Jaded Jewels (The Coveted Saga 2)

"He says he's linked to my emotions for him, and my empathic powers don't help things. I'm constantly projecting my feelings outward toward him. I think we're soul mates, but he says that you can't find your soul mate in mortal form."

She tried to mimic his voice as she repeated the speech he had given her—the speech sounded very familiar. "A mortal can't possess the power necessary to find that connection. One day you'll find your true soul mate when you transform."

So Henry had been talking to her about this. I've been worried, and he's been trying. Poor Amelia.

Her voice returned to normal as she spoke with a hint of exasperation. "I know a lot more about emotion than he does though. I know what I'm feeling is real. I know what you feel for Tallis is real, too. It's not the links they keep obsessing over. They just know too much about the magical world. They have complete and total faith in what they've been taught, and they refuse to accept the possibility that things have changed. Despite the fact I've heard magic evolves a million times, they hold steady to their beliefs that they're

just linked to us. It's pretty stupid if you ask me. Considering how old they are, you'd think they could be a little smarter."

I was about to agree with her when suddenly we heard a loud explosion and what sounded like a tree falling. Then I heard laughter from Tallis and Henry.

Amelia ducked and dove behind a chair. "What was that?" she screeched, poking her head out around the side of the chair.

I just smiled while I lightly laughed. I answered while picking my coffee back up. "That was Tallis."

"What the hell is he doing? Is he a lumberjack that chops trees down with dynamite instead of a chainsaw or something?"

She slowly climbed back to her feet, still cowering slightly as if she were unsure of what I meant.

"Working out," I said dryly, taking a sip of my coffee.

I could have told her and put her out of her misery, but it was more fun to toy with her a little.

"Come on, let's go watch the show," I murmured while holding back my tell-all grin.

I didn't want to spoil the surprise. I wanted her to see it with her own eyes.

We walked outside, our eyes immediately scouring the woods around us. It was so much thicker than I realized last night.

Finally, we spotted them, though they were barely visible.

Tallis was throwing off explosions and Henry was dodging them as he ran toward Tallis at full speed. He was almost a blur as he flipped through the air and bounced to the ground. Tallis had created an explosive obstacle course, almost like a live minefield. No matter which step Henry took, there was another explosion barreling his way like a rumbling fireball. It was impressive.

Henry leapt into the air with his feet outstretched, ready to knock Tallis down. Tallis dodged him and Henry fell to the ground instead. Tallis laughed, taunting him playfully. Then they swapped.

Now Henry created the obstacle course as he launched stumps and boulders into the air at Tallis. Tallis span and flipped all over the place. The grace and power he possessed was mesmerizing, and I couldn't look away. My smile spread as I watched them spar playfully, both of them holding back.

Amelia leaned over to me. "I agree with you. This is pretty hot."

I hadn't said anything like that, but I kept forgetting that she could read my emotions, which was essentially like reading my mind. I just chuckled lightly.

The guys heard my laughing, and I almost pouted when the good stuff ended and they started jogging our way. But, with the competitive spirits high, the light jog turned into a sprinting race. Henry won, though I was sure Tallis had let him.

Tallis strutted toward me, causing me to giggle as he playfully poked his chest out. This was the Tallis I missed.

My eyes drifted down his shirtless body. I might have been ogling.

He grabbed his shirt and slid it on. His eyes burned into mine as he smirked, knowing what I had just been doing. Then he said something that almost disappointed me.

"Des said that they would have your house ready in about five or six more days. Several covens heard about the attack and they rushed out to help. No bodyguards, besides Chris, are allowed in the house until Amelia checks them out."

I tried not to frown, but I didn't want to leave. Reality was suspended here. I wanted to stay like this. Here, things were different. He couldn't run away from me—at least not far away. I could see him every moment I wanted to. I could feel his touch. He couldn't fight his feelings as easily when I was always around.

I just knew in a month, we would be back to the way it was before the kiss that was damned by hell. I would give anything to have back what we once had. It was so much easier then.

Last night he slept beside me, with his arms wrapped around me, and it felt so good to wake up embraced by him. Now things were going to end sooner than I had anticipated, and there might not be any chance of us ever getting back to the way it was.

He tilted his head to the side as he studied me. I wasn't sure what his look meant, but he seemed to notice my disappointment that I was trying to hide behind a fake, brittle smile. He almost seemed to wince. Then he tried to shake it off.