Page 61 of Untraced Magic
A guttural noise came from somewhere within me, and I hung my head between my knees, my fists balled tight, too afraid to release them. Too afraid of what magic might explode from this torrent of emotion clawing from my chest.
“Tyler?” The heat of her palm warmed my shoulder blade, and a calm fell over me.
She turned my face to hers, her kind eyes colliding with mine. They felt like home. Like the only sunshine in this shithole town of stone.
“She died,” I choked out, shaking my head as if it would rid the words from me. “Because of me.”
The last words came as a whisper as I drowned in the guilt suffocating my heart. Words I’d never had the balls to say before.
“I’m so sorry,” I sputtered. “This place, it’s…” An agonizing sound left me as I fought between wanting to comfort Morgan and fighting the panic building inside me.
“What? Tyler, talk to me. Is this the woman… in the photo?” Morgan grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight.
Another breath.
I nodded. “Ava… she was human.”
Morgan’s hand fell to my thigh, her tender voice conveying no judgment. “Tell me about her.”
My gaze pulled to her once more. How could this woman be so selfless, to care about me right now when her entire world was in chaos? My palm released, and I ran my free hand through my hair until it rested on the back of my neck.
Morgan turned her body to mine, her brown orbs absorbing my words with an intensity I hadn’t seen before.
A shaky breath tore through my lungs. “I fell in love with her. Made a bad call, introduced her to our world.” I paused, not wanting to part with the words. “A vampire killed her.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I used to come here after it happened,” I continued, rubbing my knuckles together. “Some of my darkest moments were sitting right here, on this rock. I haven’t been back, I couldn’t.” My head turned to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Morgan smiled softly beside me. “Thank you for sharing such a personal thing with me. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I said with a shrug. “Life is cruel. I’d been meaning to come here but couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
She didn’t speak, her thumb instead drawing thoughtful circles on my thigh. The wind scoured through the trees as it whipped over the cove, my eyes closing under Morgan’s touch.
It was like nothing I’d felt before, each caress staining me with her own imprint. Could it be real? The bond talked about among the supernatural that I’d never believed in? A bond I’d scoffed at. I guess not having felt it myself, it was hard to believe such a thing existed.
I couldn’t be sure, but this was so different from anything I’d ever experienced. Even with Ava.
“I’m sorry this happened. Of all times, now. I can’t control these… moments. I’ve never told anyone about them.” The panic attacks. It was nice having someone here.
“Tyler, it’s okay, really. I’m glad you did,” she reassured me.
I couldn’t help but smile, relieved to have her support. “How are you feeling?” I asked, keen to change the subject.
Morgan looked out over the cove, at the lapping waves in the distance. “I’m alright. Just overwhelmed.” Her expression held the weight of so many thoughts I knew were going throughher head.
I knew the feeling. “That’s understandable.” I squeezed her hand, and her warmth spread into every part of me. “You may have a grandmother back home wanting to get to know her granddaughter.”
She nodded. “I was just thinking that. This whole thing is so surreal.”
“We are all here for you and will help in any way we can.”
It was a promise, and one I intended to keep.
I looked to the sky where gray clouds loomed overhead, drops of rain starting to fall.
“Thanks.” She warmed me with her smile again. “I think I’m going to need it. I feel bad for running out on Betty. You’re right; she’s probably waiting for me.”
