Page 27 of Untraced Magic
Airscrapedthebackof my throat as I hurled in a breath, bolting upright in my bed. My chest rapidly rose and fell, and I swallowed as I took in the view of my room, reminding myself that it was just a nightmare. It wasn’t real.
They came to me once a week now, always the same vision of the dark-haired woman with those intensely sharp eyes. She called out to me on the nights she found me in my dreams, like a tether I couldn’t break.
I pulled my bedcover high over my head, away from the light spilling through my window. What the hell was I thinking, not shutting my curtains?
Then memories of last night flooded the peaceful space between my sheets. Holy crap.
Tyler.
Tequila.
Thelapdance.
I groaned.Idiot.
Dancing with Tyler felt like a sin. A giant, mouthwatering sin. I couldn’t get the guy out of my mind. He had a confidence abouthim without being cocky, but his eyes gave nothing away. Dark and guarded.
Banging came from the front door, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Morgan, are you awake? Open up, it’s me, Skye.”
I threw back my covers before padding to the front door, swinging it open. Skye still had on her sequin dress from the night before, her heels dangling in her hands. Shadows hung under her eyes, and she massaged her temple, the tell-tale sign of a wicked hangover.
I laughed. “You look ridiculous.”
“I feel like a bag of arseholes. I haven’t had a night like that in ages,” she replied with a groan.
“You and me both,” I agreed.
Following me inside, she helped herself to a glass of water and flopped down on the couch. “So, what’s going on with you and my brother?” She eyed me curiously. “You guys looked pretty cozy on the dance floor last night.”
She was right. Wewerecozy on the dancefloor. Really freaking cozy.
Crap.
“Well, he can dance. I thought he’d have two left feet,” I said matter of factly.
A laugh erupted from Skye.
“Tyler never dances. Seems you convinced him otherwise.”
I cringed, leaning against the kitchen counter. “What’s his deal anyway? He’s so…” I struggled to find the right words.
“Ty’s been through a lot over the past few years.” She hesitated as if unsure about something, like it wasn’t her information to share. She finally squared her shoulders, her voice lowering. “He lost someone close to him. If he wants to talk about it, he will, but he’s a private guy, so don’t bet on it.”
“Oh, that’s horrible,” I said softly. My heart pained to hear what he had been through. He hid it so well. Too well.
“Please don’t tell him I said anything,” she pleaded, her tired gaze meeting mine earnestly.
I shook my head. “I would never.”
I had no plans to talk to Tyler. In fact, I needed to put as much space between us as humanly possible. Secrets were betterkeptsober, and in one’s own company.
“Thank you.” She smiled with relief. “The last thing I need is another male with his sack in a twist,” she mumbled.
A laugh forced from me. There was quite obviously someoneelsewith their junk out of joint in her life.
I arched a brow. “Do I detect man trouble?” I joked.
