Chapter Eleven
“ISAIDWHAT?” She chuckled nervously and sipped her whisky, having no recollection of what she'd apparently just said. He would know what she should write when the time came? He would give up everything? His very soul? Or all would be lost? Even the one he loved most?
How positively ominous.
Yet one thing snagged her attention above all else.
“Who do you love the most?” She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “Never mind. Pretty sure I already know.”
Thankfully, he didn’t answer, because it would have been Maeve and that stupid heart-sinking sensation would return. Honestly, she’d known the guy less than forty-eight hours, so feeling this strongly was just sad. A little desperate, really. He didn’t appear that put off, though. If anything, he looked worried.
“What just happened to you, Chloe?” His brogue thickened with his heightened emotions. He wasn't concerned about him but her. “You werenae yourself.”
A frown settled on his face, where she much preferred him smiling. The man had some seriously sexy dimples. That might be the last thing she should be thinking about right now, but she couldn’t help herself. Then again, she wasn’t as rattled as he was by what had just happened. Which made her wonder.
Should she be? Her words truly had been unsettling.
“I wasn't myself, was I?” She narrowed her eyes, considering what it had felt like. While she didn’t recall saying the words, she’d definitely been in touch with her emotions. “Though it sounded otherwise, I don't think what I said is set in stone.” She met his eyes. “Whatever just came over me was trying to help. Make us aware of what couldpossiblyhappen, but notnecessarily. It had been a courtesy warning of sorts. Something subject to change.” She nodded once. “I’m sure of it.”
“Was it the same voice who dressed you at Edinburgh Castle then?” He searched her eyes, seeking answers she just didn’t have. “Could it have been a Celtic goddess?”
“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “Maybe.” She offered an apologetic look. “Bear with me. I’m brand new to this magic thing, never mind gods.”
“Of course,” he murmured. Unrest lingered in his eyes as his gaze flickered from her ring to the candle flame.
She could have sworn she’d seen her ring spark the color of Aidan's eyes, but now she wasn’t so sure. Curious, she asked him if he saw it too, but he readily denied it. A bit too quickly, in her opinion. Which made her wonder. Not enough, however, to go anywhere near talking about possible love existing between them. Because that's what it would mean.
Love.
Just thinking about it scared her to no end. She’d loved before and look where that got her. Heartbroken. A complete mess. She didn’t want to go through that again any more than he obviously did. So she couldn’t help but wonder how this would work. How they’d leap the seemingly insurmountable hurdles of their past to find any kind of future.
“When your magic first ignites, ‘tis just a series of odd sensations,” he said softly, undoubtedly drawing on his own experience. Blissfully pulling her from her thoughts. “Learn where they derive from, what might have ignited them, and you will find control.”
She nodded and urged him to go on, glad he was off her ominous words and onto other things.
“What just happened was likely your magic first sparking, making you a conduit to someone wanting to help you,” he explained. “In Julie's case, her ancestors. In yours, perhaps this goddess who reached out to you at Edinburgh Castle.” He looked at her with reassurance. “Once you are more familiar and in control of your magic, you willnae forget it but be wholly present.” He pointed to the corner of his eye. “I suspect the source of your power comes from your eyes,” the corner of his mouth curled up, “and your endless curiosity.”
She perked her brows, surprised by that. “You mean to say something that’s gotten me into trouble over the years and usually drives people crazy is part of my magic?” She chuckled. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Dinnae,” he replied. “’Tis the part of you that finds answers. That moves your soul forward on its life journey.” She sensed he wanted to touch the corner of her eye this time but clenched his fist to stop himself. “Curiosity is the most natural human inclination and will only become enhanced, I imagine, as your inner witch surfaces.”
“Inner witch,” she mouthed, still trying to wrap her mind around that. It was no longer a possibility but a truth. She felt it deep down in a place that wouldn’t allow her to question it. “What about my eyes, though? What have they got to do with this?”
“You would not be the first Broun witch to display her power through her eyes.” He shrugged. “For you, ‘tis verra clearly the perfect link.” This time hedidtouch the corner of her eye and lingered there, his gaze with hers in a way a man’s never had been before. Again his brogue thickened with emotion. “Ye carry such a large part of your curious soul right here in yer bright bonny eyes that ‘tis a wonder anyone can look away from them.”
Breathing became impossible as his gaze lingered on her, the rich depths of his own glorious gaze reeling her ever closer. She had never felt anything quite like this. Not just incredible attraction, but what she realized was magic.
Power.
Not just his but hers slowly but surely coming to life. Swelling to the surface of a reality beyond her wildest imagination. Daunting in its intensity. Alarming in its otherworldly, unnatural ability to drive its way into her mind, merging with what she knew of herself.
Making her its own.
“Aidan?” she managed on a whisper, curious but frightened, needing more answers, needing to understand. “What’s going on?”
While she thought for certain he would pull his hand away, he didn’t. Instead, he cupped her cheek and comforted her because God knows she needed it. She felt like she was morphing into something else. Being consumed by something undefinable and alien.
“’Tis happening verra fast for ye,” he murmured, seemingly seeing straight into her soul. “’Tis all right, lass. I am here. Ye are nae alone.”
