Page 23 of Touch Of Fate
Lace leaves, and I don’t look around as I head to the stairs. There is a door tucked behind them. It’s slightly ajar, and I push it open with my foot. I let my eyes adjust for a moment and turn on the lamp at the side of her bed without touching it.
“You do that so easily,” she whispers.
“I’m spoiled.” I grin. “I use my magic more than I should for simple tasks.” I lay her gently on the bed and stand. She grabs my hand.
“Lie beside me,” she says. “The spare bedroom is bare. I don’t have guests, so I didn’t bother to furnish it. The couch won’t fit you.” I’m absurdly pleased to hear she doesn’t have people over.
“Do you want to change?” I ask, walking around the bed.
“No.”
“I can step out,” I say.
“I sleep in very little,” she replies, and I have to bite my tongue. “Plus, I don’t have the energy to move.” I take off my shoes and then hers, trying not to think about her naked as I crawl into her bed. I turn to my side, curl my arm under my head, and lay my hand between us. “I feel like I have been awake for a week.” Her eyes open, and I lose my breath. They are dark and deep. I could lose myself in them.
“I can replenish you,” I offer, knowing I have some to spare.
“No. I need to feel it and adjust.” She smiles slightly. “I’d like to find a way to do it myself.”
“How did it feel?” I ask.
“Satisfying,” she says. “Yet, I’m disappointed that I didn’t finish. Does that make me a bad person?”
“No.” I chuckle. “He was the bad person. It doesn’t matter that you needed a little help. It will become easier. It was the first time you used your spells in such a way. It’s understandable that you had some snags. We made the world a bit better without him in it. I’m proud of you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Don’t doubt it. It was thrilling to watch. Does that make me bad?”
“No,” she says quickly. “Tell me about your aunt.” She doesn’t want to discuss it, and I allow the subject to change. I don’t want to push her.
“She is bold, brash, loud, and loves deeply. I love her, yet she drives me nuts. Adeline is my mom's sister, and from the stories I’ve heard, they were wild children. I believe it after the years spent with them. She found her bond when she was seventy-five. We were grateful to Uncle for calming her down.” I smirk, and Mara glances at my lips. “She can see the future, but before she soul bonded, it was random and sometimes painful. Controlling it was difficult. Some of her visions were wrong or could be taken the wrong way. Uncle Maven loved her profusely at first sight. It was a bonus that he made her happy. Adeline has been involved in my life for as long as I’ve had memories. She gave me my first sip of alcohol, and Mom was so pissed. It didn’t matter what kind of wild or ridiculous idea I came up with, she always had my back. We tease each other but know it’s all from the deepest love.”
“I’m glad you had that,” she whispers, covering my hand.
“I am lucky.” I watch her fingers twirl the rings on mine.
“What about your mom?” she asks.
“She’s only slightly less wild than Aunt. We’ve had a very honest relationship. She’s allowed me to test my limits. If I get hurt, she laughs and asks me what I learned. Her power is strong, and so is the woman. She taught me how I should treat a woman and told me she would spell me in some horrible way if I ever were a horrid man.” Mara laughs and grips my fingers. “It’s funny now. I was a teenage boy with raging hormones. I ignored her sometimes and felt her wrath. The first girl I kissed was a neighbor. I got the kiss and then ignored her. Mom whacked me with a broom and spelled me. I couldn’t leave my room for a week. Physically, I couldn’t leave. She hid the door and windows.”
“Oh shit,” she gasps.
“Of course, she still fed me and came in every night before bed. I learned my lesson, and she was beside me when I apologized to the girl. She did all kinds of wacky things. I’ve never forgotten her lessons, so it worked. She’s sweet and has the biggest heart. She hates rude, mean, and judgmental people. I watched her tip over a cup of water with her magic on a man who was rude to the server. No one suspected the nice witch at the next table.” Her smile appears but slips. Her eyes are heavy. “Mom and Adeline threw me a party every time I learned a new skill.” She laughs lightly as she loses the battle, slipping closer to sleep. “She taught me to embrace my magic,” I whisper. Mara’s breathing deepens. I slide my hand out of hers and tuck her hair behind her ear. This is the woman I will spend forever with. Her spells are as stunning as the woman. “I’ll teach you to do the same.”
I could see the longing in her eyes as I spoke. She misses her mom. Even though she has had her sister, I get the feeling she had a heavy burden. She acts more like Lace’s mother. I can understand it, but I don’t know the reasons why. Her past is a mystery, and I think it will take patience for her to open up. Something happened to her. Something she is ashamed of. I want to reassure her that she is safe with me. I know the value of family. Giving her mine will hopefully heal her wounds.
A little snore escapes her, and I smile. It’s cute, but I will never admit that her sister was right. Reaching the bottom of the bed, I pull a blanket over my bond, tucking her in. I slowly ease off the bed and turn off the light. I doubt she will wake. Leaving the door open, I explore her home. The ground floor is small but charming. I stop by the couch. It’s burgundy, and indeed too small for my frame. The living room is connected to the kitchen. It’s basic, with one long counter, stove, sink, and fridge. An area to the left of the kitchen is a small eating area with an alcove where you can sit and gaze out to the backyard. A door isbetween the kitchen and the table that leads to the backyard. The front door is at the front of the living room, and I move to it.
Pressing my hand to the wood, I speak my spell.Keep all out who have the intent to harm. Protect my soul bond.I drag my hand to the floor, up the sides, and over the top. Most protection spells wear off, so we need to do them every day to keep them strong. Maybe it is a paranoid move. Now that I have found Mara, her pain is mine. If she were hurt, I couldn’t go on.
Moving to the side door, I repeat the process. Archer and Lace could walk through my spell as long as their intentions are pure. I’ve never felt so protective of another person. I love my family, yet I’ve never spelled their homes. I take care of the back door and walk to the stairs, quietly ascending. Opening the door on the left, I discover an empty room. Mara wasn’t exaggerating. There is only one window, facing the front of the house, and I secure it. Returning to the small hall, I enter the bathroom to the right. One window. I do what I need to and retrace my steps.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I realize something odd. Mara’s house is filled with color. I bet her favorite color is red. The cupboards are painted the same color as the couch. The alcove is littered with colorful pillows. There are vases filled with flowers of every color on the side tables, the table, and the counters. Her house is bright and cheery. What’s weird is I don’t see any photos. A home like this should be filled with memories, yet Mara has none. It’s a contradiction. On one hand, it is filled with personality, but not. Also, having three doors in such a small area is unusual.
What happened to the sisters? Even though her mom died, I would think they would cherish pictures of her. I wonder what Lace’s house looks like. Every second, I become more curious about my bond. She’s hiding behind her calm exterior.
I stop in the bathroom outside her bedroom, use it, and secure the one window. As I start to pull away from the glass,movement catches my attention. I narrow my eyes and stare at the owl watching the house. Of course, I can’t be sure it’s the same owl I saw earlier, but the odds that it’s not is low. He doesn’t intend harm, and I can feel old magic. I wonder if Mara knows of his presence. Many animals are protectors of those who hold magic, but some are the bringer of bad news. Quietly, I return to Mara, more curious about her. The other door in the room leads to the same bathroom, so I seal the large window. She doesn’t move as I lie beside her, slipping under the blanket. I roll to my side, staring at her face, mesmerized. How can I feel such yearning for a woman I just met? Her presence beside me gives me a peace that I don’t think I’ve ever felt.
