Page 76 of Pawns of Fate
“I don’t know that sleeping monsters would help a madman. But I do think he wants to use your magic to strengthen his own.”
Rose bit her apple. “The legend of Viscount Robson.” Her eyes almost rolled out of her head at the annoyance. “No one in my family has had mastery of their aura like that in hundreds of years. I’ve wondered if the legend is true at all.”
Nicholas laughed, still playing with her hair. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. It’s amazing what you can do despite Hector’s interference .”
“Sometimes I would eavesdrop on my cousin’s lessons just to learn a little bit,” Rose said. The memory brought a smallsmile to her face.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “How naughty,” he said quietly, his voice almost a purr. Why did his words make her heart race? He was just flirting. Still, she thought about the pleasant soreness in her core, and her mind lost its focus, a haze of desire setting in.
“I’ve also read quite a few books on magic,” she declared, desperately trying to maintain the conversation as Nicholas finished his dinner and placed one hand on her thigh. “Though there aren’t very many on aural magic.”
“I’ll order some from the bookseller when we’re finally back in Onanish. We could go together. It would be a nice date.”
Rose remembered their double date to the teahouse. “It’s been ages since we went on a date.”
“That it has.” Nicholas chuckled. “You know, we only met three months ago.”
Her eyes widened. “It feels like a lifetime ago that you scolded me for using my aural magic on Ava.” Rose smiled at the memory.
“You two were surrounded by the prettiest pink glow. It matches your cheeks after we make love,” Nicholas said with a devilish smirk.
She gasped, and he leaned over to kiss her cheek.
“It’s true! It’s the loveliest shade of pink. I’m a little jealous of Ava; you’ve never used your aura on me.”
“Oh, I could if you want me to.”
“Is it hard? We don’t have to if it drains you.”
“It isn’t hard.” She shrugged. Nicholas seemed content, holding one of her hands and playing with her hair. It wasn’t likeher aura would have much effect, but it still felt like something special to do with her husband. “Here, hold my hands.”
Nicholas dropped the strand of hair he’d been fondling and entwined his fingers with hers. Rose loved the feel of his calloused, masculine hands against her feminine ones. She closed her eyes and began to shift her senses.
The smaller auras of the forest plants and animals came into focus for her before Nicholas did. It was because, like his magic, Nicholas had an electric aura. It was very bright and constantly changing, letting off sparks and making it almost impossible for Rose to see it clearly. She grasped as much of it as she could, then willed her magic toward it.
“Oh,” she heard Nicholas say. “That feels… like you’re embracing my very soul. I can see why it’s called a soothing aura. Thank you, Rose.”
Rose was about to end the session when their auras began to mix. Her pink aura had enveloped Nicholas, but now it was a peachy orange color, like a sunset, and sparks flew off it like tiny bolts of lightning.
It didn’t feel harmful or painful, but it still startled Rose. She pulled her magic back to herself. Her senses untethered from the aural plane, she saw a few lightning sparks dancing on her hand while a faint pink aura surrounded Nicholas.
“I’m sorry!”
“What was that?” Nicholas sounded curious, not suspicious, much to Rose’s relief.
“I’m not sure. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.”
“Hmmmm. It would be wonderful if we could share magic abilities. Do you think that’s what it was?” he asked.
“I haven’t heard of that happening before.”
Nicholas held his hands in front of himself as if he were about to catch a ball. Small, electric sparks flew between his hands, and a few of them were pink.
“Oh, I’ve ruined your lightning!” she cried. This is what she got for practicing magic without a proper teacher.
Nicholas immediately stopped the little sparks and hugged her. “You’ve done no such thing. I think it’s wonderful that some of my sparks are pink.”
“Truly?”
