Bewitched (Betwixt & Between #2) - Darynda Jones Page 0,19
be certain, but I do think I see better in the dark than humans.”
“Okay, that’s the coolest thing I’ve heard all day.”
“The coolest thing I’ve heard was that you woke up.”
I thwarted an exhilarated grin by taking another bite. “I’m sorry,” I said, my mouth half full.
He stopped and looked over at me. “For what?”
“Making everyone worry.”
“Yeah, because that was your fault.”
“You know what I mean.”
He hopped off the counter and put his plate in the sink. “Since we’re both very aware you did not lose your powers, what’s up with that?”
“Are you calling me a liar?” I asked, pretending to be appalled, right before I shoveled in another bite.
He put the plastic cover on the cake and turned to me. “Big, fat, and bald-faced.” Coming from any other man, I would’ve taken that as an insult. But Roane could’ve mistaken me for ET, and I still would’ve ovulated.
He studied me, his gaze full of challenge. And humor. Mostly humor.
A warmth spread low in my abdomen. “That last spell must’ve been too much for my system.” I shrugged. “The powers just vanished.”
In all honesty, I had no idea what lying about my powers was going to accomplish. That would take introspection I didn’t want to introspect at the moment. I mean, obviously, the big bad dark coming after me had something to do with it. Sure, I’d been unconscious when I’d seen it, so one could argue that I’d imagined it. But it felt real enough to have me scurrying into a corner for six months.
Ruthie had said there were other witches, warlocks even, who would stop at nothing to get a charmling’s powers. Was that what I’d seen? What I still felt? What Percy fought against for me? Was it as simple as a warlock seeking the ultimate power high? Perhaps. Except somehow it felt more personal.
“Fine,” Roane acquiesced. “Then we need to get them back.”
His nearness caused my breaths to quicken. “My powers?”
A dimple appeared on one side of his mouth. “Your powers.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I dropped my gaze and bit the bullet while changing the subject at the same time. Two birds. One stone. “I owe you an apology first, anyway.”
“Yeah?” He walked to another cabinet on the other side of the massive kitchen and took down a box.
“About earlier.” I put the last bites of cake on the counter and closed my eyes. “I—I can’t believe I did that. Said that.” I could believe I’d thought it. “I’m so sorry. I thought I was dreaming, but that’s no excuse. Especially since, you know, I wasn’t.”
He was beside me again. I felt him. His essence. His aura. Also, he’d slid the cakepan over and put the box next to me. That was a big clue.
“I’m so sorry, Roane. I practically assaulted you and—”
“Is that why?”
I lifted my lids. “Is what why?”
“Why you’re lying about your powers.”
I released a long breath to let him know the depths of my annoyance. It had layers. And texture. And made a weird grating sound. “I’m not lying.”
“Mm.” He took out a candle and set it on the counter. Then another. And another. Soon there were a dozen candles scattered over varying surfaces throughout the kitchen. He placed the last candle on the stove and turned toward me. “Okay, light these with your mind.”
My expression flatlined. “For real? You’ve clearly seen too many movies.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It’ll be a test.”
“I think we should test you instead.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Test if you can see in the dark. Do you have wolf vision when you’re not a wolf?”
He walked back and stood in front of me nose-to-nose. Then he pressed his hands to the counter on either side of my hips. “How about we take turns.” His hair hung to his shoulders. He raked a hand through it, pulling it back from his face then put his hand back on the counter, his sinuous arms trapping me.
“Deal,” I said, trying to ignore the fact that a tenacious lock of auburn hair fell forward again. “You first.”
He shook his head. “Uh-uh. You first, gorgeous.”
A tingle raced up my spine.
He eased closer, speeding up my pulse exponentially. “What good is testing my powers if I don’t have any powers to test? You first, then I swear I’ll try.”
“Are you sure you want me to leave? I’d have to walk all the way over to the stove to turn off the light.”