Nord ran his scarred and calloused fingers over her exposed palms. “Maybe you’re a mage of some kind; your power acting as your weapon when needed.”
“So, spells? Like a witch?”
Nord nodded.
She pressed her lips together while she mulled the idea over. “That seems more plausible.”
Flinging out her hands, Lina shouted, “Abracadabra!”
Nothing happened.
Nord tried not to laugh.
He failed.
She looked at him sheepishly and shrugged one of her bare shoulders. “It was worth a shot.”
“Maybe you just need to find the right magic word,” he suggested, his shoulders still shaking with laughter.
She nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe.”
Lina stared up at the moon, looking so earnest his heart ached a little. Knowing it was unlikely they’d solve the riddle tonight, Nord couldn’t help but try to help her anyway.
“Close your eyes,” he said, moving to stand behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist.
He couldn’t seem to keep himself from touching her, but she didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she welcomed his touch.
“Why?” she asked, snuggling into him.
“Just do it,” he ordered, kissing the top of her head. “Are they closed?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Alright, I want you to imagine you are calling your power to you. Like it’s locked away inside of you and you need to coax it out.”
“How do I do that?”
Nord was silent for a moment as he considered what it felt like when he used his power. It was second nature after centuries and it took longer than he expected to find a way to describe it.
“For me, it’s like giving permission for it to take over. I have to keep my power tightly contained at all times. So, I have to consciously loosen that control. It’s like taking a deep breath and letting every muscle in my body relax.”
“Why do you have to control it so tightly?” she asked.
“Because while my power is active, not only can I see the essence of all living creatures, I can manipulate it. If I’m not careful, I could accidentally change something’s very nature without meaning to.”
She stiffened in his arms, trying to twist to look at him. He held her in place. “We’re not here to talk about my power,” he said. “Now close your eyes and focus.”
“You’re bossy.”
Nord smiled. “Shh. Concentrate.”
He felt her relax in his arms, her shoulders drooping and the rise and fall of her chest slowing.
“Can you feel it?” he whispered, dipping his face so his lips were by her ear.
“No,” she said softly.
Nord chuckled, squeezing her. “It was just our first attempt. We’ll figure it out.”
Turning to face him, she wound her arms around his neck. “Thanks for trying.”
“Of course.”
The band had taken a break and something with a heavy beat played in the background, but Nord barely heard it, his focus wholly on the woman in his arms.
“Is there anything else on your list I could help cross off tonight?” he asked.
“Well, I already told you about item number one,” she said, giving him a seductive smile.
“Besides that, you little temptress.”
Lina pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Well, I have always wanted to know what it was like to be well and truly drunk.”
Nord laughed, having not expected that answer. “Is that what you were trying to do at the bar when I found you?”
Lina nodded. “It seemed like a good place to start.”
“You’re going to need a lot more than two drinks if your goal is to get wasted.”
“How do you know I only had two drinks?” she asked, raising a brow. “Were you spying on me, Guardian?”
“I don’t spy.”
“Liar,” she teased. “You were totally spying.”
“I was doing my duty.”
“Hey!” she said, eyes widening as she picked up on something he hadn’t said. “You spilled that drink on me on purpose. Didn’t you?”
Nord refused to incriminate himself, so he did the only thing he could to distract her. He kissed her.
Chapter Eight
Lina
“You’re probably going to regret this in the morning,” Nord told her as they waited for one of the rooftop bartenders to notice them.
“Worth it,” she said.
“You say that because you’ve never had a hangover,” he muttered.
Lina grinned. She couldn’t wait. Feeling anything meant she was alive, and she’d never regret a decision that reminded her of it.
The dark-haired bartender saw them first.
“What are you having?” he asked in an accent she recognized as Spanish thanks to one of her previous roommates.
Nord looked at her. “You sure about this?”
“Oh yes.”
“Shots are the way to go, then.” Nord eyed her thoughtfully before turning back to the bartender. “Can you bring us six shots of Fireball?”
With a little salute, the bartender spun and performed a series of dance moves as he grabbed the right bottle and began pouring the shots. The bottle flew through the air, moving around his body and under his leg as he entertained them.
“Enjoy,” he said, sliding the six overflowing glasses to them.
Suddenly nervous, Lina glanced at Nord. “Are these all for me?”
“Fuck no,” Nord laughed. “I’m not trying to kill you. Half for you, half for me. That should be enough to get a good buzz going for you without making you pass out.”
“And you?” she asked.
Nord looked almost offended. “I’ve drank men twice my size under the table. Three shots aren’t going to do anything to me.”
Rubbing her hands together, Lina gave him a wide grin. “What is it people are always saying? Bottoms up?”
Nord handed her the first little glass. “Cheers, Lina.”
She clinked her glass with his and slammed back her first shot. The alcohol burned as it slid down her throat, but it was sweeter than she’d anticipated and she licked her lips as she set the empty shot glass back on the bar.
“One.”
Nord was smiling as she grabbed the next and made quick work of it. “Don’t suppose there’s any point in telling you to slow down.”
She made a face at him and grabbed her third shot. “Hurry up, slowpoke.”
The shot glass looked absolutely minuscule in his hand, but Lina loved the way his throat worked as he swallowed the amber liquid. The sight of him made her far warmer than the alcohol had.
He’d finished his last shot while she’d been busy staring at him.
“Who’s the slowpoke now?”
Not looking away from the challenge in his icy gaze, she took the last shot and slammed her glass down next to his.
It didn’t take long for a delicious numbness to settle into her limbs. “I think it’s working!” she shouted happily.
Her Guardian rubbed his ear. “You’re more of a lightweight than I thought.”
Lina grinned. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Nord shook his head, but followed her as she led him to the other dancing couples. The music was fast and energetic. Lina glanced down at her heels and pursed her lips. Those would not do at all.
She grabbed onto Nord’s shoulder and lifted up her foot to start undoing the tiny buckle.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Making sure I don’t kill myself!” she shouted back, shoving the strappy heel into his hands.
Nord glanced at the shoe dangling from one of his fingers. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Don’t lose them!” she ordered, handing him the next one before moving deeper into the dancing crowd and losing herself to the beat.
She turned, immediately spotting him at the edge of the crowd. Her heels were cradled i
n his hand as he watched her dance, his eyes glowing white-hot as she lifted her arms over her head and rolled her hips in a figure-eight, never breaking eye contact with him.
Heart racing and joy unlike anything she’d ever known flowing through her, Lina danced. She lost track of time as she bounced and spun to the beat, strands of her hair sticking to her neck and cheeks.
Warm hands grabbed her hips and Lina spared only a second to confirm the fingers were covered in rings before leaning back into Nord.
“My shoes?” she asked over the music.
Nord bit her earlobe, his beard tickling her. “Fuck your shoes. I’ll buy you as many as you want, but if you keep dancing like that, I’m prone to start murdering people for the way they’re looking at you.”
Lina giggled, spinning in his arms.
“Whoa there, tipsy girl,” he said, catching her as she teetered to the side. “Looks like item number two on your list is completed.”
She grinned at him, pushing back as she grasped his forearms and swung her head from side to side, her hips swiveling in time with her serpentine movements.
“Fuck, Lina,” he groaned, pulling her hips until they were flush with his, his arousal unmistakable where it pressed against her.
“We can always go back to item number one,” she cooed, hoping she sounded sexy and not demented. It was hard to tell when she had to shout over the music.
He shook his head. “You’re impossible.”
“Just determined.”
The music died down as they heard the band come back for their final set.
“Are you having fun?” she asked him.
Nord nodded. “More than I ever expected.”
“Me too,” she told him.
“Good,” he said, his voice soft now that they didn’t need to yell.
She blamed the alcohol, but her heart swooped inside of her chest at the look burning in his eyes. Never did she allow herself to hope that someone like him might be waiting for her. That there was a person out in the world who would look at her like that. Like he’d destroy entire worlds if she asked him to.
“Thank you for giving me this,” she said.
His smile was confused. “I didn’t do anything.”
She laughed. “Tonight could have ended up so much differently if you hadn’t been here.”
A shadow passed over his face and his fingers flexed against her hips.
“Thank you for being my safety net so that I could learn to fly without fear of falling.”
She wasn’t sure where the words came from, only that it was desperately important to her that he hear them. That he know how much it meant to her that he was helping her do the things, little as they were, that she had always ached to try.
If he thought her words silly, he didn’t let on. Instead, he leaned down until his eyes were level with hers. “Sweet Lina, I will always catch you.”
The sweetness of his words overwhelmed her and unexpected tears prickled her eyes. Not knowing what to say, she pressed her lips to his and clung to him. Hoping her body could say all that she could not.
When she pulled away she laughed and wiped the stray tear off her cheek. “Okay, no more serious stuff. We don’t have much time left! Let’s party!”
Nord laughed. “What do you have in mind?”
Lina pressed her lips together and scanned the crowd, looking for their next adventure. Her eyes widened as she spotted a jet of purple flame in the shape of a mermaid who was swimming through colorful clouds that rolled across the sky-like waves.
Pointing to the place where the flame came from, Lina started moving.
“Come on!” she called over her shoulder.
“Lina! Lina, wait!” he shouted, but she was already half-way there.
Chapter Nine
Lina
The amazed gasps of the crowd grew louder as she found her way to the two men responsible for the fire show. One spewed jets of multicolored flame into the sky, the colors ranging from the deepest red to the palest blue. The other tossed cards high above them, which disappeared as neon-colored smoke took on various shapes and moved through the crowd in response. Together they created the fabulous illusions wafting through the air.
The smoke dissipated slightly, giving Lina a clear view of the performers and a woman with stunning purple hair. One of the men—she thought his name was Milo based on the crowd’s cheers—was holding the woman by the wrist. He was smirking, his brown eyes crinkled with laughter as he attempted to scribble in her palm with a golden pen. Before he made contact, she twisted out of his grasp, causing him to laugh and lean in close to whisper something only she could hear. Then, deck of cards back in his hands, he resumed his show as if nothing had happened.
Lina was entranced as butterflies exploded from emerald green flame and flew around the partygoers. She held her arms high above her head, laughing when one of the fluttering creatures landed on her outstretched fingers.
She lowered her hand slowly, afraid the illusion would dissipate. Up close, she could see the glowing creature was animated by a tiny ember and that its wings were filled with swirling smoke.
The tiny flame started to flicker, the magic wearing off.
“No, you don’t,” she whispered, close enough that her breath brushed over the butterfly’s wings. Puckering her lips, Lina blew a gentle stream of air over its shivering body, the green flame burning brighter as it took flight and returned to the sky.
“How did you do that?” Nord asked, his arm slung around her waist.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Instead of answering, Nord narrowed his eyes and studied her for a moment. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled so hard her cheeks ached. “Great!”
“Not feeling a thing, are you?” he asked, amusement lacing his voice.
“I feel you.”
The azure specks in his eyes appeared to glow. “Do it again.”
“Do what?” she asked, her brows veeing. “You aren’t making any sense.”
“The next time they send one of their creatures into the sky, I want you to take control of it. Transform it if you can.”
“Nord,” she sputtered, “I can’t do that.”
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Of course, I do.”
“Just try it. Actually, don’t try to do anything. Just imagine what you want the colorful flame to be in your mind.”
“Oo-kay, if you say so.”
The crowd was chanting the names of the performers.
“Rake!”
“Milo!”
Milo’s brown eyes shone with confidence. He gave the crowd a cocky smile. “You want more?”
“Yes!”
“Something bigger,” a slurring girl with silver hair demanded.
“I’m not sure your man would like it if I showed you something bigger,” he said with a flirtatious wink.
Roars of approving laughter sounded at his innuendo.
“Here you go,” Nord whispered in her ear as Rake let out another colorful flame.
Milo’s cards flew through the air, the hot pink flame twisting and twirling until it became a giant phoenix.
Like their other creatures, this one dipped and floated in the air, a combination of fire and smoke.
“Know what you want it to be?” Nord asked softly.
Lina nodded, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the soaring bird.
“Take that image and believe in it with every fiber of your being.”
Lina’s eyes fluttered closed. She was so focused on the picture in her mind, it felt like she was holding her breath.
“Lina,” Nord breathed as the crowd let out shouts of delight. “Open your eyes.”
As she did, she gasped. The bright yellow snake she’d imagined was now slithering along a bed of smoke, the pink phoenix nowhere to be found. As new pictures entered her mind, the smoke and flame obeyed.
The bed of wispy clouds coalesced into a shining dagger of cobalt
blue, and the snake coiled around it, hissing with a tongue of purple flame.
It was her tattoo . . . sort of.
Shocked laughter bubbled forth. “Nord, do you see that?”
“I do.”
There was another spray of cards and her illusion scattered, turning into dozens of tiny birds.
“I guess someone didn’t like me stealing his thunder,” she murmured.
Nord chuckled. “Guess not.”
Milo’s dark eyes met hers over the crowd. He walked toward her and Nord took her hand in his, moving so he was standing slightly in front of her.
Milo’s smirk said that he hadn’t missed the movement.
“Nice work. You ever need a . . .” he trailed off and glanced at Nord, “job, just let me know.”
Lina laughed. “Will do.”
With a wink and a nod, he disappeared back into the crowd.
“Do you think anybody else noticed what I did?” she asked, turning to look at her Guardian.
“Does it matter if they did?”
Lina was about to shrug, still riding high on the giddiness of discovering her power—or perhaps that was just the side effect of the alcohol. Either way, she didn’t have a care in the world. Before she could, a feeling of ice water ran over her body, causing her smile to falter.
“Lina? Something wrong?” Nord asked, missing nothing.
“I—” she started, her unease growing by the second.
Twisting her head, she scanned the crowd, trying to identify the source of her agitation. At first she saw nothing; just more drunken revelry.
“Lina,” Nord pressed, concern giving his voice a sharp edge.
“I’m fine,” she said, turning back to him, only to stop short as a sense of déjà vu washed over her.
There, just behind two partially shifted werewolves, a pair of familiar gray eyes stared at her looking as if they’d just seen a . . . ghost.
Chapter Ten
Nord
Lina had lost her happy flush, her skin bone-white and practically translucent in the moonlight. Beside him she started to shake, her fingers fluttering rapidly at her sides as if they were trying to spell something out on the air.
The Monster Ball Year 2 Page 18
