“How was spell casting today?”he asked.He’d been on patrol duty, using a golf cart to drive around the neighborhoods before walking the entire perimeter of the town.It had been a quiet and rather boring day for him, but after the danger their people had faced recently, he didn’t mind quiet and boring.
“Lorene video chatted with me, and she said I need to work more on combining both of my magics instead of just relying on one or the other.They are working together inside me, but one is always stronger.Of course, aside from Cinder, there aren’t any dual magical people, and her magic is different from mine.So I’m kind of on my own.”
“That sucks, but I know you can figure it out.”
She sighed and smiled.“I will, I just wish I could fast-forward through this learning process.I know so many spells from my early training days, but I can’t use them.I think I was able to do so much when we were in danger because my magic was trying to protect us, and it flowed more easily through me.Now I’m not stressed or in danger, so I have to plod through it all a spell at a time.”
They talked more about the spells she was casting and how she was working on protecting the pack’s territory until Cinder got back to her magical abilities.When the food arrived, neither of them spoke for a few minutes, and then they shared bites and gushed over the delicious food.
For dessert, they shared a warm apple cake with cider glaze.
She took the last bite when he held it up to her lips, her eyes shining with happiness.
He’d told her she was beautiful.That he was having the best time with her.
But he hadn’t told her he loved her.Because he wanted that to be special, too.Not just him blurting it out randomly, but something that they’d both remember forever.
He’d never said the words to a female before, and he was glad he’d saved them for her.
He just needed the right moment.
And then he’d tell her he’d fallen head over heels for her.
He tucked cash into the small black folder with the bill and said, “Are you ready for part two?”
“Does it involve the bed?”
“That’s part three,” he said.
She giggled.“On to part two.”
He drove them to Lykos, the shifter-owned bar, and parked in the back.A line had formed at the front door, but that was pretty normal for a Friday night.
“That’s a long line,” she said when he opened her door.
“Sure is, but we don’t have to wait.High-ranked shifters are given access to the back door and have reserved tables.”
“Fun,” she said.
“Being high-ranked has its perks.”
He knocked on the back door, and after a few moments, a male opened it.“Oh, hey, Solan.Welcome.”
“Thanks, Vinnie.This is my mate Kaeli.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said.“Have fun.”
Solan took Kaeli through the kitchen and into the main room, where a long bar was manned by several bartenders, and the dance floor was crowded.Music thumped loudly, strobe lights and lasers painting the bodies as they moved to the music.
They made their way to the bar, and he waved at Paris, the manager.
“Hey,” Paris said, resting his hands on the bar.“Nice to see you, Solan.Who’s this?”
“This is Kaeli, my mate.This is Paris, he runs the bar.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kaeli said.
Paris nodded.“Nice to meet you too.What can I get for you?”
