“Forest,” she murmured.
What did that mean? I had no idea at all. I’d try to remember to ask when we weren’t so damn tired.
About ten seconds later, she began to snore. It was a tiny snore, and I thought it was perfect.
I closed my eyes and slept too.
Chapter
Eight
Wakingup before Alice did and getting to watch her sleep peacefully in my arms was rapidly turning into my new favorite way to start my day.
I wasn’t the same man who’d woken up next to her after our first night together and spent an hour planning second and third dates, though. I understood the situation much better now.
There was nothing about the future that was certain except it would be on her terms and not mine. And I was willing to do that for her. For a chance.
When her phone rang just before ten a.m., I started to reach for it to silence it. But Alice was already halfway out of my embrace and fumbling to grab it from her nightstand.
I opened my mouth to tell her she needed more sleep, then shut it again.
Herterms, Sean Theodore Maclin.
She found her phone, looked at the screen, and answered with the phone to her ear. “Morning, Natalie.” She sounded sleepy but alert.
I heard Alice’s client sobbing. My wolf let out a quiet whine. Apparently he no longer held a grudge about the accident.
“Alice, I’m so sorry,” Natalie wailed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Alice said, her tone soothing. “I got a little singed, but I’m okay.”
I’m okay. There it was again: a phrase designed to dismiss concern about her well-being and minimize the severity of her injuries. My wolf’s quiet growl escaped my mouth before I could rein it in.
To my surprise, Alice dug her elbow not-at-all gently into my ribs. I deserved that for the growl. I grunted, more startled than in pain.
Natalie sniffled loudly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” With a little groan, Alice turned onto her back and bent her knees, trying to find a more comfortable position. Apparently it wasn’t working because she rolled to her side to face me and tucked one arm under her head while holding the phone with her other hand.
I tried not to let on that I was watching for her to wince or flinch or rest her hand on her abdomen to signal pain. I probably hadn’t hidden my worry very well because she eyed me before staring into the middle distance behind me.
“How doyoufeel?” she asked Natalie.
Natalie let out a little laugh edged with a sob. “Like I’ve got the worst hangover I’ve had since college. I could barely get out of bed.”
“You’ll probably feel a little weak for a day or two,” Alice said. Her tone was kind, but also matter-of-fact in a way that made me think she was trying to focus Natalie’s attention away from the accident and more toward what needed to be done next. “We bound your magic again, so you’re safe. I do have some good news on that front. You have fire and air magic, like your grandmother, but your power is low-to-mid-range, which is easier to learn to control. Also, it keeps you off the cabals’ radar.”
When Alice paused, her lips pursed, Natalie said, “What else?”
Alice took a deep breath and said, “You have an additional ability that’s unusual. Do you remember what I told you about nulls?”
“Mages who can drain other people’s magic?”
“Yes. You’re a null.”
“What’s unusual about that? You said there are lots of them.”
“It’s unusual because you can do it so quickly. A lot of mages can drain someone else’s energy, but it takes a while. Your ability is lightning fast and you do it instinctually. You drained me just by touching me.”
