Page 6 of Seduced
But there’s nothing for it. Every minute we wait, Maya’s injuries get worse. Her breathing is still labored, and she’s unconscious. We need to get to work.
“I need you three in here,” I say, indicating Jack, Ty, and Aiden. “Then I’ll close the circle.”
“How will we know if it’s successful?” Cora asks.
It’s a valid question—and I’m not sure of the answer.
“I can’t say yet. I’ve never done this before. We’ll try our best, but it might hurt her. A lot.” I think back to the spell we performed in Aiden’s room. The pain had been excruciating and sudden. “Just don’t be alarmed, okay? And please don’t break the salt circle, or the spell might not work at all.”
Jack’s father pulls his wife into an embrace, and they stand there, watching us with round eyes. There’s no way they’ll ever forgive me if I make their daughter’s condition worse.
“Okay.” With a big gulp of breath, I pour more salt on the floor to close the circle. “Let’s begin.”
Three
Skye
The guys knowwhat to do. This time, we remain standing. They all reach out to me, and I clasp their hands in mine to establish a connection. Then I close my eyes, focusing on my breathing. It takes me several long inhales to calm down enough to find the shimmering pool of my magic, but it’s such a relief once I do. The serene calm of that inner well spreads through my veins like quicksilver, cooling the heat in my cheeks. I dip my fingers in the power and let it trickle over my palms.
Then I remember why I came here. I flick the droplets of the liquid off and let it remain where it is. I don’t need my own magic for this spell. It wouldn’t work, and trying to use it would only deplete me. Instead, I reach out for Jack’s.
His had been the easiest to get to the last time we performed this spell. But now, I can’t find him at all. I squeeze his hand, scrunching my eyes tight to block out all outside distractions. Tentatively, I search for his magic, for the bond that linked us so naturally when he’d opened up to me.
Nothing.
It’s as if his core is walled-up against my influence. Not surprising, given the circumstances. Deciding to let him relax a little more, I reach out for Ty. He’s hesitant, like that last time, but lets me in without an issue. His power envelops me, bright yellow and warm, and I breathe a little sigh of relief. A niggling thought has wormed its way in my head: maybe it’s not Jack who’s at fault here. But Ty’s well of magic is right here, glowing, so it’s not me who’s off my game.
Maybe two out of three will be enough to perform the spell. I tighten my fingers on Aiden’s hand and attempt to touch his magic. And I slam into a wall so hard, it kind of feels like I bruised my senses, even though my physical body hasn’t moved an inch.
I open my eyes and blink. The three men stand in front of me, more beautiful than I could have imagined. But while Ty’s face is relaxed, Jack and Aiden are clearly too preoccupied to participate in this spell. Jack’s eyes are shut, his eyebrows down as though he’s forcing himself to keep still, and Aiden’s staring at Maya’s limp form, a devastated expression on his face.
“Guys,” I murmur. “This isn’t going anywhere.”
They all look at me in question, and Maya’s family shuffle in the background. No one comes closer, but I feel the anxiety wafting off them. Maybe it’s that I’m still attuned to the men’s feelings, but there’s a palpable nervous energy in the air.
“I can only reach Ty,” I explain. “You two have shut me out completely.”
Jack’s expression falls. “I’m sorry.”
I put my palm to his chest. “Don’t be. This is hard. But unless you open yourself up to me, I can’t help Maya.”
He presses his lips together and nods. Then he rolls his head from side to side and loosens his shoulders with visible effort. “Let’s try again.”
“Or you could just use my power,” Ty suggests.
“No chance,” Aiden rasps out. “She’d drain you too quickly.” He drags his palm over his face. “With injuries this complicated, even the three of us might not be enough.”
Ah, so that’s the source of his worry.
“Don’t think about that,” I urge him. “Focus on us for a moment. Let me in, and I’ll do the rest.”
“Yeah.” He casts one last look at Maya, then holds out his hands to me. “Let’s try again.”
We need to hurry: Maya’s breathing is getting worse. But there’s no way I’m going to rush them into this. Whatever feelings they have about this situation, they’ll need to calm down and allow me to do what I can.
With my eyes closed, I reach out again for Jack. There’s a bit of resistance, then he opens up to me, allowing me to touch the well of his pale-blue magic. It’s so incredible, my throat closes up at the sensation. We connect, and Jack lets out a deep sigh.
Ty’s magic is waiting for me, leaping up eagerly as I stretch out my senses. He exudes a sense of anticipation and optimism: he believes we can do this. I had no idea the spell we performed on my arm made such an impression on him, but he has complete confidence in me.
