AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She lifts not her eyes from her page. “Nothing that concerns you.”
So my “wife” is still in a snit. She liked not me asking her to leave Bram’s office. ’Twas necessary. She would object to being coddled, and insulting her father would only rile her again.
“What are you reading?”
She arches a dark brow. “Oh, I’m supposed to let you in on stuff, but you don’t have to tell me anything? I don’t think so, buddy.”
“Forgive me for protecting you from what I sense will be a terrible war.”
She glares my way, then sticks her nose in her book again. I am sorely tempted to cover her mouth with mine, stretch her out on our bed, and take her until she cries my name loud enough for all and sundry in the house to hear. Until she acknowledges our bond again.
But the wizards are waiting to begin their training. Their assistance in Olivia’s protection must start immediately, no matter how badly I wish for an hour or two to devour her.
“I’m not a hothouse flower. You can’t protect me from everything.”
“Protecting is in a warrior’s nature. I am too old to change.”
“And I’m too independent to be cosseted.”
’Tis one of her qualities that both attracts and infuriates me. “I will endeavor to remember such. Does aught else upset you?”
“Now that you mention it… From the conversation at breakfast, I guess you’ve agreed to train the wizards to fight. I agree it’s a good move—not that you asked me. But we should hide the diary before you go.”
“Excellent idea.” Hopefully, it will be temporarily safe since the men will be with me…unless Olivia contacts her father.
“We talked before breakfast about you carving something to hide the book in that we could affix to the furniture. So I was trying to conjure up a block of wood.”
“Did you curse because you have not yet succeeded?”
She frowns. “While you shoveled down your third helping of eggs, I came up here to figure this out. I’m focusing, picturing what I want, pouring my energy into it. I know I won’t learn magic overnight, but…argh!”
I sit beside her on the bed and cup her cheek. “Can I help?”
She shrugs. “I don’t see how.”
“Magic requires concentration and desire for the outcome?”
“According to Sabelle and this book, yeah. But maybe since I haven’t transitioned yet, I’m trying to do too much.”
Mayhap it is unwise to encourage her magic, but I hate to see her so disheartened. “You have powerful blood, and you are smart. Believe in yourself.”
Olivia turns a soft gaze my way, full of thanks and something that hits me in the chest. In days, the woman has wrapped herself around me. And no matter how often I tell myself to maintain distance, I cannot.
“Thanks.”
I take her hand and squeeze it.
“How big do you need the block of wood to be?”
I hold up my hands to mimic the size of the diary. “Once I have whittled its shape, I will affix it where I can.”
She nods and mumbles again, squeezing my hand tighter and tighter.
Suddenly, a hunk of smooth maple, the same color as the furniture, appears on the bed at our feet.
Her eyes pop open, and she squeals. “I did it! My very first bit of real magic!”
“Aye, you did.” I plant a congratulatory kiss on her mouth. ’Tis a relief to know she used magic for the first time to help me, not her father.
