Page 24 of Dewitched
“What is this?” Owen asked, reaching for the vial of green liquid when she plopped it down onto the counter.
“A special magical elixir.”
He immediately jerked his hand back.
Dani just smiled and pushed it closer. “It won’t suppress your abilities completely, but it will help you control them.”
Hesitantly, he picked up the stoppered bottle and held it to the sunlight. “How do I use it? Do I drink the whole thing?”
“Heavens, no,” she laughed. “Just put a drop under your tongue when you need extra focus.” Her smile faded into apinched expression. “I’ll warn you. It tastes like shit, but it’ll work.”
Although skeptical of her claims, he figured it also couldn’t hurt. Besides, at that point, he was willing to try just about anything.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“Think nothing of it.” She pointed a long, slender finger at his face. “Remember, just one drop.”
Owen grinned. “Got it.”
“Good. Now, what else can I get you?”
They ordered coffee for themselves, as well as the rest of the team, and said their goodbyes. As they left the café to meet up with everyone else, Owen walked with a bit of a bounce in his step, his heart filled with something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Hope.
Chapter eight
Returning to the hotelafter a long day in the city felt like coming home. Not something Owen would have said that morning, but despite his initial concerns, the elixir Dani had given turned out to be a huge help.
She’d warned him that the potion tasted bad, but he hadn’t been prepared for just how awful it would be. The moment it touched his tongue, he’d gagged, and no amount of coffee could wash away the taste. Like a mixture of rotten cabbage and a dirty jockstrap, it had been beyond foul.
But it worked, and ultimately, that was all he cared about.
With some help from his mate, he’d tested it on the other Guardians, taking things slowly with brief touches and working up to longer periods of contact. No, the potion didn’t suppress his abilities, but it did give him clarity and understanding, allowing him to control the transfer on his own.
Of course, there had been a learning curve, but with each success, his confidence had grown.
Shopping for costumes for the big ball had been the most fun he’d ever had. Princess Iliana had such a welcoming personality,and honestly, the best laugh of anyone on the planet. She was nothing like what he expected royalty to be, and she had practically adopted him into the family already. In fact, when it had been time to leave, she had insisted on riding with him and Fenix.
Sitting on the end of the bed in the cabin he now shared with his mate, Owen stared at the stoppered vial in his hand. The elixir had already worn off, and with the activities planned for the night, he definitely needed a top-up.
Only, he worried that a single drop wouldn’t be enough. Controlled contact was one thing, but he would be surrounded by hundreds of people. Many of them magical, and most of them tipsy at best.
Dani had warned him to only take one drop, but really, what was the worst that could happen? Common sense told him he shouldn’t play around with magic, but desperate times and all that.
But how much? Two drops? Three?
“Fuck it.”
Filling the dropper, he held his breath and squeezed the entirety of the acid-green contents into his mouth. Before he could even swallow, he instantly began to wretch as the vile flavor assaulted him. His stomach heaved, threatening to empty its contents, but he choked back the bile and inhaled deep, steady breaths.
It took several minutes before he felt like he could move without vomiting all over the floor, but eventually, the nausea eased, and the taste began to fade. So far, so good. He felt a little lightheaded, and his skin tingled, but otherwise, he detected no ill effects from the excessive dose.
He had just returned the bottle to the side pocket of his backpack when Fenix exited the bathroom, looking as casual as he had ever seen him. His long hair was tied back at his nape,and he wore a pair of loose-fitting jeans with a black, long-sleeved crewneck.
Owen ducked his head to hide his smile at the disgruntled look on his face.
The shirt had a pair of ghostly cartoon bumblebees on the front, with the wordsBoo Beeswritten in ghoulish font over top of them. Fenix clearly hated it, but he wouldn’t have to suffer alone. Owen wore an identical shirt, and he knew the rest of the Guard would be dressed in one as well.
