Free Bound by Spells (Bound Series Book 2) by Stormy Smith Page A

time piecing together a history no one can agree on.”
    I couldn’t miss the insinuation buried in Micah’s tone as we stood across the room, knowing we were sharing a secret. Rynna had told me to find out everything I could and Micah had planted me exactly where I needed to be in order to make that happen.
    I walked around the edges of the room, running my fingers along the bindings of the books. I was shocked to feel the Keeper flare in response. Certain books sent waves of energy through the pads of my fingers and brought an onslaught of noise and emotion from her. I had been afraid to try to approach her again, since I had barely been able to handle our last interaction, but I knew I couldn’t keep wasting time. I dragged my fingers along another set of ten books and only one sent a jolt through me. I fingered the book and just as I was about to pull it from its place, Micah interrupted me.
    “You have two options. We can start the arduous task of haphazardly trying to find books that will tell us something helpful, or we can wait for Tragar and start working on your training. Which would you prefer?”
    Which did I prefer? I was being drawn toward the books and the information I knew I needed, but an underlying fear of what I could actually do without my Keeper had been nagging at me since I’d put the cuff on.
    “Let’s train first. I…uh, need to brush up on some things.” I hadn't told Micah about the cuff and I hadn’t decided whether I wanted to. Rynna said he was an ally, and he had certainly been acting like one, but I still felt like the only person I could depend on right now was myself.
    Micah gestured to a few couches and we both sat while Bale stood guard at the door. Micah explained as long as the other Hunters knew he was with us, we wouldn’t be bothered.
    “How honest can I be here?” I asked.
    “Well, out loud, we should probably still be careful. But we do have another way.” Micah tapped his temple and I instantly felt like an idiot.
    “Is it still there? I know I, uh, shut that down at one point.” I wasn’t necessarily sorry or ashamed of how we had fought after I found out Micah was actually Prince Mikail, but it was another instance where I had acted without considering what would come of it.
    “Connections are never really gone. But, because you are the one who closed the door, you also have to be the one to reopen it. Shall we start there?” Micah leaned back on his couch and closed his eyes, clearly waiting for me to begin. By his relaxed posture, I knew he was defenseless right now. He had completely opened himself up to me, allowing me inside his head. I was surprised he would allow himself to be so vulnerable.
    I took a long inhale, holding the air in my lungs for a second before letting it out in one continuous, slow breath. I closed my eyes and focused on the small violet flame deep within me. Bigger. Bigger. Bigger. I muttered the words until what had been a small candle flame was a kindling fire inside me. Warmth spread through me, fire simmering in every crevice. I opened my eyes but didn’t allow them to focus. I saw a blurry Micah, still reclined on the couch, but now surrounded in a red haze. I pushed my fire out toward him, smoke tinged with lightning. It floated across the feet between us but flared in bright bursts, especially as it got closer to him. Micah had to feel me coming. His own power reached toward me, pulsing red. The two poked and prodded at each other, smoke swirling as they circled. Finally, as they had the first time, red and violet spun around and around, until they were braided together. At last, I both saw and felt the snap of electricity when they merged.
    Still reclined, but looking quite smug, I heard Micah.
    And here we are again, Amelia.
    I rolled my eyes. If you want to stay this way, perhaps we can use this to tell each other more truths and less lies, yeah?
    Oh, you pain me. You know I was only trying to help while we were in Brighton.