Page 42 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

Her arms crossed. “Do you think I don’t care? Is that what you think?”

“That’s not….No, I know you care. I just..”

“Gabriella,” Westley’s voice was soft. “Give her room to explain. This isn’t about you.”

We both looked at Westley, and I could see the hurt cross her face. She turned and went back to her seat.

Asher spoke up. “Hazel has gotten a hold of her magic.”

“So, we heard,” Chelsey said, her eyes looking at me. “What we don’t understand is why we need a huge meeting about it.”

I swallowed, knowing I would have to say the words. “I have been having nightmares since my kidnapping.”

I watched as Gabriella’s eyes grew wide at this.

“They were just simple, uhmmm…But I could feel the darkness. Over the past week or so, they have grown more vivid. I get strong feelings, like they are connected to me. And I think my magic is connected to them. It’s not the same as it was before.”

Chelsey stared at me, her eyes scanning me over like she was trying to see underneath my skin.

“I know I’m a danger to the pack.”

Chelsey quickly shook her head. “Is that what you think?”

I nodded. “If I’m connected, doesn’t that mean they can use me?”

Chelsey shook her head. “There is a lot about magic we know, a lot that we still have yet to understand. You and your sister getting your magic back is impossible, yet you’ve done it.”

“I don’t think this magic is the same. It’s different. It’s…darker.”

Gabriella swung up. “You don’t have dark magic!”

“You don’t know that,” I whispered.

“We would feel it,” Marie said, offering a gentle smile. “And it’s not that simple as good and bad. You actually might be the answer to our problem. If you are connected, you’ll be able to tell us what’s going on the other side.”

“What exactly are you seeing in your nightmares?”

“It’s the woods, and I’m always feeling watched. I’m running or walking in a giant open space.”

“Can you pinpoint where in the woods? Is it the same place or a different location every time?”

I didn’t know. I was more focused on getting out than on figuring out where I was. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I think we can say that we need to start training,” Brandon announced. “Focus on getting your magic figured out and have you do some one-on-one research with Chesley.” Brandon looked at Asher. “And you’re still in charge of watching after her.”

Asher nodded. “I know that wasn’t going to change.”

Chapter 15 - Asher

It’s been a week since the meeting, and Hazel started her training. She was learning how to feel her power and pull it out. Jade and Nora were helping her with that part in the mornings while Chelsey worked one-on-one with her, researching and helping her understand the connection to the dark energy in the evenings.

Hazel often came home tired, or I found her napping in the living room after hours of training. I knew her body was adjusting and that sleep was the best thing for her. Especially when Brandon asked what she was dreaming about.

He wanted her to keep track of where she was and try to pinpoint why she kept going back to the same spot. He said there had to be a reason she was seeing it.

I unlocked the front door and found Hazel sitting at the island with a microwaved dinner. She looked half asleep as she took a bite of the meal, her body hardly moving.

“Hey,” I said as I slid my shoes off and hung my jacket up.