me on the bed. Her hand rested on my chest, over my heart. My eyes instantly closed as I realized the warmth I had felt came from her touch. Shit. My lids opened once again and my gaze focused on her face. I realized her eyes were closed, and there were wet trails on her cheeks. She had been crying. Her wet lashes glistened with the soft light from the magical blue flames around us, and my chest tightened at the sight. She was so damn stunning.
…Magical blue flames…
My eyes widened as the images flashed in front of my eyes. "Fuck!" I pushed myself back, sitting up and looked at my skin while the feel of the flames consuming my body returned. My hand trembled as I frantically touched my chest and arms, looking for the burns but they weren't there. I looked at Eisha shocked. Her eyes were on me, but she wasn't touching me anymore. I missed her touch. I looked into her eyes while my heart slammed against my chest, and all I could think about was one thing.
“Are you ok? Did you get hurt? You didn’t get burnt did you?”
My mind raced as I began to look for wounds on her skin. I knew Cynwrig could heal her, but thanks to the fucking magical flames, I knew exactly what it felt like to be burnt alive, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. I never wanted her to feel that, or any kind of pain, especially not because of me. New tears spilled from her eyes when she saw my concern for her and my heart constricted. Shit.
"Don't cry, please. I can't see you cry."
I instinctively reached for her cheek to wipe her tears away, but I closed my fist a second before I felt her skin. Shit. Shit. Shit. I couldn't touch her. Her eyes widened when she saw my gesture, and she leaned back in the chair, wiping the tears that were mine to dry. Shit.
“I am alright. Thanks to you. Why would you put yourself at risk for me that way? Why would you catch me when you were certain it could harm you?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but I had no explanation for her. "I just had to," I answered honestly.
"Thank you," she whispered, and her voice quivered.
I shook my head. “Don’t thank me. The last thing you should ever do, is thank me.”
“Why?”
"Do you really have to ask? I've taken away too much from you, and even after realizing what I have done, I haven't even had the balls to say I'm sorry."
Her eyes searched mine. “Are you sorry?”
The images that the Druid girl had shared with me returned, and my jaw tightened. The charred bodies on the ground, the huts engulfed in red flames, the girls' voices pleading for mercy and not finding any… the baby on the floor of the room while her dead mother's body laid beside her. The look on Phelan's face as the shredder bullet went through his chest. Each of them tore a piece of my heart as I held Eisha's gaze. My chest tightened, and I nodded, clenching my jaw tighter. There was nothing I could ever say.
“I’m sorry would never be enough.”
“Yet, it could be the first step.”
I stared at her in shock. How wasn’t she cursing me right now, or beating the crap out of me?
The damn voices resurfaced once more. The voices Agustina had put on my mind for twenty-five years. The pride that had done nothing but take my humanity foug
ht me with every breath. I closed my eyes and inhaling deeply. When they opened once more Eisha's were filled with hope. Hope that I would do the right thing? That I wasn't the monster, Agustina had created? That I wasn't the man that had killed her friend? I wasn't sure, but I realized one thing at that moment. She was the first person to ever look at me like that. With hope. It was like she could see something in me that no one else had even bother to look for. No one had ever looked at me with anything other than disdain, envy for what they thought my life was as a Cornelli, or fear. Realization hit me then, I had no idea what she saw in me or if it was even there, but I never wanted her to look at me any other way.
“I’m truly sorry I killed your friend, Eisha. I realize now how horrible that was. I was wrong. Please forgive me for killing Phelan.”
She nodded, as the tears fell freely over her cheeks and she smiled. She actually smiled. There was relief in her eyes, approval, and I would even dare to say I saw something dangerously close to pride.
"I forgive you." She said, wiping fresh tears from her cheeks.
Shit. I was wrong before. I wanted her to look at me this way. Always.
I looked into her eyes and my hand once more reached for her face. I stopped a few inches away from her skin, feeling actual pain run down my body. I wanted to touch her. I swallowed and let my hand fall back to my side. Shit. Her gaze fell over my body, and suddenly her eyes widened, and she gasped, looking away from me. I frowned and looked at myself. My eyes widened too when I realized I was naked, and the sheet that had apparently been covering me was by my knees. I reached for it, swiftly covering myself.
"You know, if you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask."
She gasped so loudly I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. I wrapped the sheet around me and made a knot while she stared at me appalled. Her stunned face was a poem. I wished I had a camera.
"Oh, I saw you looking." Her mouth dropped, and I just couldn't help myself. "It took you a good three seconds to look away. It was like you were memorizing it."
Unwanted Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 3) Page 17
