Page 76 of Into the Abyss
“Do you feel any different?”
“My empath ability has amped up.”
My nipples puckered as I recalled the wayhe’d reacted to everything and the emotions he emanated while wepleasured each other. We were still new to each other, but alreadyI knew some of what thrilled him the most. He loved when I strokedhis horns, but he also liked it when I bit his neck and licked hisear. I couldn’t wait to learn more.
“I knew there was something different aboutyou,” he murmured.
“I can say the same, but it wasn’t until Iwas in the water and I felt myself shift into immortality that Iknew.”
“It wasn’t until you came out of the waterthat I did.”
Bending his head, he nibbled on my lower lipbefore drawing it into his mouth and scratching it with an upperand lower fang.
I was starting to lose myself to him againwhen a life force washed through me. I froze as reality hit me likea boulder to the head.
“We have to go!” I gasped. He tried tosnatch me back when I scrambled from his lap, but I moved away fromhim and jumped up. “The others!” Guilt tore at me as I realizedwhat we’d been doing while someone was dying in here. “We haveto….”
My voice trailed off as I gazed around witha dawning mix of awe and shock.How did we not see? How did wenot know?
Because we were too caught up in eachother to notice anything else.
But this? How could we have missedthis?
Magnus rose beside me, and I knew the secondhe registered what had happened as his body became rigid besidemine.
All around us, the once deadened stone hadreturned to life. Oranges, pinks, yellows, blues, greens, andpurples shone anew everywhere I looked in the small areasurrounding the pool. The water was the same multi-hued combinationas the rocks, and the stones inside the pool brimmed withcolor.
Tilting my head back, my mouth dropped whenI saw the trees lining the edge of the wall. They were only halfdeadened as the branches closest to us had come alive and rosetoward the sky. Orange-brown leaves and bright yellow and purpleflowers decorated half the tree.
“What happened?” I breathed.
Magnus studied the surrounding area with alook that said it awed him as much as he distrusted it. Then, hisfurrowed brow smoothed, and he turned to me. “Youhappened.”
“What?Me? How?”
“We have to get out of here. There’s a goodchance the jinn will notice those trees.”
“Magnus, what did you meanIhappened?”
He dove into the water and returned lessthan a minute later with my dress. His frantic energy beatingagainst me overwhelmed me. My hand flew to my forehead as I steppedback and inhaled a shaky breath.
“You okay?” he inquired as he grasped myarms.
“Emotions,” I murmured and took the soddendress from him. “Everythingis so much more now.”
Clasping my chin, he turned my head back tohim. Peace stole through me as I gazed into those beautiful silvereyes. “You will get used to it, and I will be here to help youthrough it all.”
Those words stole my breath more than hischaotic emotions had earlier. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.” He pressed a briskkiss against my lips. “You’re mine to protect, and I will do thatevery day of the eternity we’ll have together. Now, get dressedquickly.”
I tugged the dress over my head, andaccustomed to being barefoot, I decided to forgo the slippers forthe rest of the journey. I was ready before him as I watched himtug on his pants. Standing with my hands palm out at my sides, Isavored the swell of power in this area. This is what the Abyss wassupposed to be, what itshouldbe, but I had no idea how tobring this beauty back to all of it.
Magnus clasped my elbow and led me towardthe crevice we’d entered through. “Why did you say I did this?” Iasked as I jogged to keep up with him.
“When we were at the waterfall, after wecame out of the water, I noticed a single yellow stone at thebottom of the pool. At the time, I believed it was always there andI missed it in my rush to get you somewhere safe.”
“And now?” I prodded.
