Right. The mess I’d created.
“Quandary and Cordelia are gathering up the butterflies loose in the castle.”
“Alight. What else?”
“Well, I have a containment spell that might work,” I said. “But I’m hesitant to try it when my magic keeps overreacting.”
“Show me.”
I hesitated. “It might make things worse.”
“I’ve survived worse than magical butterflies.”
His tone made me look up, but his expression had already smoothed into neutrality.
I took a deep breath. “I need to create a focusing circle first.”
I cleared space on the worktable, sketching a quick chalk circle. Kieran moved to stand beside me, watching as I placed crystals at cardinal points.
“These direct the energy flow.” I positioned a piece of clear quartz. “I need something to ground the spell, something solid and…” I searched the shelves.
“Would this work?” Kieran pulled a small black stone from his pocket. “Obsidian. From the volcanic fields in the northern territory.”
I took it, our fingers brushing. A literal spark jumped between us.
He didn’t pull away. His eyes darkened as if he could feel the racing beat of my heart.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a small, knowing smile that sent heat cascading through me.
“Perfect.” My voice came out embarrassingly breathy. “Obsidian absorbs excess energy.”
I placed the stone in the center of the circle, then held my hands over the arrangement. “I need to focus the spell properly this time.”
“May I assist?”
I blinked at him. “You want to help with witch magic?”
“Is that so surprising?”
“Considering the historical animosity between our people, yes.”
His lips curved. “History is being rewritten. Isn’t that why we’re here?”
Warmth unfurled in my chest. “I suppose it is.”
“Then tell me what to do.”
I swallowed. “Place your hands over mine. Your shadow magic can act as a counterbalance to my excess joy.”
He positioned himself behind me, reaching around to hover his hands above mine. The heat of him pressed against my back was highly distracting.
“Like this?” His breath stirred the hair near my temple.
“Yes.” I forced myself to focus. “When I channel the magic, think of containment. Boundaries. Structure.”
I called to my magic, feeling it rise within me. Kieran’s shadow magic responded, cool and controlled where mine was warm and wild. They met above our hands, gold and black intertwining in a dance as old as magic itself.
For a moment, I feared they would repel each other. Instead, they balanced, filling the circle with a perfect swirl of opposing energies.
