Page 125 of A Legacy of the Light

He chuckles and his eyes darken slightly. “I’ve missed that smart mouth of yours,” he says in a low voice, and rubs a thumb across my knuckles.

I don’t have a witty reply for him. The raspy drawl of his voice makes me forget whatever sassy retort I might have had.

Tavish takes a step closer to me and cups my cheek. His large hand covers almost half my head. “Have dinner with me tonight? Nothing formal, just me and you.”

Butterflies take flight in my stomach and I search his eyes. Looking for what? I don’t know.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear that comes loose when I nod my reply. “My room at seven.”

“Your room?”

“Yes,” he confirms. “I’m not going to try and get you into bed, if that’s what you’re worried about. I just want some peace and quiet tonight. And your company.”

“Technically, we’ve already shared a bed, so . . .” I shrug.

Tavish laughs. “True, although I wouldn’t be mad if it did end up that way. I’ve made no secret of the fact I want you,” he says, so nonchalantly I almost laugh. I think back to the way he’s looked at me in the past. His desire for me has always been there; I just chose to ignore it.

“Ahh sweet prince, I don’t think you could handle me,” I retort, sounding way more confident than I feel. Let’s be real for a minute, this man unravels me and I don’t think I can handle him.

“Is that a challenge, Elsie?” His hand moves from my cheek to grip the back of my neck and he pulls me so my body is flush with his.

My pulse picks up. I know he can hear it when he looks down at me with smug satisfaction.

The difference this time? I can hear his heart, too. And it’s beating just as hard as mine.

My lips tip up at the corner. “Maybe it is.”

He growls in frustration and grips my neck tighter. The possession of the act sets that fire low in my belly that only he ignites.

“You are far too tempting, Elsie Aitken.” He releases me and steps back, his eyes burning. “See you at seven.” And he turns and walks away toward his room.

◆◆◆

The hot bath I’ve been fantasizing about all day isn’t as restful as I had hoped. I’m too nervous about dinner with Tavish to relax fully. The last time I was alone with him, things got . . . heated.

I sit on the sofa in a robe, my wet hair twisted into a towel and the book on Seelie magic in my lap. I flick to the chapters on light wielders and begin reading.

Light is the purest form of Seelie magic and comes from a deep and true connection to the very source of our powers: nature. Those who wield light are connected to the magic of nature on a fundamental level. Light wielders are exceptionally rare and powerful. Very few have existed throughout our history and even fewer have been able to fully master the notoriously volatile magic. Light wielders can also typically wield with mist magic, and have often chosen this as their preferred source.

Unlike other abilities, light wielding is hereditary but often skips several generations. As with other magical abilities, we cannot say what determines a Seelie’s ability to wield. The only exceptions are the linkages identified between magic pertaining to professions, which are discussed, in detail, in chapters 20-23.

Notably, the Darrow line has had the most light wielders in their ancestry and this has assisted them in retaining their royal title.

It doesn’t surprise me to learn that the Darrows have the most history with light wielding. As I skim through the next few paragraphs, I discover that connecting to that depth of magic requires the wielder to be strong and skilled. Wielding light drains Seelie who use it, and it takes years of practice to understand how to channel it properly without putting yourself at risk. I quickly find a section on identifying light wielders.

Identifying a light-wielding ability is difficult until the power manifests itself. While young Seelie can channel mist and simpler forms of magic from a very young age, history shows us that light wielding seldom presents itself before Seelie reach physical maturity at twenty-five years.

The initial onset of this power is destructive and uncontrollable as it settles within the Seelie host. After the first wield, bearers will have a white ring around their iris whenever they wield light.

Dread pools in my stomach. How do I have a white ring around my eyes when I’ve never wielded in my life? Let alone wielded the purest form of Seelie magic.

When Reyne and I were sparring in the ring today, I could feel the flow of something through my veins. I assumed that was the adrenaline or the endorphins you hear gym bunnies rave about when they workout.

Could it have been the power I have? But then the book says that only shows after a Seelie has wielded light for the first time. The endless cycle of finding an answer only to raise more questions makes me want to scream.

The last few weeks I have buried my head into research to try and find at least some of the answers, and Finneus has helped me as much as possible. The simple fact remains that without speaking to someone in my family about our history and Granny’s abilities, I will never have all the answers.

Finneus told me Màiri was very guarded about her power and only used it when absolutely necessary. Her father was the same. Murdoch used his power even less than Granny did.