6. Nothing but a Spell
NOTHING BUT A SPELL
Alex
As I remained sprawled on the ground, Cara’s face came into sharp focus.
“Ravenhill,” she said, a hint of concern in her voice.
I blinked, gazing around the cemetery. The moon had lowered on the horizon, and clouds hid it.
“How do you feel?” She walked around me in a circle, her cloak fluttering around her legs.
My body didn’t hurt, and my mind was clear. “I’m fine.”
“Good.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
I was about to yell Don’t touch me, but there was no need to. Her touch didn’t trigger any pain, memories, or sickening feelings. No shivers or sweat. If anything, her skin was colder than mine.
I stood up, staring at her hand wrapped around my wrist. My heart beat only three times per minute, but it raced to five. A moment of dizziness caught me. I was free.
“Well?” She put her other hand on my shoulder. “Are you uncomfortable?”
My stomach didn’t churn, and no tremors bothered me. Quite the opposite. I wanted to cheer.
“I can’t believe it.”
“You should.” She patted my shoulder. “My magic works and—”
I hugged and lifted her by the waist, laughing. Holding her didn’t cause any unpleasant quivers.
“Put me down, you beast!” She punched my shoulders. “This is most undignified.”
I released her. “Thank you.”
She scowled and brushed her hair from her face. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
“Perhaps you need the same spell.” I burst out laughing.
“I’m fine.” She put some distance between us. “I’m not fond of vampires or hugs.”
“Neither am I. No, I mean, I am of both.” I wasn’t making any sense. “Anyway, thank you.” I rushed down the path, energy flowing through my veins.
“Remember, there’s a price to pay!” Her voice sounded high-pitched.
“Of course! It’s not a problem.”
My limbs were where they were supposed to be. I hadn’t grown horns or scales, and my—I came to a grinding halt, leaving deep marks on the gravel path. I patted myself down and exhaled in relief when I was sure that I wasn’t missing any important pieces.
But if I was fine…
A chill settled in my stomach at the thought that Irene might have been hurt. Cara had said magic didn’t take a life, but that didn’t mean Irene would be unharmed. What if she missed a limb?
I darted inside the mansion and up the stairs, startling the maids. “Try to work in the west wing if you can, please,” I said, rushing on.
In my eagerness to solve my problem, I hadn’t asked Cara more questions. If Irene was hurt, I would never forgive myself.
“Irene!” I barged into her bedroom.
She jolted on the stool in front of her vanity, a hand on her chest. “What happened?”
“How are you?” I studied her, searching for injuries or missing limbs.
She looked perfect as usual, and her blue dressing gown flowed over her curves like water, highlighting the flare of her hips and the shape of her breasts.
“I’m…fine. What is it? Did something happen?”
I laughed and gathered her in my arms, startling her. An avalanche of sensations washed over me, and for once, they were wonderful sensations.
Her soft body fit perfectly well in my arms. Her plush breasts pressed against my chest. I savoured how different her skin was compared to mine, how small her hands were, how light she felt in my arms.
It was wonderful to hold her without shivering, being nauseous, or controlling my reaction.
“Alex!” She cupped my face, forcing me to stare into her sapphire eyes. “How is this possible?”
“Magic.” I twirled her around and kissed the crook of her neck.
Her sweet scent was tantalising, and my gums hurt in reply. My fangs were eager to come out and sink themselves into Irene’s sweet neck.
Her smile turned into a serious line. “Wait. Wait. What have you done?”
I didn’t understand her alarmed tone. “I can hold you now.” I put her down and kissed her, a quick peck on her lips. “I can kiss you properly now.” I slipped a hand on her nape, lacing my fingers through her silky hair. “Can I kiss you?”
Her frown smoothed. “Since you asked so nicely, yes.”
“I am a nice chap.”
I dipped my head and captured her lips in a long, hard kiss. I’d dreamt about kissing her without worrying about my condition a million times, but reality was deeper, more intimate, and more intense.
I sprawled my hand on her back, and her muscles loosened as she wrapped her arms around my neck. When I stroked her lips with my tongue, we both moaned in pleasure. And life burst within me again. A combination of shock, pleasure, and relief weakened my legs.
A groan rumbled in my chest. I slid the tip of my tongue past her small teeth and stroked hers. The sensation going through me was sheer fire. Not even feeding gave me such deep pleasure or energy.
She was sweet and silky as I explored her mouth with lazy strokes, careful not to frighten her. Not everyone would get close to a vampire’s teeth, especially when the vampire was excited, and my fangs threatened to come out. Not to mention the energy bursting within me.
The bond didn’t hum or purr as usually happened when I kissed her. It remained muted with a forced tension. Maybe the change in me had been too quick, and the bond was lagging behind to adapt.
She laced her fingers through my hair. I deepened the kiss, taking my time exploring her velvety mouth while caressing her back and firm bottom.
I untied the sash of her dressing gown and tugged it down her shoulders. The fabric pooled at her feet with a soft swish. She drew in a breath when I pulled her closer, needing to feel her body pressed against mine.
Silk and her soft skin—everything I’d dreamt of.
I ran my hand over her curves, from her hip to her waist until I cupped her breast. The fabric of her nightgown was no barrier against my eager fingers. I rubbed her nipple to a hard peak, watching her face.
Her response was to sag against me and grip my shoulders hard. The sensation of her fingernails scratching my skin made me dizzy.
When she sighed in pleasure, I pulled down her nightgown and admired her beauty. Creamy skin, pink nipples, and golden hair falling to her waist. I closed my mouth around her breast and sucked gently for one wonderful second.
She slipped away from me, her lips red and swollen from the kiss. My kiss.
“This is wonderful, but something is bothering me.” She stared at me seriously. “Tell me the truth. How did you do it? Was it Darius? He’s always said he couldn’t erase your fears, that he couldn’t heal the mind.”
“It wasn’t Darius.” I stared at her beautiful face. A face I would touch and kiss without fear from now on.
“Something is different in our bond.” She stepped back.
I sighed when she covered herself, pulling the nightgown up.
“Alex?” She pinned her hair into a bun.
I opened and closed my hands. “It was Cara.”
“What?” She clenched her fists.
“I understand it sounds terrible, but actually, I’m all right.” I tried to sound reassuring, but it didn’t work, if her concerned expression was any indication.
“How could you trust Cara?” She quickly removed her nightgown and snatched a simple gown from the wardrobe.
“But nothing happened. She mentioned a price to pay, but all my limbs are where they should be. I was afraid something had happened to you, but that’s not the case either, thank goodness.”
She donned the gown, dressing so quickly that I barely caught a glimpse of her naked body. When she finished buttoning her shirt and tying her skirt, not an inch of her beautiful skin was visible.
“You’re overreacting. I was—where are you going?” I chased her.
She stormed out of the bedroom, fastening the belt of her skirt. “I want to understand what you’ve done.”
Her skirt fluttered around her legs when she took one of the shortcuts connecting the west wing to the north wing.
She knocked on Darius’s door. “Darius!”
“He’s probably asleep.” I watched fascinated as a wayward golden curl bounced up and down on the crook of her neck.
“I don’t care. Darius! Please open the door. It’s urgent.” She banged harder.
The door was flung open, and a dishevelled, puffy-faced Darius came into view. His black hair stuck out in every direction.
“What?”
“It’s not urgent,” I said as Irene said, “Alex made a pact with Carabosse to overcome his fear of touching.”
For a moment, nothing happened and no one spoke. I felt as if I were a child again, caught stealing condensed milk from the kitchen.
Then flashes of light blasted out of Darius. “You did what? I was right. You wanted to do something stupid!”
“Stay calm.” I coiled an arm around Irene’s waist and kissed the top of her head to show him my fears were gone. “As you can see, I’m fine, and Irene is fine, too. There’s no need to get angry.” I clapped his shoulder, feeling his tense muscles. “See? I’m not afraid of touching anymore.”
“Good. So I can slap you now without feeling guilty!” He gripped the lapels of my shirt, forcing me to release Irene. “You daft dimbo. Carabosse’s magic requires a sacrifice from the requester. There’s always a price to pay.”
“But nothing happened.” I was growing tired of being yelled at.
“For now. Magic is slow sometimes. It takes time.” He brushed his hair away from his face. “This is terrible. Perhaps I can convince Cara to reverse the spell.”
“No!” I took his arm as he moved to leave. “For the first time in years, I’m not afraid or sick, or both. It was my choice, and I’ll face whatever consequences it brings me.”
Irene held my hand in hers. “I’m worried. I don’t trust Cara, and you shouldn’t have made a deal with her without talking to Darius or me first.”
I stroked her knuckles with my thumb. “You would have said no.”
“For good reasons.” Darius’s hair became more dishevelled. “You’ll lose something precious, and when it happens, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
Darius was overreacting. Everything was going to be fine.