Chasing Secrets - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,36

he’s tracing his fingers up and down my forearm. I’m unsure what to do with that and question if he’s even aware he’s doing it—the touch is so soft, barely there.

“You’re not pathetic,” he whispers so softly that I’m not sure if I heard him correctly. But then he adds, “You’re one of the sweetest creatures I’ve ever met, and that’s not a bad thing. Even when I had you tied up, you yelled at Maple for hitting me.”

“Yeah, well, Maple was a bitch, And you couldn’t help what you were doing.”

“I know, but still... Most in that situation would’ve let her beat the crap out of me.” His fingers drift across my arm again. “Face it, you’re kind of sweet.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You think I’m sweet?”

Amusement sparkles in his shadowy eyes. “I said kind of. You’re too much of a smartass to be completely sweet.”

“Much better,” I tell him with a grin.

He smiles back, but then presses his lips together, a questioning look creasing his pretty features. “You know, there’s a lot more you can do than I think you even realize.”

“With my powers, you mean?”

He nods. “Do you want me to show you?”

“I... Isn’t it dangerous for me to use my powers?”

“It’s dangerous for you to use your shadowed soul powers. But many creatures have the same basic powers that they can use without tapping into their full powers.”

“Really? Like what?”

He chews on his bottom lip. “Is it okay if I show you one?”

I nod, even though I’m not certain what he’s about to do. He seems sort of nervous, so maybe I should be more reluctant, but I’m not. Maxton may have been hunting me at one point, but he also saved me from those beasts back on Steel and I... Well, I think I trust him.

With a shaky exhale, he trails his fingers down my arm and to my hand. Then he threads his fingers through mine and moves my hand toward the window so my palm is lined with the frosted glass.

“Now think about warmth,” he says, skimming his thumb along the back of my hand.

“Okay.” For some reason, I visualize hot chocolate and fresh-out-of-the-over cinnamon rolls.

It works, though, my skin warming and melting the frost from the glass. It even melts some of the snow falling in front of it so I get a clear view of the hills outside and the buildings dotting them.

I smile. “How was that so easy?”

He shrugs. “Simple stuff like casting a warmth spell is easy. You just have to know how to do it.”

I’m totally in awe and am grinning at him dork, our fingers still laced together and pressed to the window, when the door to the room swings open and East waltzes in. He takes one look at the situation and he smirks.

“Well, this isn’t what I was expecting to walk into,” he remarks while kicking the door shut.

“What? Maxton showing me how to use magic?” I quip. “Because that’s what you walked into.”

“Is it now?” He grins at me then arches a brow at Maxton.

Maxton untangles his fingers with mine. “I was just showing her how to melt the frost off the glass,” he mumbles.

“And that required her to sit on your lap?” East questions.

For some reason, Maxton squirms.

East is all impish smiles as he locks the door and mumbles, “This is going to be fun.” Then he grips the hem of his shirt and tugs it off, his glimmering wings sprouting from his back.

“I fell onto his lap,” I answer for Maxton. “And I don’t know why you’re questioning our sitting position when you just walk in here and strip off your clothes for no reason.”

“I didn’t strip off my clothes.” The corners of his lips quirk. “Yet.” When I narrow my eyes at him, a grin consumes his face. “But I took off my shirt because I’m hot.”

“How?” My brow quirks upward. “It’s like negative forty degrees outside.”

“Outside. But in here, with you, it’s so damn hot,” he teases as he tosses his shirt onto the bad.

I make a big show of rolling my eyes. “That was stupidly cheesy.”

“For sure. But it’s completely true.” He momentarily studies me before snatching my hand and pulling me off Maxton’s lap. “Come on. Let’s get you ready.” He tows me with him as he walks toward the bathroom door.

“Ready for what?” I ask.

He guides me into the bathroom without answering me then sticks his head out of the doorway to say to Maxton.