Buttercup (Spell Library #10) - Helen Scott Page 0,48

there in front of me, watching me like a hawk. He told me I had a pretty voice and asked if I would keep singing to him." My throat closed up at the memory, and the rest of my words sounded slightly choked.

"My mother had always told me not to sing, so I knew whatever had happened I was in trouble. I was so scared that I told the boy to go home and forget he ever heard me sing. I didn't tell him to eat or drink or anything like that, though, my comprehension of what my voice could do was limited, so I didn't realize that he wouldn't do those things unless I ordered him to. A day or so later my mother saw his mom crying and they talked. I don't know what was said but for some reason my mother knew it was to do with me. She had me go over so I could visit with my friend and made me promise to tell him to eat and drink and live life normally. There was a list of other things I had to say, I don't remember them all now, hell she had even given me a list because she knew how upset I was. I know I read it to him and that after that he recovered, started eating and drinking again, doing everything a normal kid does, but whenever he saw me he got scared. Even though he thought my song was beautiful, part of him knew that it was—or rather I was—responsible for him almost dying, because that's how close it got. The human body can only go so long without food or water, and he was starting to push that boundary by the time I went and talked to him. Eventually they moved away, but not before I was sure to tell him everything he needed to hear to live his life normally without depending on me and my commands to make it happen." Silence reigned when I finished speaking.

After a moment Ausar said, "That had to be traumatic for a young girl to go through."

"Not nearly as traumatic as it was for him." I shrugged and focused on my coffee while the others digested everything I'd just told them. My hands were slowly warming from the hot liquid, and when I took a sip, I felt it ease some of the tightness within my chest, like a hug from the inside. It was just coffee, I knew that, but it was something comforting when I felt entirely too vulnerable and exposed. The silence that had fallen between us after Ausar's comment was making me question everything. These men could shoot me down, could tell me how disgusted they were with me, could leave, and I wouldn't stop them, not after what I'd just divulged.

"I'm still in," Magnus said.

I looked up at him, and my fear must have been writ large across my face because he just held an arm out for me. I stood and went to him. As soon as I was close enough, he pulled me into his lap. "Nothing could take me away from you, sweetness. You're mine," he growled in my ear.

"Ours," Casper added as he reached over and grasped my hand. "And if that story was supposed to scare me away then you are seriously underestimating this kelpie."

"You are my mate, of that I have no doubt, but if you do, then I want to squash it. Sing to me, my love," Ausar said with a cheeky grin.

"Fuck it, sing away beautiful," Logan said.

"You don't have to do this," I replied, looking at the vampire. I hoped we were mates, but as far as I knew vampires didn't technically have mates, just people they chose to stay with. If there was any doubt in his heart about what we were to each other, then that could change things. The last thing I wanted was for him be with me because of some uncontrollable desire. I mean look at what my song had done when I was five, I was full grown now. My siren was powerful, I could feel the magic of it within me. If I sang to him and we weren't mates then what would I do? I chewed on the inside of my lip, pulling at the delicate skin until it was sore, as my mind swirled and twisted with questions and opinions.

After an awkward silence where Magnus was rubbing my back