Chapter 10 #2
Thinking of Grayson’s rings… “Do you need to take off your jewelry before we start?” Will-o’-the-wisps couldn’t take objects with them when in wisp form. Found objects either needed to be dug up, blasted out, or brought up from the seafloor by other means.
Grayson’s arms rose, his fingers splayed above his head. “Nope. They’re a part of me, just like my clothes.” He sat up, eyebrows waggling. “Unlucky for you, I don’t have to get naked or anything like that.”
Heat raced up my neck, coloring my cheeks. Spluttering, I said, “I would have turned or closed my eyes.”
“Now where would the fun in that be?” Grayson winked before letting loose a wicked sounding cackle. “By all the deities, the look on your face. As sick as you look, I should be offended.”
He really shouldn’t, given how much I liked the idea of seeing Grayson in nothing more than his flesh.
Clearing my throat, I attempted to push down my rising libido.
“Yes…well…now that that is cleared up, perhaps we could get started.” I wasn’t certain how will-o’-the-wisp magic worked.
Most species didn’t know enough about their own abilities, let alone those of others.
Magic wasn’t something that most tried figuring out.
It simply was. Witches and warlocks were different, as were mages.
My nose scrunched in distaste when I thought of the latter.
Mages were non-magical humans that refused to accept their lot in life.
I’d heard there were some good mages out there. If so, I’d yet to meet one.
Shaking thoughts of mages away, I closed the distance between Grayson and myself. I wasn’t willing to sit on the bed next to him, but the floor would work just as well and offer the distance I felt might be required.
Grayson’s eyebrow rose when I sat on the floor, but he remained blessedly silent beyond that. “What do you need me to do?” I asked now that I was more settled.
I’d thought Grayson would remain seated on the bed. Instead, he slid down the side and plopped his ass less than three feet away. Legs crossed, he stared at his hands, the barest hint of blue flames rising from his fingertips.
I watched Grayson’s chest expand with the breath he took.
I swear all his earlier levity fled when he released that deep breath.
“Okay.” I’d expected more, but Grayson went silent for a few seconds before he repeated, “Okay.” This time, the word felt heavier.
“Let’s see what happens when I release more of my wisp form.
Focus on the piece of my magic contained within you.
Let’s see what you feel and go from there. ”
“Sounds reasonable.” I was surprised by just how reasonable Grayson was. The spark of magic I recognized as Grayson’s was easy to find. Focusing on it, I said, “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Then let’s do this.” Grayson’s external fire grew, licking up his hands and arms, ending at his neck.
His form was still solid as his eyes slipped closed and his head tilted back.
Gaia, he was a vision. Those cool, blue flames slithered around him, caressing his body and making his porcelain skin glow.
I could sit there and watch him all day.
Fascinating wasn’t a strong enough word to relay my interest. Grayson’s magic pulsed within my chest, and I hummed in time with it.
No, not in time with Grayson’s magic. There was music.
I could hear it. Faint as it was, the sound was there all the same.
It started out as gentle notes, but that peaceful cadence was soon joined by another, and then another, the tunes piling up one on top of the other, layering the music until it was little more than painful discord.
I flinched and slapped my hands over my ears, but that did little to shut out the music.
I barely recognized Grayson’s hands covering my own, his voice drowned out by the pounding bass radiating through my skull.
And then, as quickly as the music started, it faded until there was nothing but the gentle hum of the air circulating system.
“Martin?” Grayson’s voice held an edge of panic I’d yet to hear from him. “Look at me, Martin. Open your eyes.”
I hadn’t even realized my eyes were squeezed shut. Gentle tugging pulled my hands from my ears. Oak leaves scattered to the floor, my fingers having sprouted branches and leafed out.
“There you are.” Grayson’s voice softened as his hands cupped my face. His pale blue eyes glistened with unshed wetness. “Are you with me?” Grayson’s fingers slipped through my hair, gently raking across my scalp.
I licked my arid lips. “W-what was… Is it always like that?” I’d heard Grayson describe the call of treasure like music. I hadn’t realized how literal of a description that was.
“No.” Grayson’s hands dropped, and I immediately missed their coolness. “This place is nutty like that.” Head cocked to the side, Grayson gave me a lopsided grin. With a heavy sigh, he glanced away, head hanging. “I don’t think this is going to work.”
Panic lanced through me with the speed of lightning. “It was our first try,” I defended.
Grayson gave a sad nod. “And I think maybe it should be our last. I think—”
“No!” The word screamed through my lips as I lunged for him.
Grabbing onto Grayson’s thin arms, I wrapped my hands around him and pulled Grayson into my lap.
“No,” I said, calming my frantic voice. “I will not fail you.” I had no idea why that was so important.
I only knew it was. “I can do this. I will do this.” Given I had absolutely nothing to base that confidence on, I had no idea where it came from.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.”
“I already did,” Grayson answered, words barely audible.
I didn’t know what to say. All I could do was sit there, cradling Grayson’s body to me, wishing my strong arms were enough. They weren’t. Not now and not when Tenzen had murdered my friends and family.