Page 50 of Untraced Magic
“So where does that leave me?” I asked quietly.
Wes shifted in his seat, everyone turning their attention to him.
“I’m going to take a stab in the dark here and say you’re a witch, and you have a spell bound to you that’s somehow suppressing your magic.”
Tyler nodded beside me. “That would explain why you can’t sense her.”
Confusion crinkled my nose. “A spell? That’s insane. How did you possibly come up withthattheory?” I questioned with a disbelieving scoff.
Wes remained unfazed by my skepticism, his arms folded across his chest. “Because I’m a sensory mage.”
I stared blankly at him.
He rushed out a frustrated breath. “My senses are heightened. Meaning I can sense magic through mind or touch, among other things.” He stilled, his attention fixed solely on me. “The thing is, I tried to sense if you had a gift at the party and couldn’t feel your magic. I thought you were human. That’s never happened before.”
I passed my gaze around the group. “Why would someone cast a spell on me?”
Wes, who had been standing, sank to the floor. “Thatis the question. But what I do know… is that dark magic has touched this locket.”
I threw my hands in the air. “Great! I find out I’m a witch, and already I’m downgraded to the bad kind. This is madness. I would never hurt anyone,” I insisted, exasperation filling my tone.
Tyler spoke from beside me, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We just need to figure out what this locket has to do with everything. It was obviously left with you for a reason.”
Skye moved closer, her palm extending to the middle of the circle. “This symbol must have something to do with a coven, or a specific bloodline of witches. Maybe I can take it to the library and see if I can find anything about it. Just let me get a photo.”
I nodded, happy to have any help at this point.
She pulled out her phone and took a snap before stuffing it back in her pocket. “I’ll let you know if I find anything. Please don’t freak out. We’ll try to help any way we can.”
I smiled back at her. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
She turned to Wesley. “I’m going to need your help.”
Without a word, the pair left. But my mind was reeling, two words repeating over and over.
Dark magic.
It didn’t make any sense.
Tyler’s hand drew my chin to face him until his familiar irises locked on mine.
“Hey,” he said, caressing my cheek as tears stung my eyes. “I know it’s a lot to take in. Don’t freak out on me.” His lips curled up in a comforting smile.
A long breath shuddered in my chest, and I stilled under his touch, my eyelids flicking shut.
“I just don’t see how I fit into all of this,” I whispered, staringback up at him.
The warmth in his gaze imploded a storm of emotions inside me, and tears fell freely, ghosting wet trails down my cheeks.
“I mean, I’m just me. Plain, boring me. I’ve had a normal upbringing, with totally normal parents. I’ve never done a bad thing in my life. I would never hurt anyone.” My fingers covered his, pulling them from my face, and he laced his fingers through mine until they settled in my lap.
“Trust me when I say you’re not boring. In fact, you’re quickly becoming the most interesting person I’ve ever met.”
Through blurred vision, I stared at him as if I he was delusional. He looked back at me as if I was a wonderous gift.
With his free hand, he swiped another tear from my cheek.
I sniffled. “I need coffee.”
