Chapter 19 - Cora
Cora stood barefoot in the small clearing behind her apartment, focusing on the energy swirling beneath her skin. The early morning dew clung to her feet, grounding her, as Elena’s voice rang out from a few steps away.
“Focus, Cora. You’re letting it slip again.”
“I’m trying,” Cora muttered, gritting her teeth. The raw frustration simmering inside her made it difficult to concentrate. She felt torn open and vulnerable, and though her night with Grayson lingered in her mind, it only made the weight of everything pressing down on her more unbearable.
“No,” Elena chastised. “You’re holding on too tightly. Magic doesn’t respond to force—it responds to intention. Breathe.”
Cora let her arms fall to her sides. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one whose magic keeps acting like a toddler throwing tantrums.”
Elena smirked and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been where you are, believe me. It’s not about control—it’s about harmony. The more you fight it, the harder it’ll fight back.”
“Great,” Cora muttered under her breath. “Zen wisdom. That’ll stop me from accidentally setting something on fire.”
“Cora, listen to me. You’re not broken. You’re just…misaligned. The bond, your emotions, everything that’s happened—it’s throwing you off balance. But you can find your way back.”
“How?” Cora asked, and it sounded almost like a plea. “Because it feels like I’m trying to juggle knives blindfolded right now.”
“By trusting yourself. And by practicing. Now try again.”
Closing her eyes, Cora took a deep breath and focused on the warmth spreading deep inside her chest. It felt like a wild animal, but she didn’t try to cage it this time. Instead, she let the feeling flow, imagining it spreading through her arms and down to her fingertips.
The soft crackle of energy began to build. Her palms warmed, and when she opened her eyes, a faint glow pulsed in the air around her hands.
“There you go,” Elena praised with a grin. “Now, hold it steady.”
Cora inhaled slowly, focusing on keeping the energy contained. It wavered for a moment, threatening to spiral out of control, but she steadied herself and willed it to remain. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.
“Better,” Elena told her, nodding. “Now, let’s see if you can shape it.”
“Shape it into what?” Cora asked.
“Whatever feels natural,” Elena replied. “A sphere, a shield, a blade. You know that magic is an extension of you. It’ll take whatever form you need it to.”
Cora glanced at Elena skeptically but didn’t argue. She didn’t need to be instructed like a child—she’d been working with magic for years. But something about Elena’s calm, steady guidance helped her concentrate and cut through the noise of her frustration and doubt.
Closing her eyes again, she focused on the glowing energy in her hands.
She thought of a shield, something strong and unyielding, something that could protect her from the threats lurking around every corner.
The energy responded, shifting and condensing until a faint, translucent barrier formed between her palms.
“Good. You’re starting to get it.”
Cora opened her eyes and stared at the shimmering shield. It flickered once, then twice, before vanishing entirely. She let out a frustrated sigh, and her shoulders slumped.
“It’s not enough. If something happens—if Theodore’s people come for me again—this won’t be enough to stop them.”
“Not yet,” Elena admitted. “But you’re stronger than you realize, Cora. The more you practice, the more control you’ll gain. You’ve just got to give yourself time.”
Cora bit her lip. “What if time isn’t something I have?”
Elena’s expression grew serious. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Cora’s shoulder. “Then you make the most of the time you do have. Start trusting your instincts. If you feel danger coming, don’t ignore it. Prepare for it. You’re not helpless, no matter what your doubts are telling you.”
Cora nodded, though the knot of anxiety in her chest didn’t loosen. “Thanks, Elena. For helping me. I don’t think I could do this alone.”
“You’ve got more people in your corner than you think. Even Grayson.”
At the mention of his name, Cora’s chest ached for an entirely different reason. She hadn’t stopped thinking about him since last night—since that amazing night together. It had been a collision of emotions she hadn’t been ready for. And now, she didn’t know where they stood.
Elena seemed to sense her discontent. “You should talk to him.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” Cora admitted.
“Start with the truth,” Elena suggested. “It’s scary, but it’s the only way forward.”
Cora managed a small smile. “When did you get so wise?”
“Years of making my own mistakes,” Elena said with a wink. She squeezed Cora’s shoulder before stepping back. “I’ve got to go, but keep practicing. And remember what I said—trust your instincts.”
Cora watched as Elena walked away and disappeared into the trees. She stood there for a moment with the stillness of the clearing pressing in around her. The faint scent of herbs and magic lingered in the air as a reminder of the progress she’d made, however small it felt.
She flexed her fingers, feeling the residual hum of energy beneath her skin. It was a start, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping away. Theodore’s shadow loomed closer with every passing day, and the knowledge of that threat was a constant presence in the back of her mind.
Taking a deep breath, Cora turned back toward her apartment. There was still so much to figure out, but for now, she had to keep moving forward—one step at a time.
The sun hung lower in the sky by the time Cora stepped out of her apartment and onto Main Street.
The day had slipped by faster than she realized, leaving her feeling a strange mixture of progress and unease.
Her magic training with Elena had been a small victory, but there was still so much anxiety set in her muscles.
Trust your instincts, Elena had said. Right now, her instincts were screaming. She just didn’t know for what.
The bell above the bakery door jingled as Cora entered, the familiar scent of cinnamon and sugar briefly soothing her nerves.
Business had slowed for the day, and only a handful of customers lingered at the small tables near the windows.
Cora made her way behind the counter, exchanging a quick smile with Laila.
“You’re late,” Laila teased, brushing flour off her apron.
“Lost track of time,” Cora replied, tying on her own apron. “Need me to close up tonight?”
“That’d be great,” Laila replied. “But only if you promise not to reorganize the display case again. Customers like it just fine the way it is.”
Cora rolled her eyes. “I was just trying to make it more efficient.”
“You were driving me crazy,” Laila countered with a grin. “But I appreciate the effort. I’ll be back in the morning.”
Cora waved her off and set to work, wiping down the counters.
The task was mindless, repetitive, and soothing, but as the minutes ticked by, the nagging sense of unease returned.
She couldn’t pinpoint the source, but it prickled at the edges of her awareness, making her hyper-aware of every creak of the floorboards and shuffle of footsteps outside.
It wasn’t until she glanced up at the front window that her breath caught in her throat.
Across the street, leaning casually against a lamppost, stood a man she recognized all too well.
He was the same one who had followed her before—the one who had disappeared the moment Grayson had gotten involved.
Cora’s heart thudded painfully against her ribs. He was back.
She ducked behind the counter, sucking in a breath. Her first instinct was to confront him, to demand answers, but the rational part of her knew better. This wasn’t someone she could intimidate or scare off. Whoever he was, he wasn’t acting alone, and that meant he was dangerous.
Grayson’s face flashed in her mind, and for the first time, she didn’t hesitate.
She pressed her fingers to the small charm bracelet Elena had enchanted earlier—a subtle but effective way to send a signal.
Focusing on the charm, she pushed a spark of magic into it, and the energy pulsed outward like a beacon.
Seconds later, the bell above the door jingled again, and Grayson strode inside. His gaze swept the room and landed on her crouched behind the counter. He crossed the space in three long strides.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “I was just upstairs and had this…feeling.”
Cora gestured toward the window. “He’s back. The guy from before.”
Grayson’s eyes moved to the glass, and they went dark as he spotted the man across the street. Without another word, he straightened and made his way to the door. Cora stood to follow, but he shot her a warning glance over his shoulder.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
“Like hell I will,” she hissed, grabbing his arm. “You don’t get to play the lone wolf, Grayson. Not with this.”
His face softened just enough to let her see the worry beneath the stony facade. “Fine. But stay behind me.”
Cora nodded, and together, they stepped out onto the sidewalk. The man across the street stood at attention when he saw them approaching, though he was careful to keep his face looking unbothered. He didn’t run, didn’t hide—he simply watched them with a calm that set Cora’s teeth on edge.
Grayson stopped a few feet away, and his body was a wall of protective force between Cora and the stranger. “Who are you?” he demanded.
The man tilted his head, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Just passing through.”
“Bullshit,” Grayson growled. “You’ve been following her. Why?”
The man’s eyes slid to Cora, and she fought the urge to shrink back. “She’s a person of interest. That’s all.”
Grayson stalked closer. “For who?”
“You already know the answer to that,” the man replied. “Theodore has his sights set on this town. And her.”
Cora’s blood ran cold. Hearing Theodore’s name spoken aloud made the threat feel all too real. She glanced at Grayson, who was doing an admirable job of holding himself together, though she could see the tension coiling in his frame.
He was deadly calm. Until he wasn’t.
Grayson moved so fast that Cora barely saw it happen. One moment, he was standing a few feet away; the next, he had the man pinned against the lamppost with his forearm pressing into the stranger’s throat.
“If you or anyone else comes near her again,” Grayson snarled, “you won’t live to regret it.”
The man didn’t flinch. “You think you can protect her forever? Theodore doesn’t give up. And neither do the people who work for him.”
Grayson’s grip tightened, and for a moment, Cora thought he might snap. She placed a hand on his arm, trying to pull him back from the brink before he did something out in the open that could start a massacre.
“Grayson,” she said softly. “Let him go.”
His jaw flexed as he seemed to weigh his options. Finally, he released the man, who stumbled back with a laugh.
“This isn’t over,” the man said, straightening his jacket. “You know that as well as I do.”
Grayson didn’t respond. He simply watched as the man turned and disappeared into the growing evening shadows.
Cora exhaled shakily, and her heart pounded as she turned to Grayson. “He’s working for Theodore?”
“And he just confirmed what we already suspected. Voss and his operation are closing in.”
Cora swallowed hard. “What do we do now?”
“We prepare. And we don’t let him take anything else from us.”
His words were meant to be reassuring, but they only deepened the pit of dread in Cora’s stomach. She nodded, and her hands still trembled as she followed him back inside the bakery.
As they stepped into the warmth of the shop, Cora realized something that shook her more than the encounter itself. She had called for Grayson. She had reached out to him and trusted him to protect her, even after all their arguments and misunderstandings.
The thought left her breathless. She hated feeling vulnerable and relying on anyone but herself. But with Grayson, it felt…different. Safe, even.
And that terrified her more than anything else.