Chapter 14 Isaac
Isaac
A few months later
“This is so annoying,” Isaac groaned out and dropped his arms. Yvonne chuckled behind him where he sat trying to get the hang of casting a spell over the crystal in his hand.
Yvonne made it look so simple. Hell, she didn't need spells or words or charms. Whatever she thought happened.
“It’s just a simple charm,” Lucielle, a member of Yvonne’s coven, teased. She was a pleasant enough woman and thankfully didn’t know his Granny.
Learning how to control his visions from Lucielle proved fruitful. Even more so when he didn’t hear stories about his Granny during training. Three others had tried to train him but kept comparing him to Granny Love and, thankfully, Yvonne stepped in.
Isaac may have had Granny Love’s powers, but he didn’t quite know how to use them yet. He was getting there. Even with the help of Granny herself from the beyond.
Which, honestly, was weird. But so freaking exciting. It was a highlight of his weeks, getting to spend time with her. He still felt he missed so much, but they were making up for it.
Rafael remained his rock. He held Isaac when the training became too much or when the visions sucked the energy from him. Or when finding a new routine became too much for Isaac.
“It’s not that simple then. I don’t do charms apparently.”
“It’s within you; you just need to focus.”
“Focus on what?”
“Your mate.” Lucielle made it sound so simple. Isaac always focused on Rafael.
Holding the crystal in his hand, Isaac stared at it, willing his newfound magic to do what he wished.
“Think back to your first day here. Your first Nightmare Show.” Isaac’s heart lodged in his throat. How did she know about that? “Trust in the process. You’ve made it this far.”
Isaac closed his eyes and thought back to that night. Not just the sexy times that they repeated often, but the Nightmare Show Isaac attended regularly. Constantine brushed off Isaac’s warnings of his shadow. However, Isaac wouldn’t give up.
Shifting past his concerns for a family member, Isaac focused on how the shadowed nightmare made him feel.
Terrified.
Willing to do whatever he had to in order to protect Rafael.
That’s when he felt his hand heat where the crystal pressed against his skin. Prying his eyes open, he watched as a spark of light flashed over the crystal. The zing of his magic surged and Isaac knew he succeeded in the charm. “I did it!”
Yvonne and Lucielle wore matching expressions of pride mixed with shock.
“I think you did more than just a simple charm, boy. We could hang those charms around the property and be set for life.
Isaac’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding. It’s just a simple charm.”
Lucielle snorted and rolled her eyes. “Believe what you want. Your Granny’s magic charms are woven into this park just as deeply as any of ours. It would stand to reason you’d be able to do the same.”
A knock on the doorframe drew their attention. Agent Ryanne stood just before the threshold. “I need to speak with you,” she commanded, and both Isaac and Lucielle felt a wave of magic ripple from Yvonne.
“I have an office you can contact,” Yvonne said sternly, void of emotion even though she headed towards the agent.
Agent Ryanne showed up to handle the crooked cop and never left. Isaac witnessed the tension between Yvonne and her more than once. After asking Rafael about it once, Isaac now saw that both Yvonne and Ryanne resisted each other.
“Ready for dinner?”“Thanks, Lucielle. If you really think these are that good, I’ll make some more. But right now, I have a dinner date I’m late for!” He waved as he dashed out of the room, passing Ryanne and Yvonne in a standoff in the hallway.
Isaac froze, hand on the door to the main exit, when a vision took hold of him. Now, he was prepared. He saw a woman running in a forest, moonlight casting shadows around her. The woman stopped, confronting a dark specter.
The woman fell, struck down by the darkness. Isaac couldn’t get a bead on the creature. Then a flash of bright pink light illuminated the grove, and Isaac blinked back to the real world.
Isaac turned his head to spy Ryanne and Yvonne. They watched him skeptically. He gave them a halfhearted chuckle and a wave as he rushed out the door. He hated that part of his visions, not quite knowing who they were about. Although he had an inkling that one starred Yvonne and Ryanne.
But how would he break that to them?
“Stop it,” Isaac whispered, knowing full well she heard him as he cringed and itched his head where Yvonne’s magic tickled.
“Have another vision, sweets?” Rafael guessed just before Isaac ran into him. “I felt your distress.” He gently clasped Isaac’s arms and slowly massaged circles in his biceps.
“Yvonne is trying to pry into my vision. I think it was about Ryanne. And it wasn’t good.” Isaac squinted as Yvonne pushed harder. He just put up more walls. “Damn persistent woman. Why can’t she be like that with her mate?”
Rafael chuckled and pulled Isaac close. “You see it too now, don’t you?”
Isaac pecked Rafael’s lips. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” he smirked.
“Look what I made.” Isaac held out the crystal, and even Rafael’s eyes widened.
“Nice.” Rafael maneuvered Isaac to the side of him as they began walking. “Your storage unit arrived.”
“Oh my gods! It did?”
“I thought we could grab easy sandwiches and go inspect it to make certain everything was where it should be.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Isaac skipped and clapped his hands.
“Hey, those chants are for me only,” Rafael teased.
“I’ll chant for you anytime.”
Isaac sent Rafael an R-rated image before giggling and dashing away from his mate.
Rafael easily caught him, squeezing and kissing him before they settled on a food truck to grab easy chicken salad wraps from. Isaac chose spicy honey mustard, while Rafael chose ranch. Munching on their wraps as they discussed—again—the possibility of moving to a larger apartment or condo.
Isaac didn’t know if he wanted to move. Having done so for many years by himself. Rafael’s apartment felt like home. And he’d be able to place most of his horde around the space, thanks to an idea of hanging shelves around the top of the walls.
It would be fun to display his collection without judgment.
Garth and Peter directed them to the back storage lot as they passed through the forest gate to the community. It felt like it took forever to get there, and now Isaac was nervous about opening his unit. What if?
Rafael nudged his shoulder, rolled his eyes, sans glasses thanks to being away from townies, and opened the door.
Stepping in first, Rafael got a firsthand look at the weirdness that was his mate. Isaac just knew it was too much.
“Wow. You really do have an affinity for carousels.” Rafael ran his hand over a seat replica Isaac had commissioned years ago.
Isaac should have known when he saw the same seat on Misfit Park’s carousel.
A black horse with a gray mane and tail. Just like Rafael’s. His favorite.
“Get over here,” Rafael said, demandingly, sending Isaac an image of him taking Isaac over the horse seat. The vivid image would soon become reality. He’d gladly bend over for his mate, and more.
Stepping in front of Rafael, Isaac waited with bated breath.
“You knew all along?” Rafael trailed a finger down Isaac’s cheek, his gaze tracking Isaac's face.
“No,” Isaac gulped, staring into the soul of the man who held his heart. “I dreamed, but it wasn’t a reality until I met you.”