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“What’s up?” I asked, surveying my friends.
They both looked tense. Luke was sitting on a long sofa, parallel to Rhett’s bar, when I entered Rhett’s main lounge. But Luke rose from the sofa to greet me as soon as I entered the room. Rhett stood behind the length of his bar, holding a drink in his hand. I couldn’t be sure, but I had my suspicions that the contents of Rhett’s glass contained something stronger than a refreshing iced tea. It looked like Rhett had been running his hand through his golden locks of hair.
Luke reached my side, and I became very conscious of the makeshift outfit I’d borrowed from Cass’s closet since he’d decided to abandon my clothes in the alcove of the watering hole. I was wearing one of Cass’s white cotton t-shirts, which I’d tied up in the back so that it did not hang to my knees. The pair of black athletic shorts I’d borrowed from Cass were also unsurprisingly so large that I’d had to roll them up several times until they just barely hung over my hips.
Unsure, I looked at Luke, waiting for his reaction. Luke and I were not exclusive, and he wasn’t the jealous type, but being with Cass was the first time I had been with someone other than Luke in a long while.
Luke broke into a smile, his handsome face lighting up despite whatever it was that was on his mind, and I felt tension I did not know I had been holding in my chest escape. He picked a leaf out of my hair and I smiled back at him, slightly chagrined. Luke took my hand in his and led me to the lounge he’d sat on before, pulling me down beside him. He may not be upset about Cass, but something was still off with him.
“Al, this is something that we maybe should have talked to you about sooner,” he began. “Although, in our defense, we didn’t really anticipate you flying over the High Court naked,” Luke teased.
We?I looked over at Rhett.What did Rhett have to do with this?
“Am I correct in believing that Cass did not have the ability to fly before your hike with him today?” Luke asked.
“Yes…” I responded tentatively.
“And he gained the ability to fly during your”—he cleared his throat suggestively—“time together while away from Court today?” he asked.
I nodded my head.
“Al, it’s your magic,” Rhett said, cutting to the chase.
“Mywhat?” I exclaimed, snapping my head in Rhett’s direction.
“Your magic,” he replied resolutely, walking over to where Luke and I sat.
“I don’t have any magic, Rhett,” I retorted, equally sure.
“Yes, you do,” Luke replied.
“No—” I began to protest.
“Yes, you do, Alarie,” Luke insisted. He allowed the light of his magic to shine through the room. His skin sparkled like his every pore was made out of an ethereal light—his reminder of how his magic came back to him while he had moved inside of me in the ocean back at the Silver Court.
Rhett nodded in agreement with Luke.
“Al, you remember when we all had that…real good timetogether?” Rhett asked.
Of course, I remembered. A girl isn’t likely to forget a threesome with her two gorgeous best friends.
“Well, after I was with you, more of my magic came back. It almost feels back to normal,” Rhett finished.
“I don’t…I don’t understand,” I mumbled, my grip tightening on Luke’s hand like his touch was the only thing tethering me to reality.
I felt lightheaded. I pictured the shredded thread of gold I had imagined mending when I was with Rhett and Luke. I hadn’t told Luke or Rhett about it. I thought it had something to do with possibly being Rhett’s mate, and then, in all honesty, I had gotten so wrapped up in the moment that I completely forgot about it.
Rhett came and sat on the other side of me.
“Al, it’s okay,” he said, grabbing my other hand.
“We think we are the only ones who know. But you’re going to have to talk to Cass. This isn’t the kind of news that can get out,” Rhett cautioned.
“What? Why? Look, I’m not convinced that I do have any magic—not the kind you are suggesting—” I stammered. “But if I do, then why does it have to be kept a secret? You both have magic. Plenty of people still have at least some of their powers,” I pointed out.
“Because we don’t understand your magic, Al. We don’t know anyone who has ever been quite like you,” Rhett replied, deathly serious.
“Can you imagine if people found out that after all these years of the magic dying, you have some power that gives other people their powers back? Can you imagine if Vandros found out about power like that?” Luke asked ferociously.
