Page 93 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“We don’t know that would happen,” she argues, but I hear her concern that it could.
“He wouldn’t mean to,” I explain. “But incubus and succubus naturally drain other people’s magic. That’s how they feed. His magic would feast on yours.”
“I believe that’s what happened when you brought his magic inside you,” Maxum adds.
“But it didn’t hurt Rob,” she argues.
She has a point there.
“Why is that?” I ask Maxum, because he’s the most knowledgeable amongst us.
“Look at him, he isn’t alright. His witch magic is drained. This whole time we’ve been down here, he hasn’t even tried to attack us,” Maxum points out. “He used Osen’s shadows to attack Jade at the cafe. Besides, he didn’t have Osen’s soul also inside him. Only his magic. He used that to suck the magic out of others. We know from recent events that stolen magic has a short shelf life.”
“Why?” Jade asks. “Is it because Rob’s body isn’t set up to naturally regenerate the magic energy?”
“Yes, exactly.” Maxum smiles. “For example, a vampire needs blood from a magic user to replenish. Someone who steals a vampire’s magic only has what was in that vampire at the time. The thief can’t drink blood and extract what they need to keep the magic thriving.”
“But if Osen’s magicandsoul were inside me, it would be different?”
“I believe if he has both, hecouldreplenish, even in another person’s body.” Maxum nods. “Incubi are different. They are adaptable… existing in another plane as well as this one. He would overtake you.”
“So then what?” Jade demands. “I’m not giving up on him so easily.”
“I never expected you would.” Maxum offers her a sad smile. “But we arenotlosing you for his sake. And he wouldn’t want to hurt you again. He brought this fate onto himself by acting alone and outside of our pack.”
I don’t like victim blaming, but Maxum isn’t wrong. Osen might have lived if he had kept us in the loop and had us as backup.
“Move out of my way.” Jade waves Maxum aside.
I growl and grip her tighter.
She turns to face me, her face full of determination and irritation that I’ve prevented her from her objective.
“Let me see him. Now,” she orders.
31
IT'S ALIVE
JADE
“Let me see him. Now,” I snarl.
I’m not sure why I’m so pissed. I had been dreaming and hoping that Osen would join us in our life together, but now, he seems entirely lost to us.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Arran releases his hold, but still has a hand on my back to keep me stable as I shuffle to the coffin. I’m not okay. Maxum wasn’t lying about Osen draining me. I used up a lot of magic just to get Osen’s shadows out of Rob and into his rightful body.
From what Calder has told me during our lessons, I will get stronger with my magic as I use it. Like a muscle. But there is a maximum capacity for every individual in what they can take on. I’m just beginning my training, so I have only so much strength.
I gaze at Osen’s handsome face, wishing I had a chance to kiss him in this life. To feel his strong hands hold my body. To feel him make love to me in this reality.
Is this really the end of what we have?
I’m fucking mad. I carried this guy around and was doing everything I could to make this right. But in the end, what I could offer was fleeting.
Calder will be heartbroken. Truly mourning his lover and mate.
