Page 23 of Wedding the Werepanther
“Kayla,” the dragon says, “please place your hands on the wall beside mine.”
As soon as she touches the surface, the pictures change course, looping around first her hands, then his to create an infinity symbol.
“Now send Victoria some of your magic, so I can feel how it interacts.”
Magic ripples from Kayla, and Jace grunts, sounding impressed. As well he should be. My wife’s amazing!
“All right, I’ve determined everything I can at this time.” He drops his hands and pockets the crystal. “Victoria has a complexmixture of magic. Kayla’s powers underpin her very existence. Yet the very fact that she’s a magically created being has allowed the house to manifest powers of her own.”
“Like magically binding marriage contracts,” Kayla says dryly, shooting the wall a mini-glare.
“Sorry. Not sorry,”the photos spell out.
Kayla turns to Jace. “Can you break the marriage contract?”
“What? No!”
The feeling of dismay drenching the foyer matches my own, and my stomach muscles tighten as if bracing for a physical blow. I haven’t known the dragon for long, but it’s long enough to know he won’t lie.
“No.”
Relief whooshes out of me, along with a held breath, as the atmosphere of the house lightens.
“I can, however, provide a way to communicate more easily.” He reaches into his invisible pocket, pulls out a piece of blank parchment, and attaches it to the wall. Magic flares outward. “Please try it, Victoria. You should be able to form words much more quickly than moving the photos around.”
Letters form on the sheet of paper.“Is it working?”
“It is!” I grin.
They disappear to be replaced by:“This issomuch better! Do you have more of these? I’d like one in every room of the house.”
“I do.” Jace pulls out a small stack of parchment and hands them to Kayla. “These are all imbued with the same spell. It’s an ancient method of long-distance communication.”
“I’ve never heard of it.” I reach over to finger the parchment.
“Why would dragons tell you all their secrets, cat?”
“Too true!” I laugh and clap him on the shoulder, glad he’s finally comfortable enough to joke around with me.
“Thank you.” Kayla clutches the sheaf of papers to her chest. “This means a lot to Victoria and me.”
“And me.” I bump her shoulder with mine. “I’m the one who thought to ask him about this, after all.”
“And you.” She shoots me an amused glance, lips twitching.
“I’m more than happy to help such a unique magical being. Perhaps you’ll allow me to visit again? I’d like to bring more diagnostic crystals.”
I shoot Kayla a questioning look, and she gives a little nod, allowing me to say, “We’d like that.”
“I know I would,”Victoria writes.“Now start hanging those parchments!”
Kayla huffs with amusement and heads toward the kitchen while I walk Jace out.
“Thanks again.” I clap him on the shoulder. “I mean it.”
His eyes flicker toward the house, and a hint of worry enters his tone. “The witch wants to break your marriage contract.”
“It’s early days yet. We’re still in the opening moves of the game.” I grin wider. “I’ll bring her around.”
