Emane placed one finger gently under Kiora’s chin. Leaning down he kissed her lightly on the lips. She trembled. His kisses were better than magic. He kissed her harder this time, pulling her into him, and her magic roared in response. Ever since the change she could not feel pleasure, at least not the kind she felt while kissing him, and keep her magic under control at the same time. Wrapping her hands around the back of his head she kissed him back, fiercely pushing at the rising magic. But when his lips began moving down her neck, her focus was torn between her magic and the softness of his lips brushing against her skin.
“Emane, stop, I can’t hold it,” Kiora gasped.
He moaned in frustration and kissed her neck one more time. It was one time too many. The bubble of magic rising within her exploded out of control. It picked Emane up and sent him flying across the room. He slammed into the wall. The wall shook under the impact. Emane fell to the ground, limp.
“Emane!” Kiora ran over to him, sliding across the floor. “Emane!” she cried, lifting his head into her lap. “I’m sorry. I am so sorry!” Running her fingers through his hair she whimpered, “Please wake up, please.” Tears began rolling down her cheeks. He was breathing, but unconscious. Kiora yelled out the open door. “Drustan! Help!” Leaning down over Emane she kissed him on the forehead. “Please wake up, Emane, please.”
A shadow blocked the door like a dark cloud. “What happened?” a voice demanded.
Kiora looked up, startled. “Alcander.”
Alcander evaluated the situation, his eyes sliding over Emane. “What happened?” he repeated.
“It was me,” Kiora said, wiping at her face. “It was an accident. Please, can you help him?”
“I can’t. I will get someone who can.” Alcander quickly walked out.
Within a few minutes Lomay hobbled into the room. “What happened?”
“It was an accident,” Kiora said. “I hit him with magic. I didn’t mean to.”
Lomay’s eyebrows rose. “Interesting accident.” Crouching slowly beside her, Lomay felt Emane’s neck for his pulse. “He is just unconscious.” Lomay looked up at Kiora. “I could bring him out of it, but he might be enjoying the rest.”
“Please, wake him up. I have to make sure he’s all right.”
“Would you like to tell me what happened?”
She glanced at Alcander, who had followed Lomay back. He was looking at her with an odd expression on his face.
“No, not right now.”
“I see. Perhaps later then.” Kiora could have sworn she saw a smile play at the edge of Lomay’s mouth. “Very well, if you are sure.” Lomay touched Emane’s forehead. Blinking, Emane looked up.
“Welcome back,” Lomay said, before winking at Kiora. Groaning, Lomay pushed himself to his feet. “See you at dinner,” he said cheerfully as he hobbled out of the room. Alcander turned, silently following Lomay out the door.
Emane moaned and rubbed his head. “What happened?”
“I’m sorry.” Kiora said, gently pushing his hair back off his forehead. “I lost control of my magic. When you kiss me . . . I lose control.”
“Why am I so cursed?” Emane moaned.
“I know, I’m sorry. You can’t even kiss me!”
“No, it’s not that. Well, partially that,” he amended. “But why was I cursed to be such a unbelievable kisser?”
“Emane!”
He sat up rubbing his head. “No, really. If I wasn’t so blasted good at it, maybe this wouldn’t happen.” Emane smirked.
“I cannot believe you are making jokes about this,” Kiora said, dropping back onto her heels. “I could have killed you.”
“It was worth it.” He dropped against the wall with a satisfied look on his face.
She rolled her eyes, pushed herself to her feet, and offered Emane her hand. “Come on, you are going to lay down before dinner.”
“Will you lay with me?” he asked, stumbling forward as she pulled him up.
“No,” Kiora said, putting her hands on her hips. “You obviously didn’t learn your lesson the last time, and you are dumb enough to try it again.”
“I told you, it was worth it.” Emane grinned as he lay back on his bed.
“You really did hit your head hard.”
“Not hard enough to forget that kiss,” he said, placing his arms behind his head and crossing one ankle over the other.
“You are ridiculous.” Kiora sighed, her cheeks flushing.
“I know,” he mumbled. Closing his eyes, Emane drifted to sleep, murmuring something about it not being fair.
* * *
AS EMANE SLEPT, KIORA slipped out of the house. Plopping down onto the front doorstep, Kiora placed her elbows on