Page 69 of The Tribes of Magic
“You don’t think I…”
“No.”
“How can you be so sure? Like you said, I don’t have much control over my magic. Maybe I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
“I would have noticed.”
I sighed. I just couldn’t hold it back.
“Seven, look at me.”
I sighed again. At this rate, I’d run out of air.
“Look at me.”
“Ok, ok, I’m looking.”
I met his eyes. Our gazes locked. I couldn’t look away. I was trapped.
“What’s happening?” Panicking, I struggled against whatever was holding me there.
“This is what it feels like when someone is controlling you.” Kato spoke quietly, slowly, serenely. “And this is what it feels like when youwantthem to control you.”
My panic faded. My breathing slowed. I felt so warm and content. I could stay here all day, staring into Kato’s eyes.
“You’re pretty,” I said woozily.
My head was all loopy, but it felt good. It felt easy. I didn’t have to think about what I wanted. I just knew.
“Savannah.”
“Kato.” I winked at him, then took his hands.
“What are you?—”
“Do you want to go to the Ball with me?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
I chuckled. “Why did you ask me to ask you?”
He freed his hands. The warmth faded, along with the contentment, the certainty, and everything else. Things didn’t feel easy anymore. They felt very complicated. And I felt very, very embarrassed.
I backed up a step. “Kato, I… I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
“I told you. It was my spell.”
“So that’s what it feels like to be enchanted?”
“Yes.”
“It felt…nice.”
Actually, it felt way more than justnice. It felt perfect. But I kept the commentary to myself. I’d already embarrassed myself enough today.
“Yes, it does,” Kato agreed. “Even after the spell fades, you remember how good it felt. Afterwards, some people pine for the feeling. They miss it. They might even seek out others—Elves—who can cast the spell and make them feel content once more. Others react with anger and even aggression when the happiness is ripped away from them.”
“Like at the Summit,” I said. “After my spell faded, some of the Court members were happy, but others were upset.”
