as she eased back in her chair. “I think I’d know if I had any supernatural powers. Believe me, I’d have used them many times over.”
“Aye, but ye did. Ye lied to Lachlan’s face while holding his hand.”
“It wasn’t hard. The man made my skin crawl.” She shivered. “I’d rather eat dirt than give him anything he wanted.”
“He’s a fairy, Avery. Detecting a lie is one of his most notable powers. You were immune to it.”
Her expression turned wary.
“And ye opened ma cell, although it was sealed shut with ma own enchantment.”
Her fingers pressed into her lips. “Okay, that was odd.”
“And ye resisted the siren’s call at the MacEacherns.”
A deep furrow appeared in her forehead and her eyes started to mist. “Xavier? What does it mean?”
“You did all these things, Avery, because ye have a very powerful and sophisticated magic, and I only now recognize it fur what it is.” He laughed. “I felt it when I kissed you in the barn. Ye practically buzz with power, ye ken.”
“Please, I don’t understand.”
He was upsetting her, but she had to know the truth.
“The egg canna hurt you because ye are immune to its defenses. Lachlan’s mind control won’t ever work on ye. Even my magic fizzles in yer hands, which is why ye could open ma cell door. You, Avery, are immune to magic.”
She blinked at him, then laughed deeply. “That can’t be true. I’ve had magic used on me before. I was part of a very strong spell to rebind me to my sisters.”
“Rebind you. You were separated. No power. Isn’t that what you told me?”
“Exactly, and still I could hold little Charlie… the egg.”
He nodded slowly as his own understanding dawned. “Because yer ability to soothe is inherent in you, in your human body. I bet ye’ve always been good at calming people.”
“Well, yes.”
“Because ye were born with the innate ability to neutralize negative energy. You told me ye were exceptionally gifted at calming rowdy patrons at the Three Sisters.”
“Anyone who works in the service industry develops that talent.” She shook her head.
So defiant. He traced the firm set of her lips with his gaze. “I was wrong. You weren’t immune to the egg’s magic. Your very human self soothed it into trusting ye. And then ye came here, and yer magic woke and grew stronger still when ye encountered the brownie, and Lachlan, and opened ma cell.”
She was shaking her head, denying it.
“Why can’t ye believe that ye’re special? There has never been anyone like ye, Avery. I have lived over five hundred years, two hundred in Paragon and another three hundred in this realm. I’ve met thousands of supernatural creatures and even more humans. I’ve communed with witches and fairies alike. But you, ye are a treasure.”
He watched her carefully for her reaction and was disappointed when none came. She held perfectly still, not even a flutter of her eyelid giving away what she thought of his ode of devotion.
Finally her blue gaze met his. “I don’t think I can leave you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nothing could have prepared Avery for this moment. Nathaniel had tried to warn her the night he’d read her tarot cards when she’d flipped over the moon card, but she hadn’t really understood what he’d meant. At the time, he’d told her it represented her transformation and a possible romance. She’d just never allowed herself to believe either of those things could actually happen.
But now here she was, changed. Her first instinct was to deny the magic Xavier had pointed out to her, to protest that she was as normal and human as she’d ever been. Only, what he said made too much sense for her to deny it. She’d never been able to explain to herself how Xavier’s cell door had opened for her or why she’d been immune to the siren’s call when Mr. MacEachern had practically drowned himself. Something else, she’d felt it, a strange unraveling inside her since she’d come here, since she’d been with him.
He wanted her to go. Wanted to keep her safe. But the thought of leaving him now, it made her feel nauseous.
“Say something.” His expression grew demanding. “Tell me ye believe what ye are.”
“I-I believe you.” The sweet warmth of his breath grazed her cheek when he exhaled. “It makes sense. I know this sounds crazy, but I could feel it, earlier, when you were kissing me. It felt like a seed was growing in me. Spreading. I feel different. Stronger somehow.”
Across the table, Xavier sat