Mine to Spell (Mine #2) (32 page)

“What’s going on Bethany?” It’s unlike her to willingly be around warlocks, let alone smiling about it.

She sighs. “You’re not as fun as you used to be.”

Letting go of a little worry, I stick my tongue out, and she laughs. “I just want you to be careful. This is dangerous for all of us. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

Her smile is still so innocent, even after all the years of being punished by father. “Even if something bad happens, I have you for a sister.”

Unfortunately, much of the bad stuff comes from choices I make. “It's time to get to my next duel. Make sure I'm there well before it starts.”

“
Even if you don’t see me, I’ll be watching and quietly cheering you on.”

“
Be careful,” I say before leaving, her words adding a strut of confidence to my step.

Chapter Thirty-Five

If I’m forced through another day like this one, and survive it, I may never be able to move my arms again. They ache something fierce. Or maybe it’s the stress of what I want to show Serena. Either way, my arms are like stiff, giant logs. I’m rolling my shoulders, trying to ease the strain, when Serena walks in.

“
Long day?”

“
Battling warlocks will do that.” I shake my arms out. “And you? Facing them down while defying their rules isn’t easy.”

“
Easier than doing magic in front of them.”

“
About that…” Please don’t be scared off by this. “I found a way that may help you understand what your magic feels like.”

She runs her hands across her skirt. Of course she does. Serena never wants anything to do with magic, whether she wants to admit it or not. At least she’s trying, even with her discomfort.

“What do I need to do?” she asks.

“
Nothing. Just stand there. I’m going to send my magic to you so as to coax your magic to the surface temporarily. It should help you to recognize the feeling so you will be able to understand what it is inside that’s part of your magic.”

“
Oh. That sounds sort of like…”

“
Like what?”

She looks away. “Nothing.”

“It was clearly something, and it sounded like something that might help me explain it.”

“
It’s something from the engagement ceremony, which I can’t talk about. Zade still hasn’t found a way around the spell that forbids me from speaking of it.”

“
I see.” Stupid warlocks. I can’t even have a proper conversation with my own sister while we’re alone without them interrupting.

“
Where did you get that ring? It doesn't look familiar?”

Her words make me realize I've been twisting the ring Lukas gave me. My face heats. “It was a gift from Lukas.”

Her eyebrows raise. “A gift, huh? Things are getting pretty serious between you two.”

My face grows hotter. “I'm hoping they will once the tournament settles down.”

“Well, then. I suppose I ought to get to know him better.”

I clear my throat. “You're getting away from learning about magic.”

“And you're avoiding talking about your good-looking Chryon.”

A giggle escapes. “Most definitely. But at least magic is something we can work on now. Lukas isn't around.”

“We don’t have to do this. You probably should be doing—” She waves her hand around in the air. “—something to get ready for tomorrow.”

She just doesn’t want to have to do this, but I’m not going to let her out of it. “There’s not much more I can do to prepare. Besides, I want to help you with this. It’s important and may prove as useful as learning to use a gun.” And if I don’t do it tonight, there’s always the possibility I’ll die tomorrow and won’t be around show her another time. This possibility of dying at any time thing is getting old.

Her expression tightens with resolve, and I know I’ve said the right thing.

“
You only need to stand there,” I say. “It won’t hurt. It will add my magic to your own temporarily so that it will be easier for you to feel. Hopefully, then you’ll be able to recognize what you’re sensing.”

“
Sounds, well, terrifying, but I’m willing.”

Willing is something she hasn’t been before, hopefully it’s enough. I let my magic ease from my core like Lukas taught. Thinking of him tints the white light pink, making my cheeks heat. At least Serena hasn’t learned yet what the different colors mean. I always wondered how she could miss so much from the spells going on around us, especially at the tournament last year. But now’s my chance to teach her.

The more I let my magic relax toward her, the more focused I become and the pink tint lessens until the spell is pure white. I let it slowly move toward her, even slower than Lukas sent it to me. By the look on her face, Serena probably is thinking it’s too fast, but if I go any slower it might as well hover in place.

When it finally reaches her, she leans away. I don’t push it forward, instead giving her a moment to collect herself, to become accustomed to the idea that she’s actually going to do this. After a shorter time than I expected, she straightens right into the light and lets it in. Gradually, her face goes from one of confusion to one of delight.

“That’s what magic feels like? That warmth inside me?”

I grin. “That’s it.”

“I thought it was something everyone has.”

“
Most people do, just in varying degrees. Only a few lucky ones, like us, have very much of it. You even unconsciously use it at times. Like when we went in Zade’s room to see what furniture he’d need, and you canceled out his spell without even realizing it.”

After pulling my magic back, the room seems gloomy without its bright presence, but I think it did exactly what we were all hoping it would. I wait, not doing or saying anything, letting her absorb the knowledge of the power she holds. She’s quiet for several minutes, and when she finally speaks, her words are faint.

“I didn’t know.”

“
But now you do, so what’s to be done about it?”

She bites her lower lip. “You know how magic has always been in our lives.”

It’s burned into my memory all too well. “Harsh and painful. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I made it much different in my own life. And you can’t always say anymore if you’re referring to father’s hexes. What has Zade done for you, just with your carriage sickness?”

“
I know. I really do know. Not just about that, but everything. Like how our ball gowns were beautiful in a way I’ve never seen. But that night didn’t end with all the enjoyable spells he cast.”

Now probably isn’t the time to mention to her that Waverly did most of those spells. Or maybe it is? “You’re right. It ended with the attack.”

“Zade could have died.” Her voice cracks. “He’ll forever have a limp the rest of his life from that night. Magic can’t fix that.”

“
No one may have enough knowledge or power to fix his injury, but I think your fear of magic is making him feel worse.”

A stunned expression crosses her face. “I— I never thought of that before.” She pulls at her fingers and then seems to realize she’s not wearing any gloves and huffs. “Do you really think he’s upset that I don’t care for magic?”

I try to choose my words carefully so as not to hurt her but remain truthful. “Zade loves you. I don’t think he’d let your dislike for magic break that, but I do think your disdain for it makes it hard for him to be himself around you.”

“
Oh.” She shuffles to a chair and plops into it. “I never thought about it like that. It was just my disdain for magic all along causing problems. How do I fix it?”

Relief fills me. “Ask him to teach you some spells. He’ll be thrilled at your interest, and you’ll be safer. The more ways you can defend yourself, the better for you and the girls.”

She nods. “Maybe I will.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

The next morning I’m on my way to check the schedule when Lukas pulls me over to an empty tent. His grip is tight but not painful. With his free hand he takes off his glasses, holds them with his middle finger, and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“
What’s wrong?” I ask, my magic skittering about inside me.

He huffs, puts his glasses back on, runs a hand through his hair, and paces the tent. It’s the first time I’ve seen him without any hint of a smile and definitely the first time I’ve seen him pacing like Zade. The whole process has me skittish. Something must be seriously wrong for him to act like this. My sisters were fine when I left home. Zade was with them. Chadwick is with me, now waiting outside the tent, and Lukas looks, well, he looks as distractingly good as ever. Which is not the point. The point is that something is seriously wrong.

“Please tell me what’s going on. All this pacing is making me nervous.”

“
Sorry, I just—” His hands open and close. “If we both make it through our first two duels of the day…”

“
Yes?”

Finally, he stops, turns to me, and grabs a hold of my shoulders. His touch sends a thrill through me, but the touch is tainted with fear because of how tight his fingers grip me. It’s not painful, but urgent. “They’ve paired us to fight each other.”

Air rushes out of me, taking my grasp on remaining calm with it. I knew this might happen, knew it was a possibility, but was hoping it wouldn’t happen. There are many other warlocks in the tournament from all over Chardonia and other countries. It’s day three, so many duelers have been eliminated but still, the odds of us being paired against each other shouldn’t have been against us. Did someone set us against each other on purpose?

“
I’ll forfeit.”

He’s serious. But not only would it leave me feeling guilty, it’d make him miss out on his chance. “You can’t. You didn’t come here to give up on everything. And having me win by default is not winning at all.”

“But we can’t fight against each other.”

I most definitely don’t want to kill him, but we have dueled together many times. “Why not? We do it all the time.”

“Practice is different. I won’t risk hurting you.”

“
And I won’t hurt you either, but we can’t just give up. You said yourself that in Chryos they don’t allow you to kill each other. This is something we can do. Not only that, but we need to see it through. Fairly. You refusing to fight me is just as bad as those who won’t let women fight in the first place.”

His hands slide down my arms and take a hold of mine. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I just don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

Tingles start from where his hands touch mine and spread through me. “I promise I won’t cast any life-threatening spells. You can do the same, but other than that, we shouldn’t hold back. They need to see what I’m capable of, and they won’t be able to see it if I’m not truly fighting.”

He leans his forehead against mine. “I am overreacting.”

“It’s a normal reaction.” One that is actually kind of sweet, even if a little misguided. “No matter which of us wins, it will be fine. Even if you are victorious, I’ll support you. Though I’d like to see you try. Thanks to the past month and a half, I know all your spells.”

The corners of his mouth twitch. “You only think you know all of them.”

I giggle. Darn that boy-obsessed girl taking over again. Except with him, I don’t mind, not really.

“
It may do them just as much good to see us fighting as it would be for them to see you supporting me after I win.”

His grin is finally back to its usual sunny self, easing some of the strain from his revelation. “It will do them even more good when they see me defeat you and how I’ll still follow you around like a puppy.”

I laugh and shake my head. Even with our best efforts to keep distance between us, whenever possible, he has been trailing after me since he lost the duel. A very attractive addition to the usual view. A most promising reason to look forward to next week.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Despite what I told Lukas, the very last warlock I want to see standing across from me right now is him. The ring, glowing its vibrant green, is separating me from him, just not for long enough. The crowd seems antsy, nosier than usual. Many have come to watch, though we’re on a smaller field. They stand because there is not enough room to sit. Chancellor Ryan is there, too. Not with the crowd, but not with the judge either. He's standing close enough to be seen, but still part of the background, a sneer on his face directed wholly at me.

“
Enter,” the judge says, yanking my attention away from the threat and back to the problem.

Across from me, Lukas steps into the circle. It feels so wrong to join him, but there’s no other option. We agreed to this, and it’s really for the best. Still, I don’t want to fight him. Once I join him inside the ring, we both stare at each other. There are no spells I wish to cast at him.