Impassion (Mystic) (20 page)

“Yeah,” Alana approved. “Then you can see me fwy.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Selena interjected.

“I want to,” Layla insisted. “It sounds fun.”

“It wiw be,” Alana assured, waving her mom away as she soared into Quin’s arms.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Selena pressed.

“Positive,” Layla answered.

“Okay,” Selena agreed. “Be good, Alana.”

“I’m aways good,” Alana boasted, bouncing on Quin’s arm.

Selena laughed then shot toward the sky, leaving them alone on the lawn.

“That was sweet of Layla, wasn’t it?” Quin asked, nudging Alana with his nose.

“Yes,” Alana agreed. “That’s why I wuv her.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” Layla countered, smiling at the toddler. Then she blushed as she looked at Quin. “We’ll get our chance, right?”

“Right,” he confirmed, shifting Alana to his chest. “Are you two beautiful girls ready to fly?”

“I’m weady,” Alana answered, laying her cheek to his.

Layla watched them for a moment—gentle giant and pint-sized pixie. Then she smiled at the sky. “Me, too.”

“On three then,” he said. “One... two... three...”

Alana squealed as they shot into the air, and Layla watched her face, laughing at the wonderment in her wide eyes.

When Quin leveled out with his back to the ground, Layla leaned forward, slightly disoriented by the vastness around her, endless cloudy sky and unnerving freedom. Without familiar landmarks to guide her, not even a distant aura, she was lost, so she stayed close to Quin, anxiously flipping her gaze from him, to the toddler in his arms, to the dark trees below.

Quin stifled laughter as he watched Layla’s concentration.

With his stare glued to her, his speed suffered, and he had to remind himself multiple times to pay attention to his route. It was damn difficult. Layla had him spellbound—her uncloaked body alluringly silhouetted against purple clouds; her expression intrigued and fastidious; her onyx spirals recklessly flowing behind her as her stimulated aura called his name. Only the child in his arms kept him from answering.

Unsurprising, really—the fascination he felt. He’d been captivated since their first meeting, mesmerized by every step she took and every word she spoke, even those uttered through insecurities. She was perfect, yet her beauty and magnetism continually strengthened. Quin spent years imagining what she would look like, contemplating her attributes and personality traits, and he often scolded himself for setting the bar too high, for creating a fantasy no woman could ever fulfill, not even the mysterious Layla. As it turned out, he never imagined her well enough, beautiful enough or sweet enough, and he vastly underestimated the affect she would have on him.

He wondered what he’d done, for mankind or the Heavens, to deserve the attention of the most exquisite creature to walk the earth. He also questioned his ability to keep her attention, a challenge only a fool would ignore. He wasn’t the only man who’d throw himself at her feet with the hopes of catching her eye as she walked over him, and she would be meeting the others soon—hordes of handsome wizards clamoring over each other for a chance to impress her, all of them ingrained with magic, charisma, and an unrelenting desire to gain the coveted attention of the most beautiful witch in the world.

Yes, keeping her would be a challenge, but Quin relished the opportunity. He hadn’t suffered true defeat since he was fifteen, and he’d never been more determined to win. If someone wanted to take Layla from him, they had their work cut out for them.

Smoky firelight rose from a gap in the trees, and Quin slowed, securing his hold on Alana as he floated upright and headed for earth. Layla, however, stayed in the air, mouth hanging open as she scanned the breath-taking view.

Smaller than the lawn, with a large bonfire leaping from the center, the ritual clearing glowed with bright auras—a sea of rainbows dancing around roaring flames. Layla never wanted to forget the astonishing view, so she closed her eyes, making sure she had it memorized.

When she looked again, she found Quin hovering in front of her, and her weightless body jolted. Quin’s hand closed around her arm, keeping her upright, and she laughed as she rolled her eyes.

“Hey,” she greeted. “I see you no longer have your passenger.”

“I left the little angel with her mom, but she wants to make sure you saw her fly, so you’ll be bombarded when you land. Come here,” he insisted, pulling her into a hug. “You’re freezing.”

Layla tucked into his chest, thrilled her opinion mattered to Alana. It made her feel all warm and tingly. “That little girl can bombard me anytime she wants.”

Quin rubbed her arms and kissed her head. “Then let’s give her a chance. You need to get out of the wind.”

“I’m fine,” Layla laughed, letting him pull her under his arm. “I was cold on the way over, but you fixed it.”

“Good,” he approved, heading for earth.

As they descended into the colorful mist, Alana came into view, staring straight up while bouncing on her toes. Her patience snapped when she saw them, and she soared into the air.

Layla panicked and grabbed the toddler around the waist, hugging her to her thundering chest. “Wow, Alana. Every time you jump you take my heart with you.”

Alana broke into giggles, apparently proud of herself for scaring the new girl. “Did you see me fwy?”

“I did,” Layla assured, finding solid ground. “You were magnificent.”

“I went wiwwy fast.”

“Yes you did. Maybe someday you’ll be one of the fastest.”

“That would be fun.”

“Yes it would. We should practice together sometime.”

“I would wike that.”

“Me, too, angel.”

Alana smiled and kissed Layla’s cheek. Then her focus drifted. “Otay, put me down.”

Layla laughed as she obeyed, and Alana flitted to Selena, shouting about how Layla wanted to practice with her, and how she might be the fastest someday.

“I can’t get over how cute she is,” Layla whispered.

“She obviously likes you,” Quin noted.

“Nuh-uh,” Layla corrected. “She
wuvs
me.”

“We all do,” Daleen interjected. “Are you ready to start?”

“Sure.”

Without warning, Quin pulled Layla into a hug and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to let your grandparents have you for a while.”

Layla froze, shocked and anxious as his breath drifted through her hair and his fingers slid to her quickening pulse.

“See you soon,” he promised.

She gave a nod, and he kissed her cheek before dropping his hands and flying away.

Layla pouted as she watched him go. Then she straightened her shoulders and turned to her grandparents. “What’s next?”

“The good stuff,” Serafin answered, taking her hand.

“You won’t have to do anything for this part,” Daleen added, taking Layla’s other hand. “Just listen.”

Caitrin and Morrigan moved to the other side of Daleen, compelling the rest of the coven to join hands around the fire. Then a hush fell over the clearing as everyone closed their eyes.

Everyone except for Layla, who was curiously looking around when a harmonious hum rose from the coven, dropping her jaw and cinching her throat. She’d never heard anything like it. In all her experience with music, including a New York opera and dozens of concerts, not one tune had provoked such intense emotion, such compelling feelings of peace, security and belonging. The coven’s mesmerizing song could surely cease a war, felling armies with nothing more than fuzzy warmth and chilling goose bumps.

Layla’s heart beat hard, and she closed her moist eyes, letting the melody flood her senses.

For several seconds it was merely a pleasing thrum. Then the baritone voices strengthened, maintaining a hypnotic tempo while adding lyrics.

“Unified ‘til death are we,

sweet connected family.

Our bonds are strong beyond compare.

Our love is pure; our judgments fair.”

As the baritone voices faded, a higher chant sung by the women stole the spotlight.

“Our family holds a love that’s true.

We show our light in all we do.

We are connected, one and all.

Our perfect wall shall never fall.”

The feminine note lingered, tickling Layla’s spine. Then the men joined the women for the final verse, creating the most magnificent harmony Layla had ever heard.

“Keep us safe and keep us strong.

Provide us with a life that’s long.

For each of us, a shelter be.

Bless us all, our family.”

As the final note reverberated on the air, electrifying energy shot from Daleen’s and Serafin’s hands into Layla’s. She gasped and popped her eyes open, but her vision blurred as the thrill vibrated up her arms and throughout the rest of her body.

The others still had their eyes closed, like they were soaking in peace, but Layla didn’t understand how they remained idle. The magical energy had fizzled, but it left behind a tingling trail of charged hair follicles. She could dance a jig she was so frenzied.

Fingers and toes wiggling, she gnawed on her bottom lip, impatiently waiting.

“Did you like it?” Daleen finally asked.

“That—was—amazing,” Layla gushed, stimulated yet soothed, at peace internally, in her soul, but bouncing off the walls externally, her flesh and bones frenetic. “No, it was magnificent. No… There really are no words to describe what just happened. I loved it!”

“We’re so glad,” Morrigan approved.

“Yes,” Caitrin agreed. “Your enjoyment is important to us. Are you ready for the next part?”

“Umm…” Layla mumbled. “Can you give me a minute? I’m still wired from the last part.”

“Sure,” Caitrin laughed. “Take all the time you need.”

Serafin and Daleen released Layla’s hands, and she shot into the air, unable to stay on the ground. Gravity was of no assistance or resistance. She reached the treetops and found the wind, but its chill merely strengthened her vigor, so she began flipping and spinning, laughing at the ritual’s lingering tingle.

A colorful flash caught her eye, and she halted, her body quivering with the urge to move again. “Hey,” she greeted, smiling at Brietta.

“You’re having way too much fun to be having it alone,” Brietta returned.

“You’re right,” Layla agreed, grabbing her hand, and a fresh tickle shot up her arm. She looked down, realizing it was the first time they’d made skin contact. “Did you feel that?” she asked, tired of speculating.

“Yeah,” Brietta confirmed. “It means we share blood.”

“I’ve been wondering,” Layla mumbled, but she itched to move and barely had time to absorb the revelation. “Ready?”

“Let’s dance,” Brietta answered.

So they did, effortlessly staying in sync as they soared, flipped and twirled like children. When they came to a halt, they found each other’s eyes and burst into laughter.

“That was fun,” Layla exclaimed, refilling her lungs.

“You’re fun,” Brietta countered. “I’m so excited you’re here.”

“Me, too. It just keeps getting better.”

“As it should,” Brietta approved, keeping Layla’s hand as they descended.

Layla should have been extremely embarrassed by their jubilant welcome—twenty-six pairs of eyes staring, fifty-two hands clapping—but her dance partner’s profound confidence must have rubbed off on her, because her blush only flared once as she landed and took a bow.

The applause faded, and Brietta pulled Layla into a hug, giving her a dramatic, lip-smacking kiss on the cheek. “Have fun,” she chirped. Then she flew away, making room for Layla’s grandparents.

“Ready?” Caitrin asked, taking her shoulders.

“Yes,” she answered, so Caitrin tucked her under his arm and turned toward the coven.

“Let us connect with our newest members, and strengthen the bonds that keep us together.”

“Hear, hear,” everyone chorused.

Caitrin kissed Layla’s head. Then he moved behind her, touching a palm to her lower back as the rest of the coven lined up for individual rituals. Layla stood to Serafin’s left, while Daleen stood to his right, prepared to launch the ceremony.

Alana was first in line, and Selena carried her forward, letting the toddler place tiny palms on Daleen’s cheeks. Morrigan performed the spell work, mumbling her magical request while touching Daleen’s back, and Layla watched every second, muscles twitching as her nerves wavered.

Morrigan’s murmuring ceased, and Alana’s and Daleen’s auras pulsed as they kissed each other’s cheeks. Selena shifted Alana to her hip, connecting with Daleen using one hand instead of two. Then mother and daughter moved to Serafin as Brayden’s dad carried him to Daleen.

Finally, it was Layla’s turn, and she grinned at Alana, getting a beautiful smile in return.

“Where would you like her to hold you?” Selena asked.

Layla glanced up, surprised her opinion mattered. “May I hold her?”

“Sure,” Selena agreed, passing Alana over.

“Hi, angel,” Layla whispered, hugging her close.

Alana’s skin was velvet soft, and her scent—orange blossom and magnolia—was sweet and calming.

Enraptured by the baby, Layla didn’t notice Caitrin’s murmurs, so she jolted when tingles erupted from the skin contact she’d made with Alana. The tickle grew stronger and more delightful as it seeped deeper, awakening flesh and blood en route to her chest. By the time the mumbling ceased, Layla’s heart was bigger, but not big enough, because it was bursting with love for Alana. She never wanted to let her go.

Alana kissed Layla’s cheek then pulled away and smiled. “I wuv you.”

“I love you, too,” Layla whispered.

She blinked back sentimental tears as she kissed Alana’s forehead. Then she passed her to Selena, who shifted her over and touched a palm to Layla’s face.

Layla didn’t expect to feel as strongly about Selena as she did Alana. How could she? It seemed impossible. But her second connection almost compared to the first, and she had no problem accepting the kiss Selena offered afterward.

And that’s how it went time and again—slight nervousness mixed with bubbling anticipation, then a pulse of the heart, a swell of love that stretched the organ’s boundaries. After completing ten out of nineteen, her discomfort disappeared altogether. Her heart thumped with love, her veins pulsed with warm adrenaline, and her brain sped, trying to absorb the wonder of it all.