Ancient Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress #1)(32)

He gave me a look that said he didn’t buy my bull for a second.

“We’ll talk about it later,” he said, then threw the transport charm to the ground. It shattered and he stepped into the glittering cloud.





CHAPTER EIGHT





Fortunately, Potions & Pastilles was empty when we arrived. Because of the time change, we’d hit it right at the late-afternoon lull. Old Mr. Monier sat at his usual table in the corner, reading the paper, but he was deaf as a post, so I wasn’t worried about him.

“Where do you want me to put you?” Aidan asked.

“Down,” I said as Claire walked out of the back. She was dressed in her fighting leathers, either on her way to a job or just returning from one. I would guess returning, from the state of her hair. It looked like someone had gotten ahold of her ponytail and tugged.

“What’s wrong with you?” Claire demanded. Her dark eyes searched me worriedly.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Yeah, ‘cause you totally let people carry you around when you’re fine.”

“Just a little tired from a fight.” I pushed at Aidan’s chest. “Put me down!”

Gently, he lowered me to my feet. I stumbled. The ground felt like it was moving. Ugh, I was never using my power again. So not worth this feeling.

“Let me get you something,” Claire said.

“I’ll take a triple boosted latte,” I said as I stumbled to the comfy chairs in the corner in front of the window. Potions & Pastilles specialized in enchanted coffees, courtesy of Connor’s potions talents. Normally I drink the regular stuff, but if you’re injured, magically drained, bummed out, or just looking for a boost, P & P had something to help you out. I didn’t know what was in the boost that I’d just ordered, only that Connor specialized in righting your ills. Or at least, giving you a pick-me-up that had more to do with magic than caffeine.

I sank into the comfy chair and sighed. All I needed was a drink and a nap and I’d be fine.

Aidan sat down next to me, looking entirely too fit and healthy. There wasn’t a scratch on him.

“You aren’t a weak Mirror Mage,” he said. “You lied.”

My heart thudded. “You don’t need to know everything about me. We’re just doing this one job together. As long as I get it done, it doesn’t matter how I do it.”

“True. But I want this to be more than just one job.”

We were getting right to it, then. “Can’t we talk about this later?”

“Now’s good.”

“I’m not feeling great, as I’m sure you can see.”

“Exactly. If I wait until your defenses are up, you’ll just leave. I want to know why you don’t use your power. After what you did with those rocks, I know you’re strong.”

“Strong? I made a mess.” I winced at the memory. That would be hard to repair. Impossible, probably. But if I hadn’t done it, Aidan might have died.

“Yeah, maybe. But you saved my life. It takes a lot of power to divert the path of thousands of tons of stone.” His dark eyes turned serious.

“Can you just say thank you and forget it? Consider it a favor to me for saving your life.”

His expression sobered. “You’re right. Thank you. I didn’t realize the ceiling was cracking until the boulder hit me. The place looked sturdy.”

“It was. A dumb demon tripped the most obvious booby trap in the book.”

Aidan quirked a brow, then grinned. “The golden orb on the pedestal.”

“How’d you know?” I liked that he was so quick.

“I’ve seen Indiana Jones. And I noticed the orb when I went in. Then right before the boulder hit me, something gold flew by my head. He chucked it at me, didn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

“Idiot. But you saved my life.”

“Which I might regret, if you don’t lay off.”

“Why are you hiding your strength?” His gaze searched my face.

“I thought you said that I was right and you were going to lay off.”

“No. I said you were right that I owed you my gratitude. But I still want to know why you’re hiding how strong you are. You’re not a weak Mirror Mage.”

“I was just never good with my magic, okay?” I said. “That’s basically the same thing as being a weak Mirror Mage. I’m too weak to control it, so I don’t like to use it.”

“So practice.”

“That’s a little difficult when one destroys everything around them when they try.” And I didn’t want to be good with my magic—at least not as much as I wanted other things. Other supernaturals were always interested in knowing who was the best at what. I just wanted to have my nice little life full of adventure and my friends—I didn’t need to be super powerful to have that.

“Didn’t your parents train you?”

The question hit me like a blow between the eyes. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

“Hey, I didn’t mean—”

“Triple boosted latte, piping hot!” Claire said as she came out of the kitchen. Connor followed her with a plate and another cup.

I glared at Aidan, though my heart was pounding. I didn’t want to talk about my parents. Hell, I didn’t even know how to talk about my parents.