Page 62 of Marked

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We stood around my small dining table and stared down at the arrow. Orion and Ace notably kept as far away from each other as possible and had only exchanged the briefest of words on the trip home.

Ace ran his hand down the arrow and magic stirred in the air. I jumped and spun to face him, my mouth falling open. My power came in the form of connecting with my weapons and focusing on a target, but I could usually tell when others accessed magic because it made the hair on my arms stand up.

What the phaan was going on? Ace had magic? When the phaan did he get magic?

I shut my mouth and narrowed my eyes.

People were either born with magic or not. It wasn’t something gained by a ritual or eating some magical fruit, but sometimes the magic took a while to manifest, or required a bonded familiar to be released. Ace had never let on he had magic when we were younger. Did his not manifest until later? Or had he always known he had magic and kept it hidden? Whatever the case, he definitely had it now.

My mind spiraled back to the clearing where he’d dumped me on the ground. He’d done something to help me heal before Orion arrived. I’d been too out of it to question him at the time, but it didn’t take away the memory of his magic whispering along my skin and sweeping into my body. What was his power? And what else did he hide? And what was he doing right now?

I wouldn’t ask him about his magic in front of Orion. Not because Orion wouldn’t have noticed the magic, but because there was no way Ace would open up in front of a stranger. Ace had always been a private person.

When we were alone and I was feeling better, though, I planned to get the truth out of him—or at least some of it.

“It’s laced with something,” Ace announced. “The poison has a magical element to it, but I am not sure what it is.” His brows angled down in a deep frown, and he pressed his lips together. He didn’t need to voice his thoughts for me to understand he hated not knowing something. It was written all over his face. “Can you tell what it is?”

We both looked over at Orion expectantly.

The healer stepped toward the arrow and repeated the same action as Ace. His magic filled the room with its calming effect that reminded me of the hot springs and lavender. His magic felt familiar, and comforting. He’d accessed his power around me often, and he’d used his magic on me to heal…and do other things.

My cheeks heated and I shifted my weight on my feet.

Nala huffed and flung her paw over her snout where she’d sprawled near the fire.

Orion had the ability to heal and examine magical auras. He could also use it to caress someone else’s power. It was hard to explain it, but it felt amazing in bed.

“It’s immortal magic,” Orion announced, apparently, unaware I was reliving our passionate night together.

How would Ace’s magic feel if he used his power on me like Orion had?

Orion stepped back and when his gaze landed on my face, he frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re flushed.” Ace narrowed his eyes.

“I feel a little warm,” I admitted. “Must be a side effect of healing.” I looked down at the arrow to avoid looking at either of them.

Ace snorted. He might’ve been gone for five years, but he’d known me from the ages of twelve to twenty during my angsty youth. He knew my tells. Lying to him was pointless.

But I hadn’t lied for him. Not technically.

“Interesting,” Orion said. “I’ll make a note of that.”

“Can you tell anything else about the immortal magic?” I asked.

“It’s very…raw,” Orion said.

“Raw?” I asked.

“When someone uses their power, it feels smooth and focused. This doesn’t have that same feel.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Orion studied my face for a second before answering. “I don’t know.”