Page 27 of Tanglewood Legacy (The Three Sisters 3)
“But you’ve never experienced it for yourself?”
Goddess, the heat coming off his body, coupled with the cool breeze and the bite of the rum, had created an intoxicating swell within her. “No,” she said softly.
He lowered his mouth closer to hers. “Don’t you think we should rectify that? I mean, for scientific purposes.”
A crack of thunder rumbled through them. The rain came then, falling in fast and vigorous sheets that hit the ground with a vengeance. The wind blew a gust of rain into the distillery, spraying them, and she shrieked with laughter. Pierre released her chin to run to close the door, drowning them in darkness.
“Stay there. I’ll find a candle,” Pierre said.
“Fotiá,” Isis whispered, and the tip of her wand glowed to life and bathed the room in a warm light.
Lips parted in wonder, Pierre marveled at her spell. “That’s a neat trick.”
“Take my hand, and I’ll show you another.” She extended her fingers toward him, and he didn’t hesitate. As soon as his hand was in hers, she called the shadows to carry them away.
Still clinging to her, Pierre gasped when they materialized in the main room of his home. His eyes had widened to the size of saucers but still held the edge of fascination.
“Are you okay?” she asked with concern. “You’re very pale.”
“Yes.” He swallowed, licking his lips as if his mouth had gone dry. “I just… I didn’t know you could do that. You’re very powerful.”
The clatter of a metal tray hitting the floor sent them whirling.
“Allyette…” Pierre reached toward the dark-skinned servant.
The woman crossed herself and said something in her native tongue that Isis didn’t understand.
“Are you all right?” Pierre rushed toward her, hands up, but Allyette was backing away, fear in her eyes as if she’d seen the devil himself.
This wouldn’t do. Isis chastised herself for her poor decision to travel by shadow into the room. She should have remembered there were servants here, but she was tipsy from the rum and it had become difficult to think clearly. Still, it had happened. They’d been seen. Allyette could not be allowed to leave this room. If she relayed what happened to the wrong person…
Isis muttered a spell and cast a purple flare of light toward the woman. Allyette’s face went slack. “You saw nothing. You remember nothing,” she said, raising her wand.
“I saw nothing,” Allyette repeated.
Isis lowered her wand and slipped it back into the sleeve of her dress. The woman’s eyes darted around the room as if she didn’t know where she was. “Are you well, Allyette?” Isis asked sweetly.
“I can’t remember why I came in here,” she mumbled.
Isis gave a soft laugh. “You offered to bring us tea just now. Don’t you remember?” She picked up the tray and placed it back in her hands.
Allyette curtsied. “Oui,Mademoiselle. Right away.” She disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.
Pierre gaped at her, then backed away, hands shaking.
She reached for him, but he dodged her touch. “You did something to her mind.”
“I made her forget,” she admitted.
“Have you ever done that to me?”
“No.” She moved closer, but Pierre backed away in equal measure, keeping space between them. “Pierre?”
“You put Allyette into a stupor. If the magic you used in the distillery showed how powerful you are, this magic shows me how dangerous.” He muttered. “You…you made her forget.”
“I had to.” His hands were trembling, although he tried to hide it, and he lifted his chin.
“Thank you for calling today, but I’m afraid I have an appointment I must keep tonight.”
