Unwanted Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 3) Page 18

  She stood from the chair. “I did no such thing!”

  The laughter erupted from deep within my chest, and she frowned. I laughed even harder. I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed this way in my entire life. I bent forward holding my stomach, and it took her a few seconds to realize I had been messing with her.

  Her eyebrow rose, and she chuckled. "You think yourself funny?" I grinned, relieved her tears were finally gone. I couldn't see her cry. Her eyes sparkled with amusement and the most brilliant smile I had ever seen transformed her face. Damn, she was beautiful. "Count yourself lucky that I do not have my axes with me, or a knife."

  My mouth dropped, and I cupped myself. "Why, are you going to cut it?"

  Her face distorted in shock again. "No! What on earth is wrong with you?" The last word was lost as she began laughing with me. "I meant so I could have something to throw at you and test your reflexes. Oh, dear Goddess. Never you mind that." I laughed, sitting on the edge of the bed while she crossed her arms. "You think too much of yourself, Roman."

  My laugh instantly died, as the insult sliced through me. I cleared my throat. I never wanted her to consider me one of them again. “Don’t. Please, don’t call me that anymore.”

  She blinked, surprised, immediately realizing the effect the word had on me. She looked at me as though she was noticing something else in me. The light in her eyes changed, and she nodded. “I shall not call you that anymore.”

  I nodded, grateful. "I'll have you know women are very much attracted to me. I may be a stick figure now, but before I was a sight for sore eyes." I said, hoping to change the mood again. I was painfully aware that I sounded like an idiot, but her smile returned. My job was done.

  She smirked. “Is that so?”

  "Oh, yeah," I said, standing up and flexing my no longer there biceps. "I'm a hunk."

  She laughed, and I chuckled looking at the most perfect woman I had ever seen. Damn if I could ever get a fucking chance with her. I’d be whipped, that’s what I would be. Wait, what? I had fucking game. I could seduce her panties off if I put my mind to it. I sighed. I’d probably look good as her pet though. She could keep me on a leash. Damn, what the hell was she doing to me? She could do whatever she wanted to me. That was the answer.

  “I lied before.”

  She stopped laughing and took a deep breath. “About what?”

  "You are exactly my type. You are perfect." She laughed again, thinking it was one of my jokes, but I had never been this serious in my life. Or this screwed. I cleared my throat. "Is there anything I can wear?" She looked around and grabbed something from the table, handing it to me. "Try not to drool, please." She laughed, and I chuckled. God, I was pathetic. She turned around, and I slid the pants on, throwing the sheet back on the bed. When the shirt slid down my ribs, I frowned. I pulled the it up just enough to uncover my side and silently cursed. The slash I had made was gone. Cynwrig had healed it, along with the rest of the burns. My fingers traced the phantom line while my mind protested. My fist began to tremble as I fought the anxiety the image had triggered.

  "It is all right," Eisha said, placing her hand over mine, reassuringly. "It is done. Felix. You have asked for forgiveness, and that wound shall also heal. The reminder is not needed anymore."

  She looked up at me, and the hope was back in her eyes, making them shine in the most astonishing way. I nodded as my mind and heart received her words. I could change. I got lost in her as she looked at me, all I wanted was to become that man she thought I could be. If they gave me a chance, I would take it. My gaze shifted to her soft lips, and the need to kiss her traveled over every inch of my body, until it took possession of my heart for the very first time. I swallowed, suddenly thirsty and wanting something I knew I could never have. Her love.

  “What is the second step?” I asked, closing my eyes and attempting to rip the need from inside me.

  The warmth of her hand enveloped my cheek, and my gaze focused on the silent promise in her eyes.

  “To gain everyone else’s forgiveness.”

  CHAPTER 11. HOPE

  EISHA

  * * *

  I was not entirely sure how it had occurred, but the man that stood before me was not the same that had fired that bullet at Phelan.

  I could see right through his eyes and into his soul. It was filled with sorrow, hurt, and remorse. The vulnerability he portrayed was clear as the bright light of morning to me, and I could not help but hope that everyone else could see what I saw. I had not expected to forgive Felix for what he had done. Not in another two thousand lifetimes, but the visions had opened my eyes to a truth that was hidden to everyone else. The hold the Brotherhood had on its members and the cruelty for those that defied it was implacable. I had seen with my own eyes how Marcus, the son of the leader of the Brotherhood had been held captive for falling in love with one of us. Never the less he had defied everyone for that love. It was that same fight I saw in Felix. The raw pain that shown through his eyes when I asked if he repented for what he had done; spoke louder than a thousand words. I did not require seeing his mind to know. His eyes spoke the words he could not. In the time he had been here something had opened up in him, helping him realize the truth. I suspected that perhaps he had known all along, but had repressed the doubts thinking he was not capable of standing against the Brotherhood.

  He smiled at me, and I could see his mother in his eyes. He had Ailidh’s smile. The words I had spoken to advocate for him before rang true. There was good in him. I had felt the relief in my soul after letting go of the pain I carried with my forgiveness, and I would help him attain the others’.

  I would make sure the man I saw in him was no longer hidden inside him, but out for the world to see.

  The sound of hesitant steps over the stone floor outside of the cave reached me. I took a step back realizing that I was standing much too close to Felix. The next second Art entered the cave. I turned to face him as Cyn walked in behind him. My breath caught when my eyes fell on the third person to join us. Felix tensed beside me. Lia's steps were small and slow. She stopped in the center of the room, and I could see her chest rising and falling anxiously as she faced Felix for the first time after her kidnapping. My gaze shifted to Felix, and I instantly noticed his eyes fill with the same raw pain as they had before. Apparently, this day would contain more trials for him. The urge to hold his hand surprised me just as Art's hand held mine and pulled me to him.

  Lia remained silent as Felix walked towards her. I knew he was trying to build up the strength to apologize to her. The wrongs committed against her by the Brotherhood had not been by his hand, but he had stood by and let them transpire. Felix stopped before her and his gaze searched for mine. I offered him a small smile and nodded supportively. He could do this. I prayed that Lia would see the pain pouring through his eyes, just as I could even from where I stood. That she would accept his apology and be able to forgive him too.

  He swallowed and stood straighter. “I know that nothing I can ever say will make up for what you have been through.” His eyes glistened as he spoke, and I knew the courage it took for him to say what he must to her. Recognizing the harm you have done to others and repenting from it, is the single most powerful act of character and strength a man could ever show. “I want you to know that I am truly...”

  The sound of Lia’s hand connecting with his cheek resonated through the cave, effectively cutting off his words. I gasped covering my mouth. Felix slowly turned his head, facing her again.

  “I’m so…”

  His head snapped to the other side with the force of her second slap. His cheek trembled when the back of her hand connected with his skin. The tears fell over Lia’s cheek as she looked at him.

  Felix's posture changed. His shoulders slumped, his head lowered and something inside me knew that he hated himself as much as Lia did right now.

  "Again," He whispered, and my eyes widened as her hand slapped him once more, answering his request. "Aga
in." She hit him, and my gaze flew to Cyn, my eyes begged him to stop her. "Again." Lia slapped him one more time, and her fist struck his chest.

  "Why did you do that to us, you bastard?" She cried, as her body began to shake. "Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you stop them?" Her small fists slammed onto his chest repeatedly, while the grief consumed her. Her pain finally took over. Cyn held her arms pulling her away from him, and she turned around, throwing herself into his arms as she cried. The desperate sobs that escaped her rendered her motionless.

  “Don’t stop, Lia. Hit me again. I deserve more than that. Hit me again.” Felix asked, his words showed the agony coursing through him. She was too immersed in her pain to respond anymore. I had the strange urge to go to Felix and comfort him, but Art held me to him. “Again!” Felix shouted and the next second Art’s fist crashed against his jaw.

  “Art!” Cyn yelled, as Felix was knocked down from the impact.

  “What? He asked for it.”

  I pushed Art out of my way and rushed to Felix. He was on the floor unconscious.

  "Let me take you home," Cyn told Lia, and she nodded beginning to walk away.

  “Let’s go.”

  Art held my arm, and I wrenched it out of his grasp. "Do not touch me, and do not bother coming to see me tonight."

  “Are you serious?” His stare instantly filled with ire but I had no cares for that. Taking a deep breath, he turned around and took Lia from Cyn's hold, carrying her in his arms. She immediately clung to him, and they walked out of the cave.

  “Will you help me?”

  I asked Cyn before he stepped out, and he nodded walking towards us. We carried him off the floor and placed him on the bed. He was heavy. He had lost weight, but his bones remained thick and large. His muscles were resilient, and I could see the evidence of his physical training. I inspected Felix's face and noticed his cheeks were swollen, and his skin had a dark red hue to it. The right corner of his jaw was purple and blue as the bruise had already formed. I could almost see the outline of Art's fist on his skin. His lip was ripped open and bleeding, but it wasn't his physical injuries I was worried about. Even as I looked at him, the blue glow filtered through his pores and began to heal him.

  "He asked for forgiveness today, Cyn, and I gave it to him." Cyn's eyes widened at my statement. "He realized what he had done, and he is suffering for it. If you spoke to him, you would witness the agony and the raging storm going on inside him. There is good in him, Cyn. I can see Ailidh in his eyes and his smile. He could be a new man, but he will need forgiveness."

  Cyn smiled and looked at me as though he saw something he had not before.

  “You seem lighter, a chara. Different.”

  I smiled in turn. “I am.”

  Cyn kissed my temple and left the cave. I sat on the bed next to Felix. My gaze followed the soft light as it continued to heal his wounds. I placed my hand above his heart and prayed to the Goddess to help him. He would need her.

  Felix’s journey into our world would not be an easy one, but as I looked at him, our Mother Goddess gave me the answer.

  I vowed then, to be there for him and help him.

  Every step of the way.

  FELIX

  * * *

  The warmth that radiated from Eisha's hand over my chest ran through my body making me want to purr. I kept my eyes closed and my breathing steady, allowing myself to enjoy her touch for just a little longer. God, I was fucked. I liked this woman. No. I more than liked her. What was it about her that had compelled me this way? I wanted everything from her, and I wanted to give her everything. I had been with many women in my life, but none had ever made me feel the way I felt with just one look from her. I didn't know who I was anymore. There was just one truth that pulsated through me even at this moment as I felt her skin on mine. I would do anything for her, be anything she wanted me to be. I would be her pet, her puppet, anything she asked just for a chance with her. That wasn't the reason I was fucked, though. I had seen the way Art looked at her. The way he pulled her to him when she stepped towards me as Lia slapped me. It had been possessive. Eisha was his, and fuck. I was truly fucked because I wanted her. I needed her. The rational part of my brain knew there was no way in hell that she would ever accept me. Or anyone here for that matter, yet it didn't stop me from wanting her. God, I wanted this woman as I had never wanted anyone before. I needed to love Eisha the way she deserved to be loved, unconditionally, unrestrained, and with absolute devotion. Shit. What the fuck was I thinking? What I needed was to leave this place, find my father and tell him the truth. Leave with him to a place where we never had to deal with this shit ever again. Where there were no Druids, no Romans, only us.

  My lids lifted slowly, and I looked at her delicate face. Her gaze was fixed on her hand, as it rose and fell with my every breath. There was kindness in her eyes. Compassion towards me, and my heart instantly responded to the sight.

  Yeah. I was fucked.

  "Why is it that you can touch me, but I can't touch you?" I whispered the question so I wouldn't startle her.

  Her eyes shifted to me, and she slowly smiled at me. Shit. "It is because of the spell it protects…" she paused and looked at me with regret.

  I took a deep breath. “It’s ok. You can say it. It protects you from me, so I can’t hurt you.”

  "The spell prevents you from touching us. Yet if we need to tend to you we can touch you." She amended but her eyes showed that she was uncomfortable.

  She removed her hand from my chest robbing me of her touch. I already missed it. I sat up on the bed and slowly reached for her cheek. Her eyes widened just as my hand stopped barely an inch from her skin.

  “I want to touch you.” I swallowed, realizing the words had spilled from my lips. It was the truth though. I looked into her eyes and found warmth there.

  “If you touch me, you will burn.”

  "I know." My hand dropped to my side, and I rested my back on the cold stone wall. Suddenly, I realized I was not wearing a shirt anymore. I looked at my bare chest then at her. My eyebrow lifted. "Why do I always end up half undressed when you are around?" Her mouth dropped. "It's alright. I know you can't help yourself when these ripped muscles are…" I looked at my chest and made a face. "Ok, when these ripped bones are around." We laughed.

  "Your shirt was removed because it was bloodied." She answered firmly, and I smirked. She repressed a smile and reached for me again. She touched my lip softly, and my heartbeat instantly picked up speed. Shit. "Your lip was ripped open." I licked it, and she quickly removed her finger before my tongue touched it. The gash wasn't there anymore. I didn't like it.

  “Can you please tell Cynwrig to stop healing me?”

  Her eyes widened, and I noticed a weird emotion suddenly fill them. "Art punched you. You were bleeding and needed to be healed."

  "I deserved it." I countered; not dismissing the fact that she didn't answer me before. "Will you please tell Cynwrig to stop healing me?" I asked again, holding her gaze. She looked away.

  "Hopefully you will not suffer any more injuries that require being healed." She took a shirt I hadn't seen on the corner of the bed and offered it to me. I wanted to hold her hand and ask her what she was hiding from me.

  "I know you are hiding something, Eisha. I can see it in your eyes." She looked at me troubled. "It's ok. I trust you. Whatever it is you are hiding, I hope you are doing it for a good reason. Just please promise me that you will tell me when it’s time."

  She nodded. “I shall.”

  "I hope one day you can trust me enough to share anything with me," I added, honestly wishing I could gain her trust.

  “You are wrong about something. You did not deserve…”

  I stopped her before she could say anything else. "Don't. I know what I have done, and been part of. I know you want to help me, but this guilt and these consequences are something I have to deal with. I don't need you to sugar coat anything for me, or try to make me feel better. I'll feel better
when I find a way to make it up to them, and to you." Her eyes filled with kindness once more, and my hand instinctively lifted to her cheek. “Bella Stellina.” Her eyes widened as the Italian endearment escaped from my lips, surprising both of us. Oh, that's right. I knew I had game somewhere. I smiled and leaned closer. She didn't move back. I looked into her stunning ice blue eyes seeing them sparkle. “Tu sei la mia Bella Stella… mio Tesoro.” Yeah, I was whipped.

  “What does that mean?” She asked, blinking and leaning back on the chair.

  I looked into her eyes, feeling every word in my heart. “I will tell you some day.”

  She chuckled. “What language is that?”

  “Italian.” She nodded and put the shirt on the bed. My hand dropped, and I took it slipping it on. “What happened to you, Eisha?" She frowned. "When I caught you before you fell. It was like you fainted, but your eyes were glowing white." She took a deep a breath realizing what I was asking about. "The light made you look so beautiful, mia Bella Stella." She narrowed her eyes at me, and I chuckled. "I already said I would tell you one day."

  She sighed and nodded, leaning forwards as though the words she was about to share were extremely important. "I am an Ovate." I frowned and still looked at her confused. The title sounded familiar. "I have powers as well. My ability is different from Cyn's or Briana's. I am a Seer of Prophecies, a traveler of time and space."

  I swallowed, stunned by her confession and instantly remembered where I had heard that title before. The teenage Druid girl, she was an Ovate too. “So, you can see what is going to happen in the future?”

  "And what has already happened. My soul can travel to any point of time and move through it at will. It is my gift to witness the truths of life so that I can help and protect our people."

  I stared at her in shock, rendered speechless by her confession. "Whoa, hold your horses!" Ok, so I wasn't speechless. "So you can travel through time and actually see things as they are happening?" She nodded. Damn, that was the same thing the young Druid girl had done. She told me she had already seen the images she shared with me. "And what does traveling through space mean?"