Chapter Twelve #2
“I want to know you better, too,” I admitted. “But we need to go slow. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for more.”
“Done,” he agreed, immediately stepping back.
I grabbed a towel and headed to the change room, my excitement warring with fear. Then I stopped and turned around. “Would you really have backed off if I had told you to?”
His reply was immediate. “Absolutely. I would never pursue someone who wasn’t interested in me.”
I believed him.
Then he grinned. “But I knew you were interested. I just needed you to admit it. Mostly to yourself.”
I crossed my arms. “You’re quite aggravating. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Too late,” he replied, passing me as he headed to the men’s change room. “No way in hell I’m backing off now. I may even try flirting.”
I smiled. “You? Flirting?”
He paused, his expression losing all trace of teasing. Then he stalked towards me.
“Owen? What…”
He didn’t stop, and I retreated until my back hit a wall. He caged me with his arms and leaned in until we were only a breath apart.
“Is this your idea of flirting?” I gasped, trying to remember how to breathe.
He huffed a laugh even as his eyes burned into mine. “Not even close. But I do want to make one thing very clear.”
“What’s that?”
“We’ve entered a dangerous world of magic and otherworldly creatures, Kira, but no matter what we face, I’ll stand by your side and we’ll handle it together. You’ll survive, because I’ll make sure of it. But when it comes to me pursuing you?”
A feral glint entered his eyes.
“You don’t stand a chance.”
We joined Shae for a late lunch in the cafeteria. She was thankfully one of the people who met Owen’s gaze head-on and didn’t bat an eye at his scars.
“It’s Mystery Man at last!” she said when he held out his hand, and then she gave him a big hug. The copper undertones in her auburn hair caught the light as she moved. Her smile was quick and genuine, lighting up her whole face, and Owen and I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Mystery Man?” Owen grinned at me as we took our seats. “Tell me more.”
I blushed and tried to change the subject, but neither Shae nor Owen would be deterred.
“Well, we experimented with a number of nicknames after you and Kira first met,” Shae said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “We didn’t know your name, after all, and we needed to call you something, especially since Kira kept—”
“We have the weirdest story to tell you, Shae,” I interrupted before she could say the word dreaming. I was going to kill her for this. She merely smiled at me.
Owen’s grin widened. “What names did you try?”
“Mr. Interference, Mr. Aggravating, Mr. Tall, Blond, and—”
“I need to tell you about my weekend, Shae,” I pleaded, and she finally took pity on me and mouthed, Sorry, not sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I laughed and shook my head.
“I like the name Mystery Man,” Owen decided.
His hand found mine under the table and curled around it with quiet certainty.
It was a small, simple gesture, yet it sent a shiver up my arm.
The world slowed even as my pulse quickened.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, I slipped my fingers between his.
Shae cleared her throat, and we turned our attention back to her.
After I updated her on everything that had happened, including Charles’s disappearance and the attack of the wraith, she stared at us wide-eyed.
I couldn’t tell if her expression was one of disbelief, horror, excitement, or a mix of all three.
I took a bite of my salad, letting her absorb the information. Beside me, Owen was quiet and watchful.
“This…this is incredible,” she gushed, a huge grin spreading across her face. “Not Charles disappearing, of course. That’s horrible. But the rest…” Her face took on a faraway, dreamy expression.
“You believe me? Why?”
“Because I’m a Druid, too. I have a tattoo of a Celtic knot on my back.”
“What?! You never told me that!”
“It’s not something I talk about. I don’t have any powers or anything.”
“Then how do you know you’re a Druid? How long have you known? I have so many questions!” I almost bounced in my seat with excitement. Finally, I could talk to someone I liked about what it meant to be a Druid.
“I’ve always known because my grandmother was one as well and she told me.”
Wow. What would that feel like? I wondered if my mother had been a Druid, too. She had never mentioned anything.
“I also know I’m a Druid because I can feel the connection in all things, although I can’t access any powers. Don’t you feel it, too?”
I shook my head, disappointed. Maybe tomorrow’s training session would unlock this ability.
“Thousands of years ago,” Shae continued, “all Druids had magic. But it’s been gone from this world for a long time.”
“I don’t understand,” I admitted. “How can you sense your magic but not access it?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Shae took a sip of her iced tea while she thought.
“You know when you get a feeling like someone is watching you? That’s your sixth sense kicking in.
You can feel it and sometimes, if you look around, you can spot the person.
Sometimes you just have the feeling, but no one is there.
That’s what it’s like when I look at the trees and plants and animals around me.
I can feel them. There’s something there, just under the surface, but I can’t see or speak to them. ”
“That sounds…frustrating.”
Shae shrugged. “It’s how I’ve always felt. There aren’t many Druids left in the world anymore, but the ones I’ve met say they feel the same way. I would give anything to connect with the trees. Especially the ancient ones. They must have such incredible stories to tell.”
“I’m starting my training tomorrow. Want to come? Owen’s friend, Jace, will be there, too. Maybe you’ll learn something, or you can help me.”
“Wouldn’t miss it!”
“Thanks, Shae. I have a feeling the more friends I have around me for this, the better. Also, would you mind searching the library’s databases for any information on the history of Druids or Celtic mythology? Anything that’s related to what I just told you. Maybe it will help us find Charles.”
Shae nodded. “I’ll take a look.”
“Thanks. I’ll text you the details for the training session tomorrow.”
After Shae left, I reluctantly released Owen’s hand so I could tidy my lunch tray. But as we walked toward his car, Owen quietly but surely took my hand again.