Page 32 of Dewitched

He recognized Prince Orrin Nightstar instantly because of the family resemblance to Iliana. That meant the other male had to be his mate, Cerberus. The hellhound who was actually a god but who didn’t like being called a god.

Or something like that. The explanation had been incomplete and kind of confusing.

He just knew the guy had some major power, and the air in the room crackled with the energy that flowed off him. Oddly, no one else appeared to notice it, which only made him more nervous.

What the hell was happening to him?

Erus wasn’t the only one turning the room into a fireworks show, either. The prince had arrived with some heavy-duty magic of his own.

And he had come to sit right beside him.

Owen clamped his knees together and pinched the top of his robe closed as he tried to subtly put some distance between them.“Fenix?”He pleaded with his eyes, seeking answers.“What’s going on?”

“Don’t be scared,talei. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

“You must be Owen,” Prince Nightstar said, his voice almost as musical and Iliana’s. “I’m Orrin.”

Owen and Orrin. Maybe they could start a boy band. O Squared.

He kept that inappropriate thought to himself and nodded.

“I hear things haven’t been going so well for you.”

An understatement, but accurate enough. “Yes, sir.”

“I’d like to help you if you’ll let me.”

Owen’s heart fluttered, but he quickly shoved that flickering sense of hope into a deep, dark corner. The last time he had accepted help from someone, it had blown up in his face.

“I appreciate it, but I don’t know if you can. I just can’t control it.”

Orrin smiled. “Do you want to?”

What a strange question. Of course, he wanted to control it.

No, that wasn’t strictly true. Control would be nice. Acceptable. It wasn’t what he really wanted, though.

“No,” he answered honestly. “I don’t want this at all. I wish this had never happened to me.” Clasping his hands together in his lap, he lowered his head and sighed. “Is that horrible of me?”

Some would say he had been given a blessing. One he should be thankful for. From his limited knowledge of Otherlings, he did know they were, by large, proud of their heritage. How selfish and ungrateful he must sound to the paranormals in the room.

Only, it wasn’thisheritage. Not really. His parents were human. His grandparents were human. The fact that he had this curse proved magic must have existed somewhere in his family tree, but he was so far removed from that part of his history.

“I don’t think it’s horrible at all,” Orrin answered kindly.

“But it’s a gift.” He tried, but he couldn’t quite keep the sarcasm from his voice.

“A gift shouldn’t hurt you,” the prince countered. “I have to ask, though. Are you really sure that’s what you want? Once it’s gone, there’s no way to bring it back.”

“I’m sure.” It was all he’d ever wanted since his abilities had first appeared. “Please.”

“Very well.” Orrin took his hand and held it gently as he reached out with his other. “Fenix?”

“Wait.” He tensed and jerked his hand back. “What are you doing?”

“Energy can be renewed or recycled,” the prince explained. “It can be transferred or displaced, but I can’t just make it disappear.”

“No.” Shaking his head, he slid farther across the bed. “No.”

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