Magical Midlife Dating (Leveling Up 2)

“They’ll be big enough and strong enough to carry me in human form. I don’t weigh that much. Mostly.”

I blew out a slow breath, searching his eyes for a hint of doubt or nervousness, but all I found was unwavering support and conviction.

A soft metallic squeal interrupted my teeth grinding. My heart racing, I looked down at the shadowy area, wondering if someone was coming for us. Best-case scenario would be the hairy creature, but who knew what he would do with an intruder.

The cage jolted, dropping an inch.

Austin grabbed my shoulders out of impulse, looking up. Niamh and the others pushed closer to the barrier, something clearly sparking their worry.

“What was that?” I asked quietly, the cage shaking and my voice shaking with it.

“I might’ve put that chain under too much stress.” Not letting go of my arms, he bent backward, looking down at the spikes below. When he glanced back up at me, any signs of mirth had completely dried up. “We’re out of time. You can do this, Jacinta. Remember what I said? Grab life by the balls? Well, this time, grab your magic by the balls. You control it, not the other way around. Think about what you want, and do it.”

The soft squealing preceded another jolt, dropping us a little further. The link connected to the cage was clearly pulling free. I didn’t have to see it to know that. When it released, down we’d go.

It wasn’t just Austin’s life in my hands—it was both of ours. No one would come to save us.

I had to play hero, or die trying.26“Jumping out isn’t going to work.” I licked my lips, my mind running a mile a minute. “I almost died falling from that cliff and nothing happened.” I turned my back to him. “Brush my… Brush your fingers right next to my shoulder blades. Maybe it’ll help if I can feel the spot where the wings are supposed to be.”

Another squeal from the chain made me flinch.

The soft brush of Austin’s fingertips sent a ripple of heat through me, but the spot wasn’t connecting. Something about it felt wrong.

“Smaller wings, yes, but I’m still a female gargoyle…” I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut when the cage jolted down. Austin’s touch didn’t speed up, nor did it become harder. He didn’t show the fear he must be feeling…

Incredulity roared through me when I checked on him through our magical connection.

I turned around with wide eyes, finding his beautiful cobalt gaze completely open, and completely trusting. He wasn’t afraid at all. Not even a little bit. He wasn’t nervous or wary. He believed, with everything in him, that I could do this. He was just waiting for it to happen. I felt the strength of his conviction like I felt my own terror.

Something unfurled within me. Tears came to my eyes, and this time it wasn’t frustration. This time I didn’t even know what it was.

A thought occurred to me, like a lightning bolt crashing down.

“I don’t just sprout wings, I change form. I’m a female gargoyle. I’m not human anymore, I’m a creature, like Mr. Tom and Damarion. I’m not human, I’m magical…”

Excitement and awe bubbled through me.

Austin nodded, a little smile tickling his lips. “So then, be magical,” he said softly.

“Be magical,” I whispered.

Hearing yet another squeal above us, I shrugged out of my backward shirt and pushed down my pants. I couldn’t change fully dressed. I had to get comfortable in my birthday suit like the other magical people did. The time for modesty was over—I had a couple of lives to save.

“What if I get stuck in rock form?” I asked.

“It’s simple—I need you to save me. You don’t have time to get stuck.”

“Right. O-kay.” I nodded in determination. “No time to get stuck.”

“You’re young for your kind, anyway. You wouldn’t get stuck for long.”

I grinned. Midlife for a human, young for a gargoyle, and I still didn’t give a flying fig what people thought of me. I could live with that.

I just had to make this change so I could live with that.

“But still, don’t get stuck,” I said, standing naked before Austin, noticing he was standing at attention again.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice deep and thick and a little embarrassed. “You’re beautiful, and I don’t have much control over that part of my body.” He shrugged. “My turn to feel a little awkward—I didn’t mean to look.”

Not like I could complain—I’d been caught looking plenty of times.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, remembering Mr. Tom changing. Remembering Damarion snapping out his wings. Remembering how Ulric looked when he cut through the sky. Remembering what it felt like to soar high above the ground.

A sound like boulders sliding down a hill gave me a thrill of anticipation and a little surge of fear. This wasn’t natural for me. The thought of changing into something other than myself…