Page 18 of Their Fated Magic

But he doesn’t move. Doesn’t respond. He just lies there, his chest rising and falling slowly.

“Is he…?” Arlys asks, concern in his voice as he kneels down beside me, a hiss of pain slipping from his lips as he does so.

I’m about to answer, to say something – I’m not sure what – when Drogo’s eyes blink and slowly open. His gaze is unfocused for a moment before it locks on me. Then, he looks relieved.

He's okay, I think.

My heart races, and my hands tremble. He glances down at himself, then back at me. We stare at each other, with mirrored expressions of shock. Like he’s as surprised that I healed him as I am that my magic actually worked.

“You’re going to be okay,” I whisper.

When his hand reaches out and touches my cheek, my face flushes with warmth. When he brings his lips to mine for a kiss, that warmth spreads throughout my body. His lips are even softer than I remember, and his kiss is gentle. It’s a vast contrast to the aggression he usually shows me.

I moan as his tongue slides inside my mouth. And just as I’m about to put my hand on his face he pulls away, leaving me feeling empty at the loss of closeness to him. He brings his hand to his lip and looks away from me. Probably regretting kissing the woman he was forced to marry.

“What happened?” he asks, his voice gruff.

Garrick puffs up. “Tara killed the monster with her magic. She said one word, and it melted into the ground.” Garrick looks at me with a bright smile on his face and a gleam in his eyes.

He’s proud. Proud of me. Has anyone ever been proud of me before? I don’t think so.

Drogo’s gaze returns to me, and he frowns. “When we met you, you said that you couldn’t do Battle Magic.”

I don't know what to say. “That's because I didn't… I couldn't…”

He pulls away from me, like I’m his enemy and not the person who saved his life. Which I don’t deserve. My heart aches as he shoots me an angry look. Then, grumbling about me being a liar, he limps out of camp, a scowl on his face.

He’s going right back out into the dangerous night. The place we were just attacked. What if there are more monsters in these woods? Magic is amazing, but he’s still hurt. Hurt. Not dying. He still needs to be careful.

“Drogo!” I call after him, my muscles tense, ready to chase after him. Then I cast Arlys a nervous look. “Is it safe for him to be alone out there? Are there other monsters?” I ask, worried that Drogo will get himself hurt again, maybe even worse by himself.

Arlys looks troubled, but not afraid. “Monsters are more common on shifter lands than on witch lands. We aren’t protected by the mountains like your people are, but Drogo will be fine.” He moves, wincing and holding his left hand at an odd angle.

“Fine how?” I ask, confused.

Rinan explains. “It's still rare to see a monster here. The chance of seeing two is nearly impossible.”

Okay, deep breath.

I go to Arlys, gently taking his left hand in mine. It’s broken – bent awkwardly – and he winces again as I touch it. “Heal.”

Again, there’s this feeling of accessing my power. I'd heard the other witches talk about it, my tutors describe it, but it was something I'd struggled to experience my whole life. Now it seems to come so easily to me, for reasons I don’t understand. His hand straightens, the bones moving under my hand, and there’s relief on his face as the tension in his body dissolves.

“Thanks,” he says, moving his hand gingerly. Then, before I can respond, he continues, “Have you always been able to Battle Magic? Did you lie to us about it?”

My heart contracts, physical and emotional pain coursing through me. I’m not a liar. I don’t like being called one, even less so from someone I care so much about.

Someone who has made it clear they don’t care about me back.

My gaze locks with his, and I try to push my emotions down. “No, I wasn’t ever able to do Battle Magic. I don't know why it worked tonight. I've only ever tried in a classroom before and it never worked. I'm just so sorry it didn't happen quicker tonight. I could have kept all of you from getting hurt if I’d just taken a chance with it.”

Arlys grimaces, shaking his head, and I’m honestly not sure if he believes me. Which hurts. Even though it shouldn’t. I know what they think of me. His reaction shouldn’t be a surprise.

The thing is, I’ve never been anything but honest with them. I’ve only kept the note from my mother a secret, and I have my reasons for that. Reasons that involve finding the right moment to tell them. A moment that won’t destroy the fragile connection I have with all of these men. But they don’t know anything about that. From their perspective, I feel like I should have earned at least a little bit of their trust, but I guess not.

“Arlys…”

“I have to find Drogo,” he tells me softly.

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