Page 29 of Seized By Magic

Where was I supposed to sit?

If I went to the end, would they think I was avoiding them?

If I sat between Theo and Sai, was I picking favorites? Would Niall think I was embarrassed? If I sat by him, would the others think it meant something?

What about Kaden? The guys had a problem with him the night he got here and how he tricked me by never revealing himself as a shifter. How did they feel about him after a few days? Everything had been a whirlwind since Friday night.

Kaden hadn’t even made it to classes yet, and he was already bonded and living in the upper dorms.

“Just sit,” Sai barked and patted the spot between him and Niall.

Theo and Kaden grumbled, but at least I didn’t have to decide.

“The less you think about things, the better,” Sai whispered. “Eventually, this will feel natural, and you won’t second guess every little thing. For now, jump in, and we’ll go with it.”

I nodded and tried to relax, but I was too tense. I didn’t move for the first fifteen minutes of the movie. I didn’t reach for popcorn or spread out. I was frozen. Paralyzed with indecision and fear.

These guys were my friends. Or close to.

I should be comfortable with them, but I couldn’t do anything without worrying about how each of them would interpret it.

Theo jerked up, reached for an untouched bowl of popcorn, and sat it in my lap. “Extra butter.” Then he grabbed a bottle of water and handed it over. “You live here. You belong here. Stop sitting there like a terrified mouse in a den of snakes. We won’t bite.”

I cracked and let a giggle slip. Then another until I was falling on my side, laughing.

“There she is,” he said and fell back to his spot.

“Careful.” Sai grabbed the bowl before it fell over, and Niall pulled a blanket that was folded next to him and draped it over me.

“Just relax,” he said.

I peeked up at him and nodded.

He gave me one of his minuscule smiles that managed to soften his entire countenance before resting his arm on the cushion over me.

That was exactly what I needed to feel at ease.

I snuggled into my spot, my feet up and settled next to Sai’s thigh, and rested my head on a pillow Niall found and put down next to him. My bowl leaned against me, and I munched away on the deliciously terrible treat, feeling at home for the first time since I moved here.

“Better?” Niall whispered.

I nodded and glanced up at him. He stared back at me for a moment before lifting his gaze to the TV.

Had he done something to me? Made me feel comfortable? Was it compulsion? Could he do that, or was that another thing made up by humans to scare each other?

“Did you make me feel calm?” I had to ask. I needed to know what he and Theo were capable of, especially if we were living together.

“As in, did I force you?”

I nodded.

“No, Saige. We can’t force you to do or feel anything. I relaxed, and I think that helped you do that same. That’s it.”

He turned his attention back to the movie, but I wasn’t sure I believed it was that simple. It felt too natural and easy not to be magic. Did he use a spell?

“No, he didn’t use a spell on you,” Theo answered.

I leaned up on my elbow. “Stop that!”

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