I faced the check-in lady as she held a small card in her hand. “Here is your room key and—”
Her words fizzled as the air cooked around us, making the backs of my ears burn. I couldn’t wait to get inside. Was France supposed to be this hot or was this one of those wretched hot flashes I’d been privy to lately?
As I took the plastic card from her hand, her eyes widened, and she pointed to the man behind me. A flare of heat rolled up my back
“Oh my!” she said with a gasp. “Sir! Your hands!”
I followed her horrified stare to Ethan’s hands. They were blazing and far too close for my comfort. With a shriek, I dashed away from the burning heat.
He jerked his head down and cursed. “Shit.”
Hopping backwards, he shook his arms, but his movements only fanned the flames onto his jeans, singeing the denim. I looked for a cup of water, or anything to put it out, but came up short. If only I knew how to get the water from the fountain over with magic.
“I’ve got a fire extinguisher!” someone shouted, while others screamed for help.
A fireball shot from Ethan’s hand to the ground near his feet. His eyes widened with fear. In his panic, he started flinging his hands like he could get the fire of off him. It only caused more chaos and uncontrolled flames.
“Watch out!” someone warned as three fireballs shot out of Ethan’s hands, one coming right for my chest.
It was too fast, and I couldn’t think. I raised my hands hoping my magic would save me, but thick, muscular arms wrapped around my waist first.
“I’ve got you,” a soothing male voice said as we spun away from the flames. The fireball that would’ve taken me out crashed nearby and I clung to the green sweater in front of my face.
Fingers splayed against my back as my savior stilled. I looked up to thank him, but the words got stuck in my throat. Familiar stormy eyes stared into mine.
I knew this man.
Well, notknew, butknew of.
He was the most famous man in the world. Or infamous. That would depend on who you asked.
Rylan McKenzie. As in theMcKenzie Institute for Magical AdultsRylan McKenzie.McKenzie Enterprise billionaire magic realm openerRylan McKenzie.
Yeah,him.
Warmth spread across my cheeks as I stood there wrapped in his arms, my fingers still gripping his soft sweater.
The infamous billionaire’s touch sent tingles up my spine, and not the bad kind. The buzzing I’d felt from the crowd moments ago came back. Then, something in my stomach fluttered, and I sucked in a breath from the rush of sensations. Was it my magic or a case of the butterflies?
Commotion carried on around us, but I was oblivious to it. I was caught in his gray-blue stare. He was very handsome, especially up close and personal. My magic threatened to rattle right out of me to dance with his.
“You’re glowing,” he said, and I released his sweater.
“Um thanks. I’ve been using this new cream—”
The billionaire’s laugh stopped me from talking about my new night cream. He leaned closer, so close I could feel his breath on my nose. Those stormy irises glanced at my lips, which sent my heart into a chaotic rhythm.
“Cute. But you’reactuallyglowing.” He grabbed hold of my hand and lifted it.
“Oh no!” I jumped back, breaking from his hold, nearly falling over from the momentum of my bag swinging with me. How could I be glowing? And why was it happening right now?
Rylan watched me with a wide grin. It was an expression I made often when Piper was being all cute. I was about say something when a woman dressed in a tan pantsuit stepped between the billionaire and me. Her brown hair was tightly wrapped into a bun at the base of her neck.
“Sir, the situation has been contained, and the student is being taken to the hospital wing to check for injuries, though none were visible. I went ahead and upgraded his room to ease any mental discomfort.” The woman scribbled on her phone with astylus before glancing at me with an indifferent gaze. Then, she faced Rylan.
Despite understanding her words, I still looked for Ethan being taken into the castle. Hopefully he was okay and not burned.
The registration staff were lifting a table and situating their stations when she spoke to Rylan again. “I’ve checked you in, and your meeting with Headmaster Sprucian is in five minutes.”
