Page 115 of The Cursed Fae

Portals & Pastries

I hadn’t actually expected Laz to hand over the keys. He agreed to drive me, and even offered to wait in the car while I practiced if that helped me concentrate. Personally, I thought he wanted to stay in front of the heater.

Why did I choose the cove, the place where Mat had broken through the wards and come for me? I had performed incredible magic there. Maybe it didn’t have the natural power of somewhere like Arcane Falls, but there was a certain energy.

The wind whipped my hair as Laz and I made our way to the beach. Once we reached the frozen sand beyond the dune, the air grew still. The turbulent sea sent waves crashing against the shore. Overhead, the sky lightened, a few splashes of blue peeking through the gray clouds.

Laz watched as I devoured two powdered sugar donuts and washed them down with a bottle of iced tea. I already knew he was an excellent coach from our private tutoring sessions. He had me call my magic, walking me through pulling power from each of the elements.

Water came easily, the roiling ocean lending me its chaotic force. The earth grounded me, providing an anchor for the massive amounts of energy I drew in. Air proved more difficult, which seemed ridiculous since it was everywhere.

“Breathe,” Laz coaxed. He stood behind me, so close his breath tickled my ear. “Take it into your lungs. Feel it on your face. Absorb the power.”

The magical pit in my stomach doubled in size.

“Call on fire,” he whispered.

My legs started shaking, fingers and toes vibrating.

“Control it, Winter,” he said, taking a step away. “Don’t let it control you. Harness the energy.”

At that moment, he sounded just like Archer. The thought of him made my grip on the magic slip.

“Come on, Winter. Focus,” Laz said, an edge to his voice.

Sweat soaked my back beneath all the layers of clothes. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I struggled to keep the light from bursting out of me.

“Better,” Laz muttered. “You’ve got it. Now cast the portal.”

Like before, my target was the attic bedroom in Nana’s house. I could picture the low ceilings and haphazardly arranged books on the built-in shelves. I raised my right hand and released the energy in a concentrated stream of light, which quickly morphed into a swirling gold ball above the sand.

“Draw more power,” he coached.

Waves crashed behind me in faster succession, the water traveling to the toes of my boots before retreating. The glowing sphere stretched like putty to form a full-sized doorway. For a few seconds, the haze cleared, and the attic appeared on the other side.

Laz put his hand on my shoulder. “That’s enough, Winter.”

The room vanished, with the glowing circle disappearing a moment later. I spun to face him, eyes wide with shock.

“I did it!” I exclaimed.

His arms were around my waist, pulling me to him. “I’m impressed,” he murmured, brushing his icy lips across my flushed cheek.

“I want to do it again.” I drew back from the embrace to look at him. “Can I make another portal?”

He laughed, amused by my enthusiasm. “More donuts first.”

I ate half a dozen pastries before we left the cove. Casting any spell was a physical workout for a novice like me, so I kept warm despite the temperature. Laz’s teeth chattered when we climbed back in the car.

“We should’ve left hours ago. Why didn’t you say anything?” I turned the heater to full blast before reaching over and cupping his face in my hands. “I’m sorry.”

He managed a small smile. “You opened a portal. That’s what matters.”

“I made a lot of portals,” I corrected him.

Laz’s quiet laughter rang in the car. “You did. Tomorrow we can try walking into one if you’re ready.”

My mouth found his. His tongue felt icy when it slid between my lips. He tasted like the last crème filled donut we shared. The kiss was brief, and we didn’t continue once back on campus. Laz had to practice for initiation at the end of the week. All other events, including the formal everyone was so worried about, had been cancelled.

---