Chapter 18 - Elize
The drive was tense, and I gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. I was terrified that something would happen and Troy would end up hurt.
I could hear the guy snapping at Troy, trying to get himself free. Troy just kept telling me to drive.
We finally arrived at the convent, and I went running inside for Victoria. She was sitting on the stool, flipping through some papers. Her head snapped up as the bell rang above the door.
“Elize.”
“Victoria! I need you outside!” I was practically screaming, and she got up instantly. She moved as fast as she could forward, and I grabbed her arm, pulling her with me outside.
I took her straight to the car, where Troy was still holding the guy down.
Victoria’s eyes were wide.
“I tried to calm him, but it wasn’t working. I think I need an extra set of hands.”
She nodded, and we both placed our hands on the man’s head. I forced my magic forward, but he continued to fight against Troy. My stomach twisted up violently. Something was wrong. If we couldn’t calm him, what did it mean?
Victoria shook her head, and I watched as her magic shifted color and the man fell asleep. He sagged in Troy’s arms, and Troy’s eyes widened.
“What just happened?”
“I put him into a coma. Calming him wasn’t working, and rather than us draining ourselves, I figured, let’s just let him sleep. Let’s bring him inside.”
Troy and I moved the man inside, where Victoria had him lie down on a bed in the back. I felt my heart was racing a mile a minute as Troy turned to Victoria. “Why aren’t your abilities working anymore?”
My head was spinning as I stared at the man. I looked down at my hands. I could still feel the magic underneath my fingers. I knew it was there, and it was the same as before, so why hadn’t it worked?
“The dark magic could be growing more powerful. It could be that it’s starting to affect Elize as well. Or it could be because she hasn’t reached her full potential wth her magic yet. There are many factors.”
I could see Troy grinding his teeth, and I didn’t know how to help. “Shit. I have to call Ivan.” Troy slipped out of the shop, and I pinched at my eyes. The entire point of me being here was to help.
“You look tired,” Victoria said as she sat down next to me.
I nodded. “I am. I didn’t realize how much energy it took to use magic, and I’m not even using much. I was terrified something was going to happen while I drove.”
Victoria nodded her head. “Yeah, it does take a lot out of you.” She glanced out the window and smiled. “He’s a great one, you know.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m figuring that out.”
“Why don’t you guys use the apartment upstairs? No one has moved into it. It’s still empty.”
I was going to say no, but I didn’t think I could survive a drive home without falling asleep. I looked over at Troy, who looked tired himself. Neither of us had slept well over the past few days, and maybe a nap would do us well. Just a couple of hours of rest and we could hit the road.
“Maybe,” I said. “A little cat nap.”
Troy came in a few minutes later. I could see how tired he was as he sat down. “Well, we should probably head home. Victoria, will you keep me posted on his condition? I’ll come back tomorrow to have him moved to our infirmary.”
“Or, we could head upstairs. My old apartment is still empty.”
Troy raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want us to impose.”
“You wouldn’t be,” Victoria said. “You guys can use it. Besides, you two look like you’re going to drop. I’d rather you rest than try to head home and something happens.”
I looked back at Troy, and he nodded. “That actually sounds kind of nice.”
“Do you guys want dinner? We can bring some up.”
Troy shook his head. “I’m just tired.”
“You two should get some rest.”
I pulled myself up, and Troy followed me. We headed up the stairs, and I popped my old apartment open. I left most everything up here, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to step into this space that I called home for so long.
“I still can’t believe you lived here,” Troy said as he slipped his shoes off.
“It’s not as bad as you think.” I expressed as took off mine too. I spotted that the bed was still made and chewed on my cheek. “How do you want to do this?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do what?”
“Sleep. The bed is a twin.”
“I can sleep on the couch.”
I shook my head. “No, you should have the bed.”
He walked over toward me and softly smiled. “Or we could just both share the bed because we’re adults.”
I nodded. “That’s an option.”
He sat down on the bed, and I watched the way his eyes looked around the space.
“Do you want anything? I know there is tea up here still. Maybe some crackers.”
He shook his head. “No, honestly, I just want to rest. I just…” I could see something flicker across his face.
I moved closer. “Troy, what’s wrong?”
He sighed. “I just… wish I had the answer to everything. This is frustrating. I feel like I’m failing.”
I frowned. “You’re not, though. This is just a bump in the road.”
He shook his head, and I hated to see the look of despair on his face. I saw how hard he worked, and he was doing everything he could.
“Troy, you are doing everything right.” I reached up, placing my hands on his shoulders. “Your pack is so lucky to have you.”
He looked up at me. His arms reached out and grabbed my hips. He pulled me closer, staring up at me. “I’m lucky to have you. Because I have no idea how I would be handling all of this without you.”
I blushed, unable to stop the way my heart skipped a beat. “I’m sure you would have figured something out.”
He shook his head, tugging me closer. My knees hit the bed, and his thighs pressed against mine. His eyes softened as he looked at me. “Not in the same way.”
I swallowed, pulling a hand up and running it over his hair. I watched the way he leaned into the touch, and I felt that ache. I missed him so much.
“We should sleep.”
He nodded. “We should.”
But neither of us moved. I felt his hand move, cupping my cheek. I basked in the feeling.
He scooted closer, his hands tugging me against him. Our faces were just inches from each other now. I could smell his cologne and felt my shoulder sink.
I stared at his lips, and I knew he was doing the same. “I miss you,” I admitted. “And I don’t want to screw this up.”
His fingers cupped my chin. “We won’t. I won’t let us.”
“You promise?”
He nodded. “I promise.”
I leaned into him, and our lips pressed against each other. It was soft at first. Both of us seeming unsure if this was right. But we melted. I climbed into his lap, and Troy pulled me flush against him.
I sank into his lips, loving the way they felt against mine. I felt his tongue slide over mine, and I moaned as he pulled me. He turned, pressing me down onto the bed.
I felt him pressing against me and quickly realized that Troy had a hard-on. My dress hiked up, leaving just the thin fabric of my underwear and his jeans between us.
I felt Troy’s hand move down my throat to my chin. He tilted my mouth further open and I couldn’t breath as he kissed me harder.
My mind glitched out as I felt his hands tugging my dress sleeves down. I wiggled, feeling the fabric falling around my stomach. I yanked at Troy’s shirt, and he threw it off.
We broke the kiss just enough to stare at each other. I panted for air as he pulled the dress even further down. He yanked it off, revealing my matching lacy underwear.
“I like this.” He slid a finger over the band of my underwear. “Pink suits you.”
I blushed, reaching for his jeans. Troy tugged at them and slipped them off. I stared at his boxer’s, feeling heat course through my body now.
He cupped my face, his eyes staring at my lips. “God, you taste good.”
I smirked, leaning up. His chest landed against mine, and he radiated heat. He kissed me, and I found myself wanting more. I needed more. I wanted to feel him all over me. I wanted my mind to shut off and to just have him.
He hooked my leg, and I felt his bulge pressing against me. I felt him grinding, and I moaned softly at the contact. Every nerve in my body felt like it was on fire.
Troy broke the kiss, trailing his mouth down my neck. He tugged at my bra, moving the straps down before he pulled it down to my stomach. His lips moved further down, and he sucked on my nipple.
My head fell back as I moaned louder. Troy’s hand quickly covered my mouth as he chuckled. “I assume you probably don’t want them to hear you downstairs.”
My face went hot as I realized they possible could. The flooring was thin, and I knew that Victoria could hear my footsteps because I never put rugs down. The last thing I needed was for her to hear me moaning loudly.
“Then maybe don’t do that,” I whispered.
He gave me a mischievous smile as his lips went back to my nipple. “Not a chance.”
I held back a moan as his tongue swirled over my nipple. I felt my stomach curl at the contact as his hips continued to move slowly. I felt that buildup forming, and I knew I was soaking wet.
I grabbed at his boxers, wanting him. I wanted to feel him inside me and forget about the past.
Troy tugged at his boxers and slid them off. Troy leaned back on his knees, hovering over me. I swallowed, taking him in. I took in his dick and felt my legs clench together unconsciously.
Troy’s hands were soft as he reached his hand up, running it through my hair. “You sure about this?”
I looked into his eyes, and I knew. What we had was something special, and we might have lost time, but we weren’t going to do it again. This time it was going to stick. I wasn’t going to let anyone break us apart.
I nodded, kissing him. I felt him tug my underwear down, and his cock rubbed against me. I moaned at the contact, his mouth going over my body.
I dug my nails into his arm as he slid in. Troy kissed me as he moved slowly. It was for a moment before he turned us. I landed on his lap, his dick filling me deeper as I sank onto him fully. His hands landed on my hips, his grip tight. I placed my hand on his chest, and we stared at each other.
I couldn’t remember the last time I felt like this. This happiness was bubbling under the surface. This all felt so perfect, and I never wanted it to end. I never wanted this to end.
I pressed my breast against his chest, my nose brushing against his nose. “Promise you’ll stay.”
He smiled. “I’m never leaving, even if you beg me.”
I rocked my hips, neither of us breaking eye contact. I felt the buildup forming, his hands continuing to tighten on my hips. I watched his breath hitch, and I knew we were both getting close to finishing.
Troy thrust up, meeting me. The feeling grew, and my toes curled. I panted for air as he reached a hand between my legs, his fingers sliding over my clit.
I moaned louder, unable to hold it in. Troy quickly covered my mouth, muffling it the best he could. I came hard, and Troy jerked inside me. I rocked my hips, riding the cloud I was on.
I sagged against him, and Troy ran his hand through my hair. He kissed my head, and I could feel his lips smile. “Is this us starting over?”
I nodded, unable to stop the smile that formed. “I’d say so.”
He pulled me closer, curling me into his arms. I pushed against him. “We should get dressed.”
He shook his head. “No, we need sleep, and I want to hold you.”
I stopped resisting and rested my head against his chest. I inhaled his scent and let his warmth wrap around me. He threw the covers over us, and I snuggled even closer.
But suddenly I wasn’t lying in bed anymore. I was standing in the basement of the town hall next to the cauldron. I stared at it, feeling it grow more powerful. The bubble grew louder, and it seemed to glow.
I felt like the room was vibrating, and I stepped back, my back pressing against the door. I suddenly felt like I was suffocating. It was like someone was wrapping their hands around my neck, and I couldn’t breathe.
And suddenly I was back in bed. Troy was staring at me with wide eyes, worry filled his face. “Elize. Are you okay?”
I felt my hands vibrating on Troy’s chest. A tingling formed in my chest, blooming outwards.
I could feel it spreading all around me, like my blood was being moved around.
I suddenly realized that it was my magic.
I felt something shifting inside me, like a door was being pushed open.
Whatever had been locked up was suddenly free.
I pulled my hand up, staring at it. I watched as my magic came out, twirling around my finger like smoke.
“Elize?” I looked back at Troy.
I felt that warmth flow through me, and I just stared, stunned. I had been using my magic for years and never thought it was locked up. But suddenly, I knew that my magic was more powerful.