Cursed (Enchanted Gods #1) - K.K. Allen Page 0,62

we teach her all that we can.”

There’s a dark cloud over Rose’s expression, one she doesn’t even attempt to hide. And after a simple nod of agreement, she stands and gives us both one final look.

But when she turns and begins the retreat to her quarters, the words she speaks so faintly ring loudly between my ears. “You’ve been warned.”

Three more days of “lockdown” have passed, and I’m itching to get out of the house for another accidental run-in with Alec, even though I know it’s out of the question. Rose promised to stop screening my calls if I would heed her warnings and not leave the house again until Alec’s party—after I’ve had some hands-on training. I agreed. So tonight is the night—my first true lesson. And I can’t shake the nervous flutters from my belly.

“Hey, Kat, you ready?” Charlotte asks from the hallway outside the open doors of my bedroom.

I stare up at her from where I sit at my vanity and suck in a deep breath before smiling. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” I reach for my emerald necklace and place it around my neck, nearly missing the concerned look Charlotte gives me.

“Do you take your necklace off often?”

I look at it in the mirror then shrug. “Every night before bed and before I shower. I don’t want to ruin it.”

Charlotte stands behind me, staring back at our reflection. “This stone isn’t what gives you powers, but it’s the best tool you have when it comes to controlling what’s inside you.” She reaches out and lifts the stone from my neck, causing it to glow a vibrant shade of green. “Your emerald is like your wand. You don’t need to wave it around, but it circulates energy the way your veins recycle blood. Its power is only useful to whom it is designated, and it works with your natural energy. The power it emits will balance you in a way that is most useful to your mind. Take your dreams, for example—the fire, the drowning. You’re still having them, yes?”

I swallow then nod.

"Wear this tonight. You’ll see that your dreams won’t come.”

“But what if my dreams are trying to tell me something? Maybe I should be learning from them. Everything else I envisioned seems to be coming true.”

Charlotte nods. “Perhaps. But if your dreams are premonitions, then those events are set in stone. Is it possible to alter the chain of events to prevent certain things from happening? Sure, but that is extremely hard to do. We don’t know what triggers one thing to lead to another. The only way you can truly prepare is by learning to harness what’s inside you.” Charlotte smiles. “Come. Let’s eat, and then we’ll get back to work, shall we?"

Rose is already in the dining room when we enter. “Pizza’s here,” she says with a lift of her hand. Two greasy pizza boxes float in midair. Their lids open just as a paper plate flies toward me like a saucer. I’m laughing as I catch it.

I love watching Rose like this—playful and freely using her magic. From what she told me before, she doesn’t use it often. “You’re using magic,” I say as I take a seat. “I thought it made you tired.”

Rose nods. “Yes, well, it depends on my mood. That’s the best way to explain it. Under true strains of stress, magic takes much more energy to release. But on pizza night”—she winks as a slice with pepperoni floats to her plate—“it’s as easy as breathing.”

I don’t know why this simple fact relaxes me greatly, but it does. I start to reach for the pizza box floating nearest to me when Charlotte cuts in.

“Wait.” She looks at Rose. “Should we show Katrina how we eat pizza?”

Rose smirks. “No need to get your hands dirty, dear.” She nods. “I think you’re ready for your first hands-on lesson.”

My eyes grow wide with excitement.

“Now, Kat, pay close attention. This is how Enchanters eat pizza.” Charlotte looks to be showing off as she places her hands behind her back and a slice of pizza rises from the box and makes its way to her mouth. After she takes a bite, it drops onto her plate, and she grins. “And that’s how it’s done.”

Rose claps her hands in glee, and I can’t help but smile too. “You try now, Katrina. Take a bite.”

I concentrate. Luckily, levitation is something I already know how to do, but controlling it has me working harder than I expected.