Page 142 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

I jumped back, shaking my hands, fingers numb and tingling. Before I could do anything more, Kirsten stepped forward and slapped her palm on my chest. The world slowed down as though I’d been plunged into a video played at quarter speed. Pain erupted in my chest, then there was the weird sensation of the ground vanishing beneath me. Wind rushed around my ears and face, my hair billowing.

For an instant, I saw the others gaping at me. I had a few milliseconds to wonder what they were so concerned about before time resumed its normal speed. The sky and earth moved in a weird strobe effect as I tumbled ass over teakettle twenty yards to the back of my yard, landing face-down with an inarticulate groan.

I lay there, motionless and groaning into the grass. It was like a truck had run over me.

“Shit!” Waylan shouted. “Jace, are you okay?”

Rough hands slid under my armpits, dragging me up. “Camp feel my megs,” I slurred.

“Give it a second,” Tank called.

A few seconds later, my toes began to bristle with a pins-and-needles sensation. I stumbled upright, nearly tripping, then blinked hard and shook my head. My white T-shirt had an imprint of a hand burnt into it, small wisps of smoke trailing up into the air.

“Holy fucking shit,” I said, staring across the yard at Kirsten, who looked even more pleased with herself.

“I know, right?” she shouted. “I’m like a human taser.”

Despite the pain in every inch of my body, I grinned at her. I loved seeing her so happy and excited.

“I like that trick,” I said, walking toward her. “What I don’t like is the idea of anyone getting close enough to you that you have to use it, but I’m glad it’s there.” Once I was within arm’s reach, I pulled her close and kissed her lightly. “I’m really proud of you, you know that?”

She leaned into me, then nearly collapsed, my arms the only thing keeping her on her feet. My happiness was replaced by worry in an instant.

“Hey, are you okay?”

She nodded against my chest. “Tired.”

Her voice was groggy, almost like she was already drifting off to sleep on her feet. Scooping her up, I carried her into the house.

Tinsley shook her head. “I told her she needed to take it easy. She was pushing herself too hard, too fast. She’s crashing. Summoning that much magical energy is exhausting unless you’ve had loads of practice.”

Kirsten’s head slumped onto my shoulder, faint snores coming out of her mouth.

“Is she gonna be okay?” My worry was building by the second.

“She will be,” Tinsley said with a nod. “Magic is a lot like exercise. You have to build your muscles before you can lift a really heavy weight. Using this much magic before the body is accustomed to it is like running a marathon after being a couch potato for years. She needs rest and food to replenish her reserves. After that, she’ll be right as rain.”

That made me feel a little better.

I headed upstairs, but instead of taking her to her own room, I took her to mine. Laying her down on the bed, I pulled her shoes off, then tucked her under the blanket. I crawled in beside her. She hadn’t stirred at all, and as I wrapped an arm around her, I watched her sleep. After a few minutes of listening to her heartbeat and rhythmic breathing, I dozed off.

Sometime later, I didn’t know how long, I awoke to the crackle of static electricity in the air. Keeping my eyes closed, I said, “You’re supposed to be resting.”

A finger trailed up my bicep, leaving tingles in its wake. This shock wasn’t painful, more like a tickle.

“I’m plenty energized now.” Kirsten sent another painless pulse of magic into my shoulder.

I opened my eyes and watched her run her fingers across my skin. She trailed her hand over my chest, and even through the shirt, I could feel the sizzle of magic on my skin. Catching her eye, I grinned at her.

“Do you like that?” she whispered.

“Maybe.”

She sent another pleasurable wave across my stomach, and my cock stirred, pressing up against my pants. Kirsten must have seen because her grin widened. “Maybe? It looks like more than maybe.”

With a growl, I was on her, kissing her deeply. In moments, we were both consumed by the madness of desire. Before I could stop myself, I reached forward, grabbed her shirt by the collar, and yanked. It tore down the middle, revealing those gorgeous breasts of hers.

Kirsten gasped against my mouth and looked down. “That was fucking hot.”

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