Ivy
Laz stands in the middle of my cozy breakfast nook. One of his big books lies open on the table, and he's teaching me how to say the words to the spell that will reverse Shipton’s ward renewal magic
It is not going well.
I keep having flashbacks to third-period French class. To this day, I cannot remember a single word, and I know it's going to be the same with this spell.
Conall is trying and failing to hide gruff chuckles behind his hand while sitting in a chair at the other side of the round table. I glare at him, but he grins back cheekily, those dimples that make me melt are on full display.
"You'll have the book with you on the night of the full moon. So we're not trying to memorize it. Just get the words pronounced correctly."
I try another word that comes out sounding a lot like “hypotenuse”, which is likely not correct given the pained expression on Laz's face.
"Okay, I'll leave the book and the phonetic spellings here with you to practice," he sighs.
I glance down at the book, mouth twisting. "And I'm not going to accidentally make it rain frogs or make the house float by practicing these words?"
This earns Laz a small smile. "No, Miss Smith. As you've seen, you need blood to operate a spell. If you get a paper cut, maybe take a break."
"You still haven't said," Conall speaks up. I look over to find him sitting up straight in his chair, smile gone, laugh a distant memory. He's staring at Laz. "How much blood will she need to use?"
"I'm still not certain,” Laz answers. “I've been looking for reference material, but nothing seems to have an exact measurement.
" Conall growls, and I lean my chair closer to his.
His hand finds the back of my seat, thumb swiping up my spine as he glares at Laz.
"The spell specifically says it won't be more than half of what the initiation spell required from Shipton. "
Conall's claws dig into the wood of the table. "You're talking about my mate, Laz. This isn't something I'm going to let you guess at."
"I'm working on finding the exact amount. It's not a simple science. Everything has to be just right or the wards won't be reinstated to their previous specifications."
"She is not—" I cough, and Conall cuts off, glancing at me. He'd clearly begun to shift. His hair is a fuller green, his teeth have elongated, and his tail has started to grow thicker—all things Hound.
I look straight at him, and he takes a deep breath. Autonomy. The reminder that just because we're together doesn't mean he gets to make decisions for me. Once he's backed down, I turn to Laz.
"I recognize that having dangerous monsters coming to the island is terrible. But I don't plan on dying for it," I say. Conall's eyes shutter, a muscle ticking in his jaw as though he's physically straining not to speak. "So you need to know, as best you can."
Laz nods, gathers his things, and leaves through the front door. Conall snaps the spell book shut and looks down at me. I brace for anger or irritation at being overridden.
"How about I make pizza, and we curl up on the couch, and you can tell me all about the new books you got from Layla today?" he asks, and something soul-deep in me unclenches.
"How did you know I went to Layla's?" I’m slightly suspicious, but mostly relieved.
"She caught me at the café when I went to get your lunch. Said there were a couple for me too." He winks, and my whole face heats. He kisses the top of my head on his way to the kitchen.
As he starts chopping vegetables for our next meal, I realize I don't need to brace with Conall. Every reaction is soft, kind, and full of care. He's never turned any kind of problem back on me. Granted, we've known each other for less than a month, but none of the red flags from Mark are here. Plus, there’s a pull at my center I’ve been feeling more lately. Conall thinks it’s the mating bond, making it clear he’s mine.
I've never felt a connection like this before.
And I realize I'm not just falling hard for Conall.
I might have already fallen.