Page 55 of Untraced Magic
He popped his knuckles. “Not exactly. I mean, I usually brush people as they walk past or get a sense from a distance. What I did with the locket before, I don’t usually do on people. I’m not sure how this would work. But I’m willing to try it if you’ll let me.”
Wes refused to look at me. Like fuck I was going to let her be his crash test dummy. I didn’t know how this whole sensor thing worked, but Wes dabbled in ways I didn’t understand.
“There is no fucking way I’m letting this happen,” I said, rising to my feet and putting myself between them.
“Tyler,” Morgan cried out, but I didn’t move. “Please sit down. Let’s just hear him out.” She moved out from behind me, her eyes burning into the side of my face.
I didn’t take mine off Wes. He couldn’t seriously be considering it, could he?
“If you fucking hurt her…” I warned.
“STOP!” Morgan’s hands fell between us. “I want to give this a go.”
A stiff gust of air swept between us, causing her hair to fall across her face. Like the elements were sounding a warning. She swiped it away without breaking eye contact.
I held her gaze for what felt like an eternity. A week ago, she’d been a stranger to me. Today, I didn’t understand the feeling that urged me to protect her so fiercely.
I lowered my voice, my hand capturing her forearm. “You don't have to do this.”
She stared up at me, a silent plea. “I know. But I want to try.”
“He could kill you,” I reminded her, stating the obvious, uncertain she knew what she was getting herself into.
“Please, let me try this.”
I forced my hands through my hair in frustration as she turned to Wes with folded arms.
“What do I need to do?” she asked.
Wes held my stare, a nerve grinding his jaw. “Let’s go inside.”
Morgan cautiously stepped away, and we now stood chest to chest. If looks could kill, he’d be six feet under, and I’d happily dig the hole myself.
Skye shoved my shoulder. “Okay, enough with the dick swinging contest. Let’s go.”
I tore my eyes from Wes, reluctantly following them inside as I muttered under my breath.
In the living room, Wes moved the coffee table to the side until there was an empty space in the middle of the room. He motioned at Skye, refusing to look at me. “If you could both sit to the side.”
A thumping shunted my bones to the marrow, my heart storming blood through my veins.
I controlled every aspect of my life but was powerless to make them see how dangerous this was. If Morgan wanted to do this, I couldn’t stop her.
Morgan and Wes sat crossed legged facing each other, the locket in her hand. Her eyes met mine as if wanting my blessing, but I couldn’t grant it. Not when her life was at stake.
She drew in a breath, slowly letting it out again. “Are you sure about this?” she said, suddenly looking not so confident.
Wes rolled his shoulders, straightening. “Like I said, I haven't done this before. Not like this. You’re just going to have to trust me.”
Uncertainty rolled off them in waves.
Skye looked as uncomfortable as I felt, twisting her ring around her thumb.
Jacked full of adrenaline, it coursed through me, my jaw holding tight. I shot Skye a look, but she only shrugged her shoulders in response. Fuck. This was happening whether I liked it or not.
Wes moved closer to Morgan until their knees touched. “I’m going to place my hand over yours, so the locket is between our palms, then our free hands cover them.”
She nodded.
