by Amy Manemann
He smiled. “As your Guardian, my magic connects to yours, so if you ever need to draw on my strength, you only need to search within yourself. I can’t tell you what it will look like, but when you find it, you’ll know.”
I sighed, looking around to find a comfortable spot to sit. Again with the cryptic answers. Find his magic. Really? Settling on the grass, I closed my eyes, preparing to open my senses.
“Open your eyes, Willa.”
Wait, what? Startled, my eyes popped open to find him standing over me. “How am I supposed to do this with my eyes open?”
He reached down and pulled me to my feet. “When you’re in the middle of a battle, you won’t have time to get yourself into a meditative state. You must be able to connect with your inner strength while staying focused on your surroundings.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible.” He tugged on my braid playfully. “You already know how to find your inner light. You know the path to take, you know the thread. I want you to try finding it while keeping your focus on me.”
I gave him a slow, once over, doubtful. “You’re a bit distracting.”
He grinned, eyes sparkling mischievously. Why did I not like the looks of that?
“Point taken. All right, new plan.” He struck out at me with a defensive move. Going on reflex, I instantly blocked him, counteracting with one of my own, which he easily blocked.
“Your new plan is to pick a fight?”
“I wanted to start you out easy, but since you can’t handle staring at me without being distracted, I figured I’d take it up a notch,” he answered, ducking the spin kick I flung at him.
I had to admit, his technique wasn’t all that bad of an idea. If I needed to keep my focus in any situation, this would be as good a training as any.
“So how do I do this?” I jumped out of reach when he did a sweeping kick with his leg that, at the beginning of my training, would have knocked me on my rear. I guess I really had come a long way.
“Divide your focus, use your instincts.” A grimace split his lips when one of my kicks hit its mark.
Blocking another punch, I did as he instructed, dividing my focus between our fight and finding the light inside me. While my eyes remained focused on Braeden, my mind began to travel a familiar path, searching through the fog. My light was weak yet, as I didn’t have my full powers, but I knew it was there, a small pulse of power lying dormant inside me.
“You’re almost there.” Voice low, Braeden threw another spinning kick that I ducked and countered with a punch that glanced off his forearm.
Warmth began to seep through my body, flowing through my veins as my mind continued on the path through the fog. As I blocked another punch, my mind found the light I searched for, and I smiled, instinctively reaching for it.
An explosion of bright light filled my vision, and Braeden’s shout of alarm barely registered as the light engulfed me. Power like nothing I had ever felt before slammed into my body, rushing through my bloodstream until I was unable to feel anything else but the power of the white light inside of me. My mind was heady with power, the unbelievable feeling leaving me flushed and exhilarated.
All too soon the light began to fade until I was bereft of the warmth and my skin had grown cold. As the last of the light faded, and the meadow came back into focus, I found Braeden lying on the ground a few feet away, looking pleased.
“I see you found your light,” he smirked, rising to his feet and brushing the dirt from his pants.
I moved to help him, brushing grass from his hair. “Did I do that?”
“That you did, and nicely done, too.” His face was filled with pride. “You didn’t happen to notice my power in there before you grabbed a hold of your light, did you?”
I grimaced, shaking my head. “No, sorry. I saw my light and kind of just went for it. Is that what it’ll feel like when I get my powers? Because I have to tell you, that was awesome.”
He grinned, reaching up to tug the end of my braid. “I see you’re power hungry already. I better keep a close eye on you.”
“Ha, ha, very funny." I rolled my eyes. “Seriously though, am I going to light up like a Christmas tree every time I reach for my light?”
“Pretty much, though you’ll learn how to control it. Allora has already taught you the skills to master it. You’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
I bit my lower lip. “Yeah, because I really put those skills to good use when I knocked you on your rear just now.”
Braeden threw his head back and laughed, the sound bringing a smile to my own lips. “A trait that’ll come in handy when in the middle of a fight, trust me.”
I wanted to believe him, but doubt nagged me. This was the first attempt I’d had at grabbing a hold of my light, and it worried me how out of control I’d felt. The rush of power had been exhilarating, yet freakishly scary at the same time. Would it always feel like that? Not for the first time in the past week, I wished my mother were here to tell me what to do.
Braeden easily saw the worry in my eyes, and he captured my hand, tugging me close. “You'll be fine, Willa. Remember, I’ll be there, always a part of you. You only have to look to find me.”
Tears clogged the back of my throat as he pressed a kiss to my forehead, a small tremor running through me. “And what if I get lost in the light?”
Braeden smiled, tipping my face towards his. “No matter how lost you are, I will always find you.”
As it always did, the sweet press of his lips on mine sent my thoughts scattering, and along with it, the last of my doubts.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. After a day of training, Braeden had left me in front of the door to my room, his mysterious parting words that he would knock on my door at seven o’clock and to wear something nice.
With no idea what that meant, nor having any clothing options on the nicer side, I invaded Allora and Keeley’s rooms in search of an outfit. It was Keeley who chose the dress now encasing my body, and I had to admit, I’d never seen anything so beautiful.
It was a simple black cocktail dress that stopped a few inches above my knees. The long sleeves were see through though lined in a sparkling black material that matched the lining on the dress. It was simple, elegant, and made me feel more beautiful than I’d ever felt before. To top off the ensemble, the girls had dug up a pair of open-toed, high-heeled silver shoes that I was fairly certain I would break my neck wearing. But they matched the dress perfectly, so who was I to argue?
At Keeley’s insistence I’d left my hair down, the dark tresses spilling over my shoulders and midway down my back in waves. The weight of my hair being down wasn’t something I was used to, and I was debating pulling it up when a knock sounded on my door. Butterflies took flight in my stomach. It was now or never. Turning off the bathroom light, I stepped to the door, drawing a deep breath before tugging it open.
I don't think I'd ever seen Braeden look so handsome. Dressed in black dress pants, a black shirt and a black dinner jacket, he looked as if he'd just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. The top few buttons of his dress shirt were unbuttoned, giving him a relaxed yet still stylish look. His hair had probably been combed back at one point, but I could easily see the treks where he’d run his fingers through it, sending it in its usual disarray. He was more handsome than any man had a right to be, and I was insanely giddy that he was mine.
He stared at me hungrily, his golden eyes darkening as he took in my dress. “Words can’t describe how amazing you look.”
The huskiness of his voice warmed me, and when he leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek, my heart thumped erratically. “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself. Finally took a shower?”
He chuckled. “I figured I’d better take one if I was planning on taking you on our first date.”
“Our first date?” He was taking me on our first date. This handsome, romantic man was taking me on a date. How
did I ever get so lucky?
“Of course, it was bound to happen sometime. I’m only sorry it took me this long.” Tucking my hand into the crook of his arm, he drew me out of the room. The door swung shut behind us, and we headed down the hall.
I felt so elegant walking next to him, the soft rustle of my dress brushing across my knees as we walked. I curled my fingers into his jacket, reveling in the soft feel of the material in contrast to the hard muscle underneath.
“So, where are we going for this date?” I asked, curious when we entered the main room and Braeden steered me towards the portal hallway.
“We only have a short window, but I thought I’d take you out.”
“We’re leaving the Council?” My jaw slackened in surprise. “Won’t that be dangerous?”
“Only if you aren’t back before my spell wears off,” Allora spoke, startling me. I'd been so caught up in Braeden that I hadn't noticed she was in the portal room, apparently waiting for us.
“Allora can cast a cloaking spell that will cover your powers for a short time, which will allow us to go into the city undetected,” Braeden explained, his smile widening when I bounced excitedly on the balls of my feet.
“Really? How long do we have?” I stood perfectly still while Allora raised her hands and walked around me, casting her spell, hard as it was. We were leaving the Council!
Finished, Allora dropped her hands, taking a step back. “Two hours at most, so I would suggest you use your time wisely.” She directed to Braeden, who solemnly nodded. Cupping my hands between hers, Allora gave them a gentle squeeze. “You look absolutely beautiful, Willa. Have fun and keep him out of trouble.”
I laughed, returning the squeeze. “I’ll do my best.”
Braeden captured my hand in his and tugged me towards the portal wall.
“Remember, keep a hold of my hand as we pass through.” He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it.
Giddy with excitement, I nodded. "I promise."
One step forward, I eagerly followed him through the portal. We came out the other side in a dark alley, the smell of smoke instantly assailing my nostrils. I wrinkled my nose, glancing around.
“Is this where you take all your dates?” I asked dryly, not impressed.
Braeden laughed, tugging my hand.
“Only the ones I really like,” he assured me, dragging me out of the alley and on to the street.
Bright lights and a flurry of activity surrounded us, and I stopped to gape, entranced by the sights. All around us were bright city lights, crowds of people, and the noise of traffic as it sped by on the street. Old buildings with modernized store fronts met my eye at every turn, and I yearned to go inside them and take a look around. With our time limited, that probably wasn't a good idea. Still, maybe next time.
“Wow, this is great! It kind of reminds me of New York City with all the lights and people.”
Braeden looped an arm securely around my shoulders, his larger presence saving me from being jostled about. “Have you been to New York?”
“A few times with Aunt Sadie when she was looking for new merchandise for the store.” My voice grew wistful at the mention of my old life. I’d spoken with Sadie a few times over the past week and all was returning to normal back home, but I still missed seeing her familiar face. She promised as soon as everything was back in order in Salem she would come to see me, but I needed to stay where I was. It was safer here. I didn’t disagree with her, yet I couldn’t help the homesickness that washed over me from time to time.
“You’ll see her soon,” Braeden said, as if reading my thoughts.
“You always seem to know just what to say to cheer me up. Are you psychic?”
He winked. “Nope, I’m just good that way.”
“If you say so.” I tore my gaze away from his to look around. “Do I get to ask where we’re going tonight?” We’d come to a stop in front of a restaurant, the soft light from the large street facing windows casting an inviting glow over the sidewalk.
Like the true gentleman that he was, Braeden pushed open the door, ushering me inside. “You can ask, but we’re already here.”
The atmosphere inside was warm and romantic with white linen-covered tables filled with elegantly dressed couples enjoying their meals. It warmed my heart that Braeden had thought to bring me here.
“Bonjour, Monsieur, Mademoiselle,” a smartly dressed host greeted us at the door. He was stationed behind a large podium, a small reading lamp shining on a clipboard attached to the dark wood.
“Bonjour. J’ai une reservation pour deux sous le nom Mathieson.”
Eyes wide, I could only stare at the man next to me. I suppose it was only fitting that in addition to all the other awesome skills he possessed, my Guardian appeared be fluent in French. Huh. Just when I thought he couldn’t get any better…
The host nodded and glanced at his list, a smile spreading across his lips. “Oui, Monsieur, me suivre s’il vous plait.”
Having no clue what either man was saying, I took Braeden’s cue when he motioned for me to follow the host, who took us to a private table in the back corner of the room. While Braeden took his seat, the host assisted me with my chair before leaving us to return to his podium.
“That was impressive. How many other languages do you know?” I asked, declining when a waiter appeared at my elbow with a bottle of wine.
Braeden also declined the wine, waving the man away. “I’m fluent in French and know a bit of Latin, though Delaney speaks and interprets Latin far better than I do.”
“Still, it’s impressive. The only language I ever learned was Spanish, and I’m afraid I wasn’t a very good student.” I laughed, reaching for the menu. Written in French with English definitions below, it was a relief that I could understand the menu without difficulty. Now the problem was deciding from the mouth-watering choices available.
“There are so many choices. I can't decide what to even order,” I finally exclaimed, meeting Braeden’s amused stare over the top of my menu.
“I can probably help you with that. How adventurous are you feeling?”
“I’ll eat almost anything, I’m really not too picky. As long as it isn’t slimy, that is,” I quickly added, suppressing a shudder.
Braeden laughed, dropping his menu on the table. “So, no frog legs then?”
I swallowed at the mental image. “Seriously? You even need to ask?”
Braeden laughed again, lifting his hand to signal the waiter. “Just checking, you never know when you might surprise me. I think I know just what might work.”
Chapter 21
Braeden ordered for us, spewing out words in French faster than I could keep up with. And since I didn't hear him say anything that sounded even remotely like frog legs, I think I was safe on that score. Our order committed to memory, the waiter retrieved our menus and hurried away, leaving us alone in silence. Unsure what to say now that I had nothing to occupy my attention other than the handsome man sitting across from me, I nervously raised my water glass to my lips, taking a large sip.
“Have you thought about what tomorrow will bring?”
I lowered my glass with shaky hands. “It’s the only thing I can think about. Have you?”
He nodded. “Yes, and I want you to know that no matter what happens, nothing will change between us.”
The quiet intensity of his words took me by surprise, and something clicked. “Is that what tonight is all about?”
“Sort of." Braeden smiled sheepishly. “I also wanted an excuse to get you away from the Light Council for a few hours unsupervised. I figured taking you to a romantic restaurant was just the bonus.”
I laughed. “Mission accomplished. I have to say this is a nice change compared to the colored hallways.”
“You aren’t kidding. On a brighter note, at least you know getting lost at the Council wouldn’t prove to be a problem. Just follow your yellow brick road, so to speak.”
A frown t
ugged my lower lip, reality setting in. “I wish we could stay in this moment forever.”
He sighed, reaching across the small table to capture my hand. His thumb trailed the top of my knuckles, sending small shivers of awareness through me.
“Me too, and tonight I wanted you to know just how important you are. Not just as a Lightkeeper, but as a woman who has cast an irreversible spell over my heart. It’s important for you to know that, before you gain your full powers and our destinies are tied together," The vulnerability in his gaze stole the breath in my lungs, and I was forced to swallow past the lump that had lodged in my throat. Knowing he felt the same way I did moved me in ways I couldn’t even begin to describe. Was this what love felt like?
“So, I’m pretty well stuck with you, then?” I tried to sound teasing, but my words came out breathlessly.
“It would appear that way. I’m delighted to note you don’t snore at night. At least we’ve gotten that barrier out of our way.”
My lips twitched. “You’re quite the charmer, Mr. Mathieson, though I do hope you realize that mentioning a woman snoring isn’t exactly flattering.”
He feigned shock. “Really? Well, that would explain why all my past relationships were doomed for failure.”
“Trust me, Mathieson, your lack of charm is the least of your concerns,” a deep voice spoke, the familiarity of it not going unmissed.
Slowly lifting my gaze, my eyes collided with Lucian’s, too shocked at seeing him in the real world to manage a response. He was even more handsome in person, the soft light of the restaurant reflecting off his dark head giving him a sinisterly appealing appearance.
Noticing my loss of words, his smile broadened into a cocky smirk. “Why, I do believe I’ve made her speechless. Now that’s how you charm a lady.”
Braeden’s hand tightened around mine, jaw clenched. “What are you doing here?”
Lucian snapped his fingers, and a chair materialized out of thin air. I gasped at the chair’s sudden appearance, jerking my hand from Braeden’s grasp to scoot my chair back. Even as I stood, I could feel the remnants of Lucian’s fading magic trailing over my skin like caressing fingers, warming my body, even as I told myself it wasn’t real.