Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
For the next couple of weeks, tired is my middle name, the other one being frustration, because although Seraphe’s approach is nothing but kind, gentle patience, my flames only appear when she touches me.
I am this miraculous fae who can apparently save the realm, but can’t summon a spark. But hey, at least Mrs Delalune believes in me. The pressure is on and my failure feels even more of a problem than it already is.
I want to pull all of my hair out, and since it now finally flows above my shoulders, the curls bouncy and vibrant, it would break my heart afterwards.
I rest my chin on my arms at the table we’re currently sitting at. Ami throws a grape at her brother, making not so subtle gestures with her head towards me.
The first time I saw Aramis again after my little…
aroused trip, was very awkward, but he was the sweetest soul ever.
He saw it as a compliment, that even though there are so many other fae, my body and mind led to him.
We have the occasional make out sessions, but we have not progressed beyond that.
I know he’s waiting for me to take the lead and wants to give me time, which makes me yearn for him even more.
I don’t know what holds me back, but I don’t feel ready just yet, and he understands that.
“Come now, gorgeous, you’ve already made so much progress. You summoned a flame yesterday and —”
“I nearly burned your hair off.”
He waves my comment away. “No, you didn’t, I’m fine.”
“Because you healed yourself.”
“Oh, Maily, try to see what you can already do. Until a couple of weeks ago, you didn’t even know you had a drop of magic within you. And see what you can do now.”
Siri has for once joined us for breakfast and her mindset is the reality check I needed. I look up and smile a little sheepishly. “You’re right, sorry for complaining.”
“Babes, stop apologising for doing nothing wrong. I would feel the same if I were in your position, we all would.”
Everyone nods in agreement and I stand up and put my tray away. “Seraphe said she would bring something that might help me, let’s hope it will be effective.”
I wave them goodbye and walk over to the classroom, only to see Conláed leaning against the table once I enter.
“Oh, hi. Do you have a lesson with Seraphe as well?”
He looks up, looking handsome as ever and still the only one who appears fae all the time. I’d say my sight is on maybe eighty percent of the time, but my mind seems to enjoy watching Conláed’s fae form and I don’t blame it.
“Hello there, little feather. Well, actually —”
“Ah, you’re already here, that’s great. Maily, as you might or might not know, Conláed is a strong fire user as well,” My heart skips a beat. Please, don’t say what I think you’re about to say. “…he might be able to help you, a bit in the way I do, but differently.”
She could’ve said her something is a someone.
I need to get close to him, that’s where she’s going with this.
Since things have…changed between Aramis and me, I’ve tried to keep some distance from Conláed.
The way my body — and mind — reacts when I see him is something, but when he’s close to me?
Oh moons, that is a whole different thing.
I never skip training, but since I train with my classmates now, my skill more than average, we don’t get as close as before and that is exactly what my confused heart needs.
But this…this changes things.
“For today’s lesson, I want you to seek out Conláed’s power. It’s a bit of a different approach, but since his flames are so primal, you might sense them a little easier.”
The arrogant smirk on his face makes me nearly roll my eyes, but not wanting to be disrespectful to Seraphe, I do what she says.
“Close your eyes and let your powers search for him, reach out to them.”
All I feel is my heart, pounding wildly against my ribs. My nose picks up his bergamot scent, the hints of black pepper and smoke creating this divine fragrance. It makes me want to dive my nose into his neck and sniff the scent of his skin. Which makes me sound like a mad woman. Maybe I am.
“Mhm, good,” Seraphe encourages, not really sure what I am doing. “Move a little closer to her, Conláed, it might make it easier for her.”
No, not closer! It takes everything in me not to step back, but I sense him even with my eyes closed. I know he’s there and I feel him everywhere around me.
So when I open my eyes and the gaze in his is as intense as the one in mine, a circle of fire forms around us, the flames spinning faster and faster until a tornado forms that excludes Seraphe. It’s just us now.
“Magnificent,” Conláed states. Due to the fire in his eyes, I can’t quite decipher the look that I see there.
“Is this…”
“All you, feather. I’m not doing a single thing.”
“But why? How?”
He turns towards me. “No idea, but does it matter?”
It does and it doesn’t. I’m relieved to see my powers are still there, but why are they so responsive to him? Why is my heart beating so fast and wild, yet my flames are in complete control.
“Can I try something?”
I nod.
He holds out his hand and without any hesitation, I lay mine in his. At the first touch of our skin, the flames change. They grow darker and feel even stronger. Traces of gold flicker in between the red and orange tornado.
“Do you feel the difference?”
I feel a lot of things right now, but I nod again as I look around me, because yes, I do feel the change. And when Conláed’s influence starts to change the shape of the flames into a dome around us, I can only watch with pure admiration.
“This is us, feather. See what we can do, the two of us combined.”
We nearly stand chest to chest, and I look up, analysing his features, wanting to touch those lips so badly I feel like I will die if I don’t.
But something tempers our flames and he smoothly takes a step back until we’re not as close anymore, releasing my hand reluctantly. But it doesn’t matter. My heart still runs a race I can never catch up with.
“I know you had it all under control, Conláed, I just wanted to see how Maily is fairing.”
I stare at Conláed, trying to figure out this knot of emotions I feel inside of my chest. “I am…good.” I answer, not looking away from the magnificent male in front of me.
“Conláed?”
He does avert his gaze and I feel annoyed that I didn’t have the strength to do so.
“Her powers are there, she might even be stronger than me. Her emotions and thoughts are what is blocking her. She limits herself. She will have to learn to move past her emotions, past the rational part and just feel.”
Seraphe looks between us, and if even she can tell the second meaning behind his words… “Thank you for your assistance, Conláed. You are excused.”
He nods, giving me a quick glance before walking out. “Later, feather.”
He disappears into the hallway and I am left with a heart that desperately wants to run after him.