Heart for Three

10

Ava

I dropped into my seat in my last class of the day, dumping my bag unceremoniously onto my desk. Rubbing at my temples, I sat back in my chair.

Today had been the longest day ever, my head was pounding and my magic hummed just beneath my skin. Between the two encounters I'd had with Jax and Arsen, my magic felt like a live wire, ready to burst at the smallest push. It felt like my whole body was buzzing and my senses were tuned up. I needed to release all this extra energy soon or it was going to happen on its own.

I'd felt this kind of wildness before. When I was fourteen, I'd finally started showing magical talent. Being the child of both a warlock and a witch, I should have started showing magical abilities as early as ten years old.

We were all relieved when, one night at dinner, the salt shaker flew across the table, into my open hand before I'd even opened my mouth to ask one of my parents to pass it.

The next night my dad hadn't been so relieved when I'd tried to summon my text books from my desk. My magic quickly got away from me and I had ended up accidentally blowing out the wall of my bedroom.

I could still remember him standing in the backyard, his hands resting on top of his head in exasperation, as he looked up at the giant hole in the side of our house.

The memory now made me laugh, he'd been able to fix it easily, being the powerful warlock he was. When the neighbors asked what happened, he said the water heater exploded.

I sighed. I didn't want to think about my father right now, I was emotional enough as it was.

I folded my arms on my desk and rested my head on top of them, hoping I could get a minute or two to calm down and sooth my frayed nerves before the bell rang.

Someone sat down heavily in the seat beside me, but I ignored them.

"Rough day?" A familiar voice asked. My head shot up and I groaned when I saw the person occupying the seat next to me.

Adonis. Dammit, he was just as attractive as I remembered him being this morning.

"Wow. That's the thanks I get for helping you out earlier?" He grinned, his green eyes twinkling. His tone was light and joking, but he was right. I straightened up in my seat.

"You're right," I admitted. "I'm sorry, it has been a rough day. Thank you for earlier."

He gave me a half grin and I ignored the little stutter my heart gave.

"I was just kidding." He chuckled. "But you left so quickly that I didn't get the chance to introduce myself... I'm Adonis." He held out his hand and I hesitated.

If he had the same effect on me that Jax and Arsen had had, there would be no way I could hold back the outburst my magic would have. But if I didn't shake his outstretched hand I'd just look plain rude. I looked up at his eyes, they weren't dilated weirdly like Jax and Arsen's had been. Maybe there wouldn't be any weird surge of energy.

He raised an eyebrow at me and I realized I'd been hesitating for way too long, bordering on odd. I steeled myself and slowly placed my hand into his. His skin was cool to the touch.

"Ava." I smiled.

To my surprise, it was Adonis that gasped as our palms touched.

The most peculiar sensation ran through my body, like being submerged in a warm bath.

I hummed quietly as the tension left my shoulders, the magical hum beneath my skin quieting. A chill of desire ran up my spine and I shivered. I looked up from our embraced hands with heavy lidded eyes, feeling as though some sort of sedative was working its way through my system.