Read Online Mortal Enchantment by Stacey O'Neale - Free Book Online
Authors: Stacey O'Neale
Ads: Link
syrup.
“You’re ready. This is the only way we can unlock your power. Don’t break your concentration; you’ve come so far already.”
“All right, but if I die, I’m haunting you for eternity.”
He chuckled under his breath. “I look forward to that.” Although my eyes were still closed, I was sure he was grinning.
When I concentrated again, my aura was a light orange. I focused on the briny gusts of cool air blowing off the ocean. Slowly, a yellow light poked through the orange. I fixated on my slow breaths. Eventually, the color returned to a creamy yellow hue.
I opened my eyes and the warm yellow aura radiated off my skin. “It’s so strong, I swear I can almost see it.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Well done. You’re picking this up faster than I expected.”
“I have to be honest. I was really worried back there when you first started talking about the dangers, but now I get it. It feels like it’s a part of me.” Suddenly, I felt hopeful and grateful to Rowan. I didn’t completely trust him, but I appreciated what he was doing for me. I surprised myself by pulling him into a hug.
He jolted in surprise.
I released him and stood. I could not believe I’d nearly leaped into his lap. It seemed as if I was going for the world record in mortification. Too bad invisibility cloaks aren’t a real thing.
If he noticed my embarrassment, he never acknowledged it. “You managed to find your center, but do you think you can focus while distracted?”
My body tensed. “What kind of a distraction?” I wasn’t ready. My instincts told me to get the hell out of here. What a jacked-up situation this was.
“I’m going to try to provoke you. I want you to stay calm. Let me know when you're ready and remember to concentrate.”
This wasn’t going to end well, but I didn't have a choice. I had to do this. Conquering this would mean I was a step closer to controlling my power. I had to be brave.
I met his stare.
He wiggled his eyebrows.
With a brazen grin, he strolled behind me. I didn’t turn around to see where he went. This was his test. He wanted me to flinch. I stared out into the ocean, watching the waves form. I visualized the warm yellow energy radiating from my skin.
My eyes widened.
Hot breath tickled the back of my neck while fingertips slithered slowly from my wrist to my shoulders. Focus. Stay focused . Every hair on my arms stood. Subconsciously, I let out a low moan. He nuzzled his face into the nape of my neck, running his nose against the back of my ear.
Spinning me around, our eyes locked.
Deep sapphire eyes penetrated into mine. There was something there that I hadn’t seen before. An intensity I didn’t understand. As his gaze shifted to my mouth, everything around us ceased to exist. Oh God, he was going to kiss me. My lips parted in anticipation.
Rowan leaned closer, then stopped abruptly. His face drained of emotion and he crossed his arms. “I should’ve known. We need to start with a smaller distraction.”
No freakin’ way! He was going to kiss me—I was sure of it. Nice, he tried to blame it all on me. I waved my hand in front of me, trying to play it off even though he’d won. “Oh please, that was nothing.”
He smirked. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“It’s sunburn.” I pointed to the sky. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we have been standing on a beach in direct sunlight for hours.”
“Okay,” he challenged. Leaping backwards, he landed a few feet away. “Let’s move on to something a bit more…physical.” He tilted his head as if he was sizing me up.
My legs trembled. “What did you have in mind?”
Reaching down, he pulled his sword from its sheath. The iron weapon gleamed in the sunlight. How far was he willing to take this? A second later, he answered my question by lunging toward me with his sword aimed at my head.
No time to think.
No time to move.
An uncomfortable rush of heat ran from my
“You’re ready. This is the only way we can unlock your power. Don’t break your concentration; you’ve come so far already.”
“All right, but if I die, I’m haunting you for eternity.”
He chuckled under his breath. “I look forward to that.” Although my eyes were still closed, I was sure he was grinning.
When I concentrated again, my aura was a light orange. I focused on the briny gusts of cool air blowing off the ocean. Slowly, a yellow light poked through the orange. I fixated on my slow breaths. Eventually, the color returned to a creamy yellow hue.
I opened my eyes and the warm yellow aura radiated off my skin. “It’s so strong, I swear I can almost see it.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Well done. You’re picking this up faster than I expected.”
“I have to be honest. I was really worried back there when you first started talking about the dangers, but now I get it. It feels like it’s a part of me.” Suddenly, I felt hopeful and grateful to Rowan. I didn’t completely trust him, but I appreciated what he was doing for me. I surprised myself by pulling him into a hug.
He jolted in surprise.
I released him and stood. I could not believe I’d nearly leaped into his lap. It seemed as if I was going for the world record in mortification. Too bad invisibility cloaks aren’t a real thing.
If he noticed my embarrassment, he never acknowledged it. “You managed to find your center, but do you think you can focus while distracted?”
My body tensed. “What kind of a distraction?” I wasn’t ready. My instincts told me to get the hell out of here. What a jacked-up situation this was.
“I’m going to try to provoke you. I want you to stay calm. Let me know when you're ready and remember to concentrate.”
This wasn’t going to end well, but I didn't have a choice. I had to do this. Conquering this would mean I was a step closer to controlling my power. I had to be brave.
I met his stare.
He wiggled his eyebrows.
With a brazen grin, he strolled behind me. I didn’t turn around to see where he went. This was his test. He wanted me to flinch. I stared out into the ocean, watching the waves form. I visualized the warm yellow energy radiating from my skin.
My eyes widened.
Hot breath tickled the back of my neck while fingertips slithered slowly from my wrist to my shoulders. Focus. Stay focused . Every hair on my arms stood. Subconsciously, I let out a low moan. He nuzzled his face into the nape of my neck, running his nose against the back of my ear.
Spinning me around, our eyes locked.
Deep sapphire eyes penetrated into mine. There was something there that I hadn’t seen before. An intensity I didn’t understand. As his gaze shifted to my mouth, everything around us ceased to exist. Oh God, he was going to kiss me. My lips parted in anticipation.
Rowan leaned closer, then stopped abruptly. His face drained of emotion and he crossed his arms. “I should’ve known. We need to start with a smaller distraction.”
No freakin’ way! He was going to kiss me—I was sure of it. Nice, he tried to blame it all on me. I waved my hand in front of me, trying to play it off even though he’d won. “Oh please, that was nothing.”
He smirked. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“It’s sunburn.” I pointed to the sky. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we have been standing on a beach in direct sunlight for hours.”
“Okay,” he challenged. Leaping backwards, he landed a few feet away. “Let’s move on to something a bit more…physical.” He tilted his head as if he was sizing me up.
My legs trembled. “What did you have in mind?”
Reaching down, he pulled his sword from its sheath. The iron weapon gleamed in the sunlight. How far was he willing to take this? A second later, he answered my question by lunging toward me with his sword aimed at my head.
No time to think.
No time to move.
An uncomfortable rush of heat ran from my
Similar Books
