Page 5

“First?” Dean blanches. “We’re here for Hazel. Not for me. I’ve known I’m without any sort of magic since I was a kid.”

I can’t help but smile, already having a feeling what we’re going to find. “Like I said, which of you wants to go first?”

Hazel giggles, stepping forward. “I’ll go first. Give him a moment to process what’s happening.”

“Okay,” I say, rubbing my hands together. “Nix is going to lay a hand on your arm and then I’m going to touch your other arm. Nix has the ability to strengthen someone’s abilities, draw them out, while my ability is being able to see what that ability is. Okay?”

“Sounds good,” she says, offering both of us an arm.

Dean pulls out a chair and sits down, watching us but his eyes are glassy and far off. I do my best to focus on Hazel.

As soon as Nix puts his hand on Hazel, I can feel his magic light up beside me. It’s an incredibly familiar warmth, like stepping outside for the first time in the morning. I touch Hazel’s other arm, allowing my own magic to thread through hers. Then I open my eyes again, sucking in a sharp breath.

As part of my ability, that moment my magic latches onto another's, I get to see what they see. I get to not only feel what their magic entails but for a split second, I get to experience it as well.

Some would say my magic is a type of seer magic. It would seem that Hazel’s magic is yet another type of seer. She can see people’s soul ties.

Without my permission, my eyes dart over to Nix. He’s got so many soul ties running through him, which isn’t surprising to me. He’s a loveable person. I don't think I’ve ever met someone who didn’t like Nix. The thing that makes me freeze up is the gorgeous golden string that seems to go from the center of Nix’s chest over to Dean’s chest.

No. Fucking. Way.

Before I can look more closely, it’s gone. Just like that.

Hazel is staring, her eyes wide. She looks over at her dad, then at the two of us, then down at her own chest. She looks at her hands, probably seeing even more soul ties there. It must be overwhelming.

“Dad,” she breathes out, letting out a broken noise. “There’s so many strings. Oh my gods.”

“Hazel,” I say gently, ignoring the way my own heart is shattering right now. “Don’t say too much, yet. Not until you understand your own magic more. Not everyone would like to know what you can see, okay?”

“I understand,” she says, her voice shaky. “Did you see it too?”

It takes all my self control not to wince. Instead, I nod my head. “I saw.”

“Then you’ll understand why I’m about to hug you,” she says before running around the table and throwing her arms around Nix and I. My heart is hammering inside my chest so forcibly it’s making my body ache. How can she be hugging me when her father is connected to Nix?

“Whoa,” Nix says, hugging her back. “People don’t usually get this excited when we help.”

“People don’t usually get a bigger family when they come here either,” Hazel says, giving me a knowing smile that does nothing for my breaking heart.

“I don’t know what that means but I trust it’s rad,” Nix says with a grin. “I’m happy for you, Hazel.”

“I’m really happy too. My mother had this same ability when she was alive.”

“Oh, what ability does she have now?” I bonk Nix on the top of his head. He winces, rubbing at it before his eyes go wide. “Shit! Sorry! Sometimes I say things before I think.”

Thankfully, Hazel and Dean just seem to laugh it off. Dean still looks like he’s in shock but that’s okay. Sometimes these things take a bit to fully sink in.

“Are you ready, Dean?”

Dean’s blue eyes snap up to me. I do my best to give him a soft, inviting smile. His shoulders seem to fall away from his ears and he nods, standing up and walking over.

He holds out his hand and Nix immediately takes it. I watch them for a moment. That familiar warmth of Nix’s magic makes me feel sick to my stomach instead of comfort now. Things will change after today and I don’t think I’m ready.

It’s been me and Nix for as long as I can remember. We met in kindergarten and have been together ever since. He’s my best friend. He’s my other half. Now I’ll have to figure out how to live with him being ‘Nix and Dean’ instead of ‘Nix and Kassian’.

Fuck, i’m being such a depressed asshole right now! I need to focus!

I toss my braid over my shoulder and take Dean’s other hand. Sparks dance across my skin. I close my eyes, getting a feel for Dean’s magic. It’s exactly as I suspected, he is a seer but he only sees during his dreams.