“You have the necessary control, Angel. It would befine.”
Angelique forced a smile to her face as she turned, intending to correct her good-intentioned teacher but gulped when she realized just how small the space was betweenthem.
Evariste did not wear his usual smile. Instead, his lips were unusually set as he stared at her, his green and blue eyes boring intoher.
I feel like an animal caught in atrap.
She swallowed unevenly as Evariste continued to studyher.
What’s going on?she mentally screamed, feeling excessively awkward and befuddled. Something in her stomach shivered, making her feel crabby.No, we will not melt over…this!
She lost the battle for mental fortitude when Evariste leaned close enough that his breath stirred herhair.
RETREAT! NOW!WHATEVER THIS IS, IT IS A LOSING BATTLE.RETREAT!
“Uhh,” Angelique said with vast and unspeakable intelligence. “Thank you for the demonstration.” She patted him on the chest—perhaps with a little more force than necessary given her desperation. This, unfortunately, only made her more aware of how warm and solid his chestwas.
Evariste blinked, and his serious expression was gone, swapped for his usual smile. “Aren’t you encouraged,Angel?”
“Incredibly so,” Angelique falsely agreed. “I am now steady, though. Could you releaseme?”
“You want to end our sweet embrace?” Evariste askedteasingly.
YES!Angelique kept her internal howl shut up and instead increased the size of her smile. “Yes, please, MasterEvariste.”
“Very well,” Evaristesighed.
Angelique nearly leaped away from him when his arms fell aside. She busied herself with brushing off her clothes and sucked in a deepbreath.
When she felt she had finally gotten herself back under control, she risked a glance atEvariste.
His smile was more playful now—andsuspiciouslyclose to asmirk.
Angelique cleared her voice. “Did you need something, MasterEvariste?”
“Not just yet.” He winked at her, then strolledaway.
Angelique furrowed her forehead. “Did you understand any part of what just happened?” she askedRoland.
The black and white cat licked his front paw and used it to scrub at his face. “What I understood is that overly enthusiastic teacher of yours has made mefilthyin his ill-timeddemonstration!”
“I guess,” Angelique said lamely. “I had better go get another dummy so we can continue withpractice.”
“Unless you mean to throw yourself at invisible foes,obviously,” Rolandgrumbled.
Angelique grinned and purposely pet the cat the wrong way, mussing the hair on his back. She laughed when he tried to bat at her as she hurriedoff.
Once safely out of sight, Angelique tossed her head like a wild horse.I have come to accept Evariste’s oddities, but I wish I could control myself enough so he wouldn’t fluster me so. It’s disappointing to realize I can lose all my carefully practiced tranquility with a merehug!
* * *
“You really oughtto study the art of breaking curses at a deeper level,” Rolandsaid.
Angelique looked up from her notes and studied hercompanion.
The cat sat on top of a stack of books, his black tail curled around his white paws. When he realized he had her gaze, he lowered himself into a lounging position and tapped the second-from-the-top book in his stack. “This particular tome has some very helpful information on curses and darkmagic.”
“I’ll give it a look-over,” Angelique agreed, “But right now Evariste is still covering magic sensitivity and advancedspellwork.”
