Page 42 of Made to Be

“Yeah.”

I looked up to questions filling his eyes. Almost as if he wanted to ask me why I had done it, used banned arcane necromancy to bring him back to life. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to admit my motives to him just yet, but I didn’t have to worry for long.

“You must be very talented. You said you’re a college professor?” he asked, circling back to what I had mentioned before he was distracted by the jar of eyeballs. “At an actual university in an arcane lab?”

Pride swelled within me. I might not have been the most sociable, outgoing person, but I loved my job. I loved being a part of helping younger arcane lovers and magic nerds fuel their passions through science, experiments, and research. And despite the rumors that college professors were always busy, it did allow me the flexibility to pursue the passions in my personal life, like my own experiments, research, and getting lost in romantic, swoon worthy books.

Cam leaned into my space to exclaim, eyes bright with excitement,

“That’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to see what an arcane lab looks like. Could you show me sometime?” My mouth popped open and I had to lean slightly back in my chair so that his nose didn’t bump directly into mine. “I don’t remember ever being able to use magic, but it’s always been fascinating to me. I used to wonder if I could learn to use magic, even if it didn’t come naturally to me, like it does with you.”

He had ceased his grinding, the mortar and pestle abandoned as his cheeks flushed a light pink. I was stunned. Thoroughly flabbergasted.

This was the most words Cam had said at once since I had met him. And honestly, I wished he would keep talking. I loved the sound of his voice and howanimated he became when he was talking about something that intrigued him. He had grown far more open as the days had gone by. He was already a long way from the quiet, reticent man that had been reawakened from an untimely death.

My tongue had tied itself into knots as I struggled to respond to him. He was just so... beautiful. Handsome and charming and utterly breathtaking. Even just sitting here in a t-shirt and sweatpants with his ebony hair slightly messy from him running his fingers through it.

He seemed to come to the sudden realization of just how close he had gotten. His eyes flicked down to my mouth then back up just as fast. My lips tingled under the brief attention, but he wasn’t leaning in to kiss me. He was patiently waiting for me to speak, to say something, anything.

Words, Vic, use your damn words!

“Of course,” I croaked hoarsely. “Yeah, I’ll take you. When I go back. We can do anything you want, Cam.”

His eyes flared. “Anything?” His voice was low, so much seduction bleeding through just one word that it had me clamping my thighs together tightly.

“Uh-huh.” I nodded breathlessly.

He smiled at my eagerness then, to my disappointment, leaned back into his seat to resume grinding the ingredients. I was beginning to suspect that Cam was a bit of a tease.

Shaking my head clear, I grinned to myself and cut a few more little squares then some pieces of hemp cord coated in beeswax. When we were both done with our respective tasks, Cam helped me carefully measure and pour the powder into the little black squares and securely tie them up. His had little bows while mine were simple but secure knots.

Cam and I both grinned down in triumph at the baker’s dozen black pouches sitting before us.

“How does this work?” Cam asked.

I quirked a brow for him to elaborate.

“These,” he gestured to the cute little bundles lined up in a row. “They’re made from magical ingredients, but do you have to use your own magic too?”

“Yep,” I told him. “Most spells require a source. Something they can pull energy from to cast. Some don’t need anything special except for the caster’s own abilities while many need multiple things. Like these complex unlocking spells. They are also combined with a few anti-hex spell ingredients. That’s what my research has been focused on lately,” I added as an afterthought. “Combining spells, charms, enhancers... Curses. Some pair well while others are...” My fingers tapped on the desk’s surface. “Unstable.”

He gave me a knowing look, then grinned playfully, “Just how many times have you blown yourself up, Victor?”

I squawked, mildly offended.

“Not...thatmany,” I said hesitantly. “Only a few times.”

Cam quirked his pierced dark brow at my obvious denial, so I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t you want to see if these work or not?” I asked him pointedly. But my attempt at a serious tone fell flat and Cam and I both found ourselves laughing together, giggling like schoolgirls.

“Alright, alright,” I amended with a sigh. “We should test it first. Just in case it...”

“Blows up?” Cam finished for me, snickering.

“Just to besafe. Not for any particular reason.”

I liked my hands attached to my body, thank you very much. Can’t just reattach them like I could with Cam. Wait… Or could I?