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How could I have thought the curse could do that on its own, just by feeding off the energy of cave critters for three hundred years? It wasn’t even that strong now. There was no way it could’ve broken the magic that had bound it when it had been at the height of its power.
But the magic didn’t belong to those stones. It had been put there by the original twelve, sacrificed, likely without consent, and as I knew all too well, it didnotlike being told what to do. It must not have been able to break free. Without all the descendants, the stones remained the only available host.
Until Thora—who had left the island a year before Brooke arrived—came home.
“Have you talked to Thora?” I asked. “It would be good to know if she felt the earthquake, just to be sure. Though word on the street is that she’s hiding out at the guest house on her parents’ property and she’s going out of her way not to see anyone, even her old friends.”
“I haven’t talked to her, no. She actually ran when she saw me.”
“Of course she did,” I smirked. “That Latham charm strikes again.”
“Smartass.” He swiped a finger through the cupcake frosting and dabbed it on my nose.
“You did not just do that.” He had no idea who he was messing with. Scorpios didn’t believe in getting even. Because we wouldn’t rest until we got more.
I picked up the whole cupcake and smashed it into his face.
“That’s it.” He grabbed the crumbled pieces of cake. “You’re in for it now.”
I squealed and jumped up, but he was faster than me. He caught me around the waist and smeared the ruined cake over my cheeks. I was laughing so hard, I almost choked on one of the crumbs I inhaled. Energy poured out of both of us. Rain and lightning flashed within the clearing, but we barely noticed. I hooked my foot behind his knee, giving him a swift kick that sent us to the ground. I landed on top of him with a softoof.
I pushed my hands into his chest. “Are you ready to admit defeat?”
“Never.”
A hazy glow touched his eyes as he pushed my wet hair back from my face. He hardened underneath me, and I rubbed myself along his length. He gripped my hips, his fingers sending out bursts of electricity that made me moan. Under the shimmery silver light of the moon, I leaned down and kissed him.
His lips were soft, but the way he kissed me wasn’t. It was hungry and demanding. I matched his intensity with my own burning, writhing energy. Warm pinwheels of pleasure shot through me. He groaned into my mouth. Cupping my face, he changed the angle and took the kiss deeper. His tongue stroked mine, pushing me higher. Golf ball-sized hail hammered the ground around us and still my magic wanted more.
He broke the kiss. “Draw it back. Don’t let the magic take over.”
“I can’t,” I gasped. “I’m losing my hold on it.” I ground my hips harder, needing him to fill me, desperate to come undone the way I had against his fingers.
He swore and flipped us over, pushing off of me to break the physical contact. “Let it flow out of you. I know you can do this.”
The need for him continued to rise. My legs trembled. Looking at him made the desire worse, so I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Inhale, exhale, release. Again and again until my magic loosened. Tight knots of power unwound, flowing out of me. Hail changed to rain, then a light sprinkle before disappearing altogether. I opened my eyes.
“Got it under control?” His tone was clipped and annoyed.
“Yes.” I leaned up on my elbows and tilted my head, studying his stiff posture and the firm line of his lips. “You’re mad at me. Why?”
His expression hardened. “I’m not mad.”
Yeah, right. “Who’s the shitty liar now?”
“I’m frustrated.” He opened his mouth, closed it again, and began pacing.
I rolled my eyes. “Just spit it out already. Are you mad I ruined sexytimes with an unfortunately timed power surge?”
“No.” He clenched his jaw. “I’m frustrated that you can’t get a grip on your magic because you keep shutting me out.”
“That’s not…” True.
It was so true. I’d begun to open up to him again, to trust him, and when that happened, I was able to cooperate and communicate with my magic. It didn’t overwhelm me. Until my old hurts and insecurities rose to the surface and I once again shut him out to protect myself.
My powers didn’t work at all without him physically, but they also didn’t work right without him emotionally. I needed all of him and he needed all of me. And I wasn’t sure if that was something I’d ever be able to give him.
“I can’t keep doing this.” He stopped pacing and crossed his arms. “I think you should take the next few days to figure out what’s more important to you, controlling your magic or holding on to your grudge. Because you don’t get to have both.”
He walked away and I sat alone in the clearing with the remnants of his romantic dinner spread out in ruins around me.
