Page 63 of First Ritual

Musician’s fingers curled over my neck. My skin was clammy. I felt wrung out. Did the kiss cause this or Wild’s magical hooks? In either case, I was powerless under the pressure of Wild’s grip as it alternated between gentle and ruthless.

The gentle won out.

“Tempest.” He dropped to his knees. “What do you feel?”

“Tired,” I slurred through chattering teeth.

“What happened?” Huxley asked.

Wild turned me and brushed my hair off my face. “My magic attacked hers.”

“In what way?”

I noted the hint of confusion in Wild’s dark gaze before my eyes fluttered closed.

“I wanted to own her magic,” he said uncertainly. “When she kissed me, that wasn’t important anymore.”

Their voices drifted to me.

So tired.

“Why?” Corentin prompted.

“Because her approval meant more.”

16

Knock, knock.

I placed down my quipu, pulling open the door to admit Rooke.

“You missed dinner,” she said, lifting the tray in her hand.

“I fell asleep,” I answered and swiped an apple. “Thanks.”

I’d woken in my room from a deep, healing sleep that, surprisingly, possessed Corentin’s magical signature. He’d probably been forced to help me. Whatever happened with Wild, I felt nearly good as new, though my magic was almost bruised. Or something like that. I’d never experienced the sensation before.

“Sven said you came down with something and couldn’t come to the meeting.” She perched on the bed and picked up one of the braids on the quipu. Her braid. Funny how magic recognized magic on a subconscious level too.

“I feel better now,” I answered in lieu of lying to my cousin.

“I would, too, if I’d had a threesome.”

I choked on a bite of apple. My eyes watered as I swallowed it. “What?”

“Rae went to grab something from apothecary after lunch. She said Wild had your arms overhead and was kissing you while Sven was behind.”

I thought back, and laughter spilled from me. Sven had probably tried to separate us before running to get Huxley and Corentin. At least I assumed he’d done that when helping himself proved futile. I wiped tears off my face. “I can see how she misinterpreted that. Hilarious.”

Rooke placed her braid down. “Half the coven is mad with jealousy, and the other half is totally on your side.”

“For what?”

“For bagging two of them.”

“No bagging occurred. I did kiss Wild. That part is true. I only did it to distract him.”

“Kinky. What’s happening with him? You two seem intense. Your energies when you’re both together are so tight and… I don’t know, I’d say angry but that’s not quite right either. Heightened.”