The maiden was full of life, new beginnings, creation, and youthful desires while the mother was love, fertility, and nourishment. And finally, the crone, filled with wisdom, knowledge, experiences, and fulfillment.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
The throaty voice filtered through my senses like smooth, melted chocolate, and I instantly went on high alert. Fighting against the feeling, I finally took in the presence beside me. I was so enthralled by the moon and beach that I hadn’t even noticed I was no longer alone.
My glowing eyes fell on him, and I instantly took a sharp breath. Waves of mystical silver energy danced around Connhor Whyte’s aura as I watched him with my astral vision. Power in its purest form swayed over him like the waves of the sea against the shore. The iridescent layers seemed to react to the moon’s influence, increasing their radiance. It was like nothing I had ever seen, both fascinating and startling.
Connhor was undoubtedly powerful... more than I could have expected.
His molten-mercury eyes gleamed under the moonlight as he glanced back at me, and the sight of him like that became overwhelming. Unsettled, I took a step back, suddenly feeling breathless.
“The Triple Goddess is always gorgeous,” I answered, clearing my throat to regain my composure.
The corner of Connhor Whyte’s lips lazily tilted up, his intense gaze remaining on mine, stirring my nerves. “Yes, she is...” His gaze briefly lifted to the moon then returned to me. “I wasn’t talking about the Goddess.”
“Oh, please,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “That’s like the cheesiest line ever.”
He grinned, totally owning it. “I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes illuminate quite like that,” he confessed, still holding my gaze as he stepped closer, stopping before me. “Then again, I’ve never seen anyone with purple eyes.”
“Amethyst,” I corrected, blinking the magick away, and letting my ability recede into the depths of my essence.
Then, I made the biggest mistake of my life.
My gaze fell to his bare chest. His smooth, and very chiseled chest where his skin almost glowed. A slight sheen emanated from it, the light of the moon reflecting on the thin layer of sweat that covered him. He’d obviously been playing volleyball with the others, and his shirt was currently hanging from the back of his jeans, casually tucked into the pocket.
Treacherously, my eyes followed the lines from his corded neck and shoulders to his firm pecs. Perfect little squares of cut abs followed, framed by those tight finger-looking muscles along his ribs, and fading under the low-cut jeans he wore. The two bones of his hips protruded at the sides, as if fighting against his skin and hinting at what lay just below.
Bloody pantyless ghosts!
Connhor Whyte had a freaking sexy V-line. Damn it. I sooo didn’t need to know that. Also, I really needed to stop calling him “Connhor Whyte” like he was some kind of god that could only be addressed by his full name.
Pulse suddenly racing, I was forced to swallow hard, and my gaze lifted to his face. That didn’t help one bit. The intensity of Connhor’s stare was disarming, and the muscles of his chiseled square jaw accentuated the manly allure that exuded from him effortlessly. At least I wasn’t the only one brazenly checking out someone. His molten-mercury eyes caressed every inch of my cleavage and waist as he took me all in, my curves easily visible to him with the bra top I wore.
I wasn’t the kind of girl who focused on counting calories and exercising. Though I’d liked being healthy, I never refused a craving, and in truth, I had more important things to worry about—mainly, following in Mother’s footsteps, becoming the next most powerful Shadow Bringer to exist. So, I wasn’t exactly lacking in the curves department, and by the wicked gleam that entered his eyes, he was definitely digging it.
Not that I cared.
After one last look at my legs, his eyes connected with mine again, and he exhaled, almost in pain. “Striking,” he whispered, apparently taken aback by me.
My arms crossed before me, inadvertently pushing up my boobs. “Are you following me now?” The attitude in my voice was hard to miss. “You know, first by the bars on Essex Street, then at the assembly, and now here? A little obvious, isn’t it?”
Connhor’s gaze betrayed him, falling to my chest for a split second at the silent reminder of my cleavage. He cleared his throat, amusement filtering into his expression as he shook his head slightly.
“I saw you causing havoc that night, but I was only there hanging out with the guys. Regrettably, I was forced to leave after Dad called, or I would have definitely come over to talk. As for the Witches assembly, everyone knows I’ve accompanied my mom to those since I was a little boy. She likes having me present, and well…” He extended his arms to the side, biceps flexing as he gestured to the beachside get-together. “You are the one who crashed my party.”
Oh, hell to the no. NO. My arms fell from the shock. “It’s your birthday?!”
Daring brows rose as he licked his lips, trying not to laugh at my outrage. “You don’t have to sound so horrified. I turned twenty, not eighty-five.” He watched me with intrigue.
“Ugh. I’m going to kill Sariah!”
At that, he chuckled. “Don’t. I’m the one who asked her to invite you.”
“What?” I blinked, confused.
“I wanted you here, Amorah. Our mothers are… well, you know. I thought it was about time we actually met.” He shrugged nonchalantly, slipping his hands into his front pockets, but the “casual” nature of it was lost with his words. Especially when his jeans pulled down with the act, reminding me of that sinful V.
I straightened defiantly, still trying to recover from the way my name had sounded with his husky voice. Teenage hormones were a bitch. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not doing this.” I whirled around with every intention to leave, but his hand caught my arm, and I froze.
Our widened eyes connected as a jolt of sizzling power rushed through my body in response. The familiar feeling that accompanied it overwhelmed me, scaring the shit out of me. How could it be familiar when I had never felt it before??
An electrifying wave shocked us the next moment—like sticking a wet finger into a supercharged socket. The force threw us back, causing us to crash against the sand a few feet away from the other.
Jumping to my feet first, I instantly put up my wards. “Never touch me again. Ever,” I warned, unable to contain my erratic breathing. Still, my mind reeled from what I had just felt with Connhor’s touch.
The reason I never allowed anyone to touch me was that, simply put, I was a walking sponge for people’s energies. The complicated version, energy manipulation was another of my abilities, and that included feeling someone’s magnetic waves through touch or simply by being close to them.
Humans would call me an empath, but it was far more than that. I could absorb, shape, and manipulate astral energy, which meant I felt everyone’s radiation of their essence at a core level. I was also able to project my spirit form on the physical and astral planes, interacting there, and I could see spirits or make them visible to others. The very reason my wards existed. I was an idiot for getting distracted by Connhor’s unnerving presence, and not summoning them the moment I realized he was there.