Page 48 of Untraced Magic
Tyler inched closer to me, his hand moving to my knee, my breath hitching at his touch. I watched as his thumb skated a line back and forth. The sensation set my nerves on fire, causing thousands of prickles to etch into my skin.
“Sorry,” I whispered, lifting my gaze to his.
A smile twitched the corner of his mouth, his steel grays turning over my insides, like he knew exactly what his touch did to me.
I inhaled a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “I’m okay. It was a bit of a blur, to be honest.”
“It’s alright. I get it. Sorry about Wes; he was out of line.”
My voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t think I’lleverbe able to look at him again.” I grimaced.
Tyler let out a deep chuckle. “Yeah, Wes has…” he paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully. “InterestsI can’t even begin to understand.”
As he said the words, Skye and Wesley entered the living room, and if my cheeks weren’t hot enough, they were surely on fire now.
Oh. My. God. Kill. Me. Now.
I covered my face with my hands. “I can’t believe you’re standing here right now,” I groaned.
Wesley spoke, his voice completely void of emotion. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
I lifted my head as Skye smacked him in the side.
“Fine.” He lifted his hands in the air. “I’ll never speak of it again. Now, tell us about these magical hands of yours.” His eyes pierced mine as if he were trying to catch me in a lie.
The whole scenario was so uncomfortable I wanted to be anywhere but here. In my own home, nonetheless.
I held his heavy stare. “So, this little reunion is about me? What is this, an intervention?” This so-called neighborhood watch thing could just leave as far as I was concerned.
Tyler’s voice came from beside me. “Morgan, we’re here to help. Please let us.”
My attention remained locked on Wesley until I felt Tyler’s hand tighten on my knee. I turned away to find Tyler pleading silently with me. He was the first person I’d opened up to about my secret, but not by choice. Hell, I didn’t even understand it myself, let alone want to share it with others.
Three sets of eyes penetrated the lie I’d sold for years now. The tough exterior I’d guarded my secret with. Their weighted stares withered away the remaining strength I had, and at this point, I knew they were my only hope of finding answers.
“Fine,” I sighed, tipping my head back. My eyes slid shut, breath gathering in my lungs in a controlled rhythm, unable to believe I was about to tell them the absolute truth. I forced myself to look at Tyler. “I wasn’t quite honest with you.”
My breath scattered under the intensity of the moment.
I stood, pacing the room. “Mymagickilled my adoptive parents. We were having an argument.” I purposely left out the part about my stupid ex who my parents had disliked, who happened to be the subject of dispute. “Something inside me just snapped. I don’t know how it happened. But the next thing I knew, I’d blasted a hole in the side of the house, lighting it on fire.”
The room stilled, falling into an awkward silence.
I sank my forehead into my hands. “The blast killed them. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” I whispered, turning back to Tyler again.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, moving behind me until his hand lay in the small of my back.
Skye shifted toward me and slung a hand over my shoulder, pulling me close. “That’s really tragic. That must have been awful.”
Saying it out loud brought back visions of the horrifying night.
Ones I had boxed up and placed neatly into the back of my memory, hoping they would someday disappear.
I paused, collecting myself. “That was the first time it happened. The second time was yesterday, when Tyler saw me.” I lifted my head again, finding his gaze fixed on me. I couldn’t look away.
Something flickered in his irises, emotion spilling between us in a soundless exchange that I knew only two people having lost someone could understand.
Wesley shifted in place, pulling my attention to him. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. But why didn’t they tell you about your gift?”
