“You know what a summoning circle looks like?” There’s an edge to her voice like she’s trying to sound nonchalant.
“Sure do. Been summoned a time or two in my day. It’s why I was so sure you had one.”
She leans closer and whispers, “Are we waiting for something?”
I tug the dragon egg from my pocket, then pass it to her. “More likely to get in if you’re returning that.”
She turns it over in her palms. “If the dragons are so protective over their eggs, how did Omen get it? Also, not to be a bitch about your friends, but that’s kind of a dick move with the dragon’s past, don’t you think?”
“Well, I didn’t get the full story. He said he just popped in and then out again. He shouldn’t have been able to, but weirder things have happened. Also, I don’t think he knew it was a dragon’s egg. Not everyone knows their history like I do. Omen spent his practicum in Waterworld studying…sea monsters? I think that’s what you’d call them.”
“You had practicums?” She waves the question away. “You have sea monsters?!”
I shake my head andlace our fingers together before leading her down the hill toward a small door set in the side of the large castle. With my curse fading and Mari finally opening up, we just might be on the right path. Maybe I’ll take her to the sea monsters next.
Her peals of laughter ring through the air as I pull her after me, and I can’t help but grin. Yeah, this could definitely work.
Butterflies—in the air and in my stomach. I’ve never experienced either, and it’s terrifying.
I’ve spent most of my life trying to stay grounded. Only now do I realize what I’ve been missing. The butterflies fluttering around us are bright blue, almost electrified. With every brush of their wings, a spark alights across my skin. It reminds me of Dimitri’s magic, and I wonder if they come from the same source.
I never gave much thought about where magic comes from—my own included. It was just something I was born with. My aunt made it seem like it was a disease that needed to be eradicated. Yet she still used her own magic whenever it fit her needs. It wasn’t until Lark and I got out of the house and away from her that we truly learned anything. Without a mentor, it was slow going. Lark was always better at finding answers.
Most of the time, I waited until she knew things and she’d teach me. It must have been annoying for her. When we got alittle older, I honed the skills I needed and left the rest. When she disappeared, I had to deep-dive into a lot of magic I wasn’t used to. Maybe I did summon Dimitri and didn’t know it. I never claimed to be a competent witch.
“Why does this whole world feel like seven different dimensions mishmashed together?”
He shrugs as another butterfly lands on his shoulder. He’s covered in them, little blue lightning strikes illuminating his rugged face. His wings pop from his back and he winces. Whether that’s from the butterflies taking flight or his wings coming out, I don’t know. And I’m too afraid to ask. I’d lie and say it’s because I don’t want to pry into his life, but it’s more than that. I’m already getting attached.
The rollercoaster my emotions have been on ever since he tumbled into my life doesn’t help. One minute I want him, the next I want to kick him in the shin, after that I want him to vanish. Except there’s this need sitting right below the surface, desperate to know more about him.
“Okay, now we really need to go,” he mutters, checking an invisible watch on his wrist.
“Where do your wings go?” I blurt out as we walk through the forest. It’s not quite the question I want to ask, but it’ll have to do.
“Where does your magic go when you’re not using it?” He raises an eyebrow and smirks.
“Okay, but…never mind.”
“Saw the scars, huh?”
I clamp my mouth shut and stare straight ahead at the path carving its way through the trees. I knew I should have shut the fuck up.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “How much farther? My feet are starting to hurt.”
I pick up my pace, though why I think I can outrun a demon is beyond me. In two steps he’s snared my wrist and yanked me to his side. I don’t try to pull away. Mostly because I like the feel of his skin on mine. I could definitely blame it on basically being a recluse since I moved into my sister’s house. I’d be lying.
“I used to have actual wings. Now I have to settle for ones formed from storm clouds—my magic, basically.” He doesn’t elaborate how he lost them, and I’m not going to demand he tell me.
“How did they carry both of us to the wall?”
He laces our fingers together and presses our palms together. “I can fly for a bit before they either disappear or give out. That was easy, especially since I haven’t used them in a while. Also, I haven’t been as fatigued since I slept at your house.”
“You don’t look like you’re about to pass out, at least.” I give him a half-hearted smile, and he grins.
“Keep it up, spitfire, and I just might think you want to keep me around.”
I glance around as we step from the trees. Dense fog blocks any view I might have had. I wonder if he can see something I can’t. Apparently being a witch puts me at a disadvantage.
