Reigning Magicks

by Candace Osmond

  Silence cut through the air and stole the breath from her lungs. What had she done? Poor Cian was riddled with guilt and it was her doing. She had to make it right. Somehow.

  But, something had shifted. The kiss had altered her mind, opening up a new, uncharted path that made her emotions swirl with excitement and nerves. The truth was that, other than her family, she had nothing to go home to. They loved her as she loved them, but home meant unreasonable demands and unanswerable questions. Could she accept the role they demanded she play, or could she choose her own path, the one the universe had pointed her toward?

  She had a reason to stay there in the future. Cian. She'd wished for a solution to her problem and she'd been brought to him. Their souls had literally called to each other through time. That had to mean something.

  Maybe she belonged there.

  Chapter Six

  Cian scrubbed a hand over his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror. God, he looked a mess.

  He hadn’t slept. Instead, he’d laid on the floor staring at the ceiling, listening to the sound of Ashlynn’s rhythmic breathing and wondering how he was going to stand another day of being around her without touching her.

  Less than two days had passed since she’d appeared in the forest, terrified and confused. Less than forty-eight hours since he’d felt that first tug of awareness in his gut when he’d looked into her beautiful eyes and seen the trust she was placing in him. She was lost, out of her time, and dependent on him alone. Not that she was helpless, gods, he’d never met a less helpless woman!

  Cian chuckled wryly as the thought about how Serena would react to such a situation. She’d do one of two things; cower and hide, or demand to be given respect when respect hadn’t yet been earned. Ashlynn’s quiet strength and wariness was impressive.

  She wasn’t all poise and control, though. He’d seen her passion, witnessed it flash through those eyes of hers and flush her skin. She felt deeply, it was easy enough to see that. Serena seemed to feel nothing at all, except maybe the icy urge to control those around her and have everything her way.

  He groaned and hung his head. Every thought in his head was centered on Ashlynn, on how different she was from Serena, how much more connected he felt to her already. He was a man who trusted his own mind above all and now, with her, he was questioning everything.

  Was it a magical shockwave? Was it his unconscious mind scrambling for an out to his marriage with Serena? Or was it something real?

  He raked a hand through his hair and ground his teeth in frustration. How could he trust his own motives?

  He heard the sounds of her waking up and all shadow of doubt left him instantly. A pure, simple joy at being able to speak with her and spend the day with her, lifted his spirits. Cian crossed to the door of the bathroom and watched her stretch in the ray of early morning light that filtered through his curtains and wondered how anyone could be so effortlessly beautiful.

  “Good morning,” he spoke softly so he wouldn’t startle her.

  Ashlynn beamed at him, then covered her mouth with her hand to hide a yawn. “Good morning,” she said when she’d recovered. “How did you sleep?”

  Cian toyed with confessing his restlessness and its reasons for a split second then went with, “Like a baby,” instead. Sharing his feelings, however uncertain they were, with her at this point would no doubt confuse and frighten her. She was a princess from the 1700’s and most likely a sheltered virgin, he had to remember how different a life they’d lived. “Are you hungry? I was thinking about making pancakes.”

  “Are those like meal cakes?” she asked with a grimace.

  Cian laughed, “I don’t know what meal cakes are, but I’m pretty confident in saying that they’re not like pancakes. These are sweet. You’ll like them.” He remembered how much she’d loved the ice cream yesterday and knew she’d be a big fan of his banana chocolate chip pancakes. “Come down when you’re ready. Coffee or tea?”

  “Coffee, please,” she said grinning. He’d made her coffee the day before, with milk and sugar, and she’d become an instant convert.

  Cian turned on the radio while he mashed the bananas and mixed the batter. He lost track of time as he cooked and sang the latest number one song in the country. He was just putting the final pancakes and bacon, which he’d decided to add to the meal at the last minute, into the oven to stay warm when he felt Ashlynn step into the kitchen.

  “You have a beautiful singing voice.”

  He turned to smile at her and froze with his mouth hanging open. Instantly, the glimmer of excitement in her eyes turned to nervousness.

  “Is this not right?” She ran a hand over the dress she wore, smoothing the material down. “I used that spell you showed me and copied an outfit from your mother’s magazine. Did I get it wrong?”

  Cian fought to find his voice. She was wearing a navy-blue summer dress that ended just above her knees, revealing the length of her almost endless pale legs. On her feet, she wore a pair of sandals that made her look taller and so unbelievably sexy Cian had to remind himself to breathe. She’d matched the outfit with a long gold necklace and bracelets that jingled when she moved her nervous hands.

  He swallowed hard and took a deep breath, telling himself to calm the fuck down. She wasn’t the first gorgeous woman he’d seen in his kitchen. She was, however, the first woman that had ever made his heart literally stop in his chest then painfully restart.

  “No,” he managed to force out, “you didn’t get it wrong. You look beautiful.” He stared at her, unable to look away even knowing she would be able to see the depth of emotion behind his words and his gaze. He didn’t care, let her see. Let her know. He was so tired of holding back.

  “It’s very short,” she tugged at the bottom of the dress as if she could make it longer, which she could, Cian mused to himself. He didn’t remind her, though. If she was uncomfortable and wanted a change, she’d make that decision. When she slipped her hands into the skirt, grinned and said, “Look, it has pockets!” he knew she would be alright.

  They'd eaten breakfast in the kitchen, chatting about music and movies. She was enthralled by the idea of moving pictures and had bounced with joy when he’d suggested they go see one. She’d already seen enough of the future to endanger everyone. He had to trust that she’d keep what she’d learn to herself, for the future’s sake.

  He’d suggested a day of wonder after breakfast, reasoning that she may as well experience the future now before they found the means for her to go back. The past would wait in the past, after all. It wasn’t going anywhere.

  They’d spent the remainder of the morning doing foolish things, like getting triple scoops of ice cream at Scrumdiddly’s and catching a Fun Fair popup on the outskirts of the city. Then Ashlynn had remembered his promise to show her a movie and off they’d gone to find a theatre playing something good. Cian decided against letting her watch First Man, the biopic of Neil Armstrong and his famous walk on the moon. There were certain things the past didn’t need to know yet.

  Ashlynn was frowning delicately when they emerged from the theatre. Cian chuckled, knowing she must be so mixed up inside with everything she’d experienced. “Just ask me,” he prompted her.

  “Are there really sharks that big in this time?” Her wide eyes held an edge of fear in them. Cian doubted she’d ever go swimming in the ocean again, if she ever did, being a princess and all.

  “No.” He tried to hide a smile and failed. “It’s just a story, something fun to amuse people for a few hours. To take them away from their lives. It’s just a fantasy.”

  She sighed and shook her head, “But I see nothing worthy of getting away from yet. Your time is filled with the miraculous. The common people had nothing like this back home.”

  Cian thought about it for a moment then, lifted a hand to point to a young man sitting on the sideway between them and where he’d parked the car. “See that boy, right there?”

  “Yes,” Ashlynn peered straight
at him.

  “He’s homeless and more than likely, based on the pallor of his skin and the way his clothes are bagging on him, addicted to drugs.” At her frown, he elaborated, “Um… drugs. Narcotics. Milk of the poppy.”

  “Ohhh,” Ashlynn looked at the boy now with sad eyes. “But, he’s so young to be afflicted.”

  “Not really.” Sean shrugged. “In this world, he’s old enough to leave home, to be forgotten about, to lose everything just to get a fix. There are hardships in every land and in every time.”

  They climbed back into Cian’s car and started home in silence. Cian felt bad for showing Ashlynn the bad that came with the good but told himself he shouldn’t be. It was always better to face reality than to hide from it. She was strong enough to see the truth and know it.

  “We should probably get back to work,” Ashlynn said quietly when he arrived. She walked ahead of him, unusually silent, up the stairs to his room. Another pile of books lay stacked on the table, waiting to be read, so she sat dutifully and opened the first one. Cian sat across from her and wished he could read her mind.

  Hours passed without either of them speaking and, at first, it was uncomfortable enough to make Cian restless. Then, without him knowing how or why, they settled into perfect harmony, finishing books in time to switch and jotting down quiet notes on the legal sheets Cian had taken from his father’s office. Every so often, he’d lift his head and watch her because it felt unnatural to go without seeing her face for too long.

  “I’m going cross-eyed,” Cian said, after hours of reading. He marked his place and closed the book he’d been reading about the ancient seers, unable to read another word. “How’re you making out?” He covered his mouth when a yawn escaped but quite manage to contain it.

  Ashlynn yawned then laughed, “Oh, Gwen was forever getting us caught up in yawn attacks. Mother always tried to fight it off and it made her face do such hideous things. We’d laugh at her attempts then run like the wind before she could catch us.” Her smile dropped. “She didn’t used to be so unreasonable, you know.”

  Cian studied her. “Who? Your sister?”

  “No, my mother.” Ashlynn pushed away from the table and walked across the room to stand at the window. “She always had rules, too many rules father would say, but it was important for us to learn how to lead. But, no matter the rules, I always knew she loved me and Gwen. Lately, though…” she trailed off.

  “Lately you feel like you’re just a pawn being moved around without anyone giving a shit what you think?” Cian heard the bitterness in his own tone and didn’t care. It was the truth, wasn’t it?

  Ashlynn just nodded. “Growing up isn’t quite the adventure I thought it would be.” She bent to pick up an empty wine bottle from the floor.

  Cian arched an eyebrow. “Well, now I think you’ve managed to have your fair share of adventures.”

  She grinned then, and it warmed his heart to see laughter in her eyes again, put them by him. “I think you’re right about that. How could the rest of my life ever live up to this, though?”

  He didn’t know. Not if she returned to the past at least. If she stayed… he pushed the thought away, but it stubbornly kept coming back. If she stayed, there would be nothing but adventure. Every day would be an adventure with her by his side.

  Cian told himself it was futile. There was no point putting himself through this kind of pain if it was going to lead nowhere. He pushed up from the table and excused himself, needing some time alone to put himself back together. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  He pulled his clothes off piece by piece and caught himself wishing it were Ashlynn helping him undress. His body reacted to the thought, sending every excess pint of blood in his body straight to his family jewels. He groaned and shook his head. More than a few years had passed since he’d been a pubescent boy yet he kept reacting to her like one. Well, technically that wasn’t true. The things he wanted to do to her now hadn’t even been on his radar as a teenager.

  The sound of Serena’s shrill voice shot straight through him, chilling the blood in his veins instantaneously. Fear for what she’d do to Ashlynn, what she’d say, pushed him into action. Cian grabbed his jeans and shoved his legs into them as quickly as he could, barely taking the time to pull up the zipper before he burst into the room to see Serena and Ashlynn facing one another in the middle of his bedroom.

  “Serena!” he called out, hoping to preempt any attack on her part.

  She turned slowly and looked at him with those icy blue eyes, raking her gaze up and down his body. Cian realized, too late, the error in his reaction. His betrothed saw the obvious, crumpled clothes and bedsheets, empty wine bottles and trays of discarded food. He took a step toward her, opening his mouth to explain, when she pivoted faster than he would have ever thought she could move, striking out her hand as he turned. Cian watched in horror as the back of Serena’s hand connected squarely with Ashlynn’s cheek, filling the room with a resounding smack. A sound that echoed straight through his heart.

  Chapter Seven

  Ashlynn reeled from the impact of the woman’s hand. She raised her hand instinctively and touched the blood dripping down her cheek from the sharp impact of a ring. Her mind spun from the blow and the hope it had erased the moment she’d laid eyes on the woman. The long blonde hair. The dainty features held up by a lithe frame.

  Ashlynn’s face twisted in confusion. “Gwen?” No, she thought, it couldn’t be.

  The woman narrowed her gaze and took a cat-like step forward. “Serena,” she corrected and then raised her chin proudly. “Serena Cineal. And who the fuck are you?”

  Ashlynn, still dumbfounded, had no response. This horrible woman, Cian’s betrothed, was a near mirror image of her sister. Aside from the jealous anger that seethed in the woman’s bright blue eyes. Except, Gwen never would have behaved in such an unsightly manner.

  Ashlynn’s heart sank. No matter what she’d thought for that first split second, this could never be Gwen because her Gwen had been dead for hundreds of years.

  Cian stepped closer to Serena with a protective hand held out in front of Ashlynn’s body. “This is a friend of mine,” he told her. “Her name is Ashlynn.”

  The woman’s eyebrows raised. “A friend? I’ve known you since you were a child, Cian. Who is she? Why have I never heard of her?”

  He rolled his eyes. “You don’t know everything about me, Serena, Jesus Christ.”

  “I’m a new friend,” Ashlynn spoke up from over Cian’s shoulder, still feeling too thrown off by the woman’s looks to speak reasonably.

  Serena shot her a gaze that would befall death onto anyone. “Was I speaking to you?”

  Ashlynn’s eyebrow arched now as she snapped out of whatever hope and doubt she’d just been sucked into. She opened her mouth to demand the shrew give obeisance. She may be out of her own time but there was no doubt this woman was beneath her in every way possible. Ashlynn’s magicks began to tremble in her veins.

  “What are you doing here, anyway?” Cian asked, glancing at her with a look she could easily decipher. He wanted her to back down. Ashlynn had to force herself to listen, but she did, for him.

  Serena strolled her long legs around the room, pointedly eyeing the messy bed and the linens on the floor. “I’m here with mother and father,” she replied. “We came to see if your parents had arrived back from their trip. There’s some last-minute things to settle on for the wedding.”

  The word ‘wedding’ made something turn over in Ashlynn’s stomach. She fought back the bile that threatened to rise.

  “Your parents are here?” Cian looked past her, frowning.

  She shrugged. “Of course. They’re in the courtyard. I thought I’d come wake my husband.”

  “Fiancé,” Cian corrected through clenched teeth.

  Her mouth twisted with a wicked grin as she cocked her head and encircled him, brushing her long fingers over his shoulders as she did. Just seeing Serena’s hand on Cian made As
hlynn’s blood boil. She felt her magick begin to gather in her blood again, ready to come out and fight.

  “For another two weeks,” she replied defiantly and then turned her gaze on Ashlynn. “He’s all yours until then, love. After that, if I see your face –“

  “Serena!” Cian bellowed, startling the both of them. Serena regarded him as if she’d never seen him raise his voice before. The thought intrigued Ashlynn. “I think you need to leave. Now.”

  “Fine,” she replied and arched an eyebrow as she failed to hold back a dirty grin. “Have fun with your friend.” She cackled with laughter and walked toward the door, blonde waves swinging wildly behind her.

  Ashlynn listened to the sound of Serena’s heels clicking against the hard floors until they disappeared. The moment the bitch was gone, the impact of seeing her sister’s face on that witch of a woman hit her like an anvil. Ashlynn sank down into the nearest chair and closed her eye as her heart raced. Gods, how was it possible for this hateful woman to look so much like Gwen?

  She heard Cian walk slowly toward her. He stopped and squat down, reaching out to take her hands.

  “I’m so sorry for that,” he apologized.

  “Why?” Ashlynn opened her eyes and shook her head. “It’s no fault of yours.”

  “In a way it is, though.” He sighed and gently touched her cheek. “You’re bleeding.”

  “It’s not that. I’m fine.” She pressed a hand against her jittery stomach. “She reminds me of my sister.”

  Cian blinked in surprise. “Jesus, really? I feel bad for you, then.”

  She let out a weak laugh as Cian’s thumb brushed the cut on her cheek, causing her to wince. “No, just in appearance. Gwendolynn is nothing like Serena. She’s sweet and kind, wouldn’t say a harsh word to save her life. Or…was, I should say.”

  Cian didn’t respond but she could feel tiny tendrils of magic crackling over his skin to move buzzing over hers. Attentively, he cared for her wound, using his earth magic to stitch her flesh back together. The nearness of him, the intense heat that pulsated from his fingertips, made her heart beat madly. Her fingers writhed together in her lap as she refused to listen to her brain, which was urging her to reach out and touch him. To pull him in and take his mouth. She held it together, fighting her primal instincts, until, finally, he was done. Then Cian’s gaze lifted, and his eyes focused on hers.