Page 27 of Tower of Tempest


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The wind gusted, turning into a cyclone. Rocks and debris flew around us, and her magic pushed me even closer to her. Her eyes widened as the windstorm propelled her to me, until our bodies were pressed flush against each other. Her curvy body nestled right into mine. If the wind weren’t so strong, I could lift my arms and wrap them around her. Knowing her, she’d probably shove me away.

She gazed up at me with wide eyes.

“Well, this is an interesting way to use your magic.” I grinned down at her. “You know, if you wanted to touch me, you could’ve just said so.”

“I don’t know how to stop this,” she said helplessly, the wind roping around us, trapping us.

A protectiveness rose up in me at the panic on her face. “Breathe, Poppy,” I said, voice low. “Just breathe. You pulled that string, and now your magic is responding. All you need to do is let go.”

The panic in her eyes subsided just a smidge, but fear was still etched across her face. “Okay, is there anything you ever used to comfort yourself at times when you’ve been scared? A mantra?” I struggled against the wind’s tight push and pull. “A thought. A funny moment. A song.”

Recognition flashed in her eyes.

“A song?” I asked, and she nodded.

“Sing it to me,” I said.

She looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“What do you have to lose?” I yelled above the howling wind.

She swallowed, then opened her mouth and started to sing.

“Hush, my dear

Let the fear

Fade and ebb away

Sweet little dear

Know that I’m here

Night and day”

It was beautiful, and I wondered where she’d learned it. I’d never heard it before. She was like a swallow with those black wings. A little bird. A beautiful little bird.

I thought about asking her to sing it again, but as the wind rushed around us in a fury, it was clear my plan hadn’t worked.

“Spirit Sky doesn’t deem me worthy of this,” she said. “Why would he? I’ve given him nothing, never visited a temple, said a prayer to him. My gran scorned the spirits, and now I’m paying the price.”

That was an interesting tidbit we’d have to circle back to at a later time.

“Listen,” I said as the wind continued pushing us together, “there are worse things in the world than magic trapping me with a beautiful woman. In fact, this is actually very enjoyable. You should do it more often.”

She blew out an exasperated breath, and just like that, her magic vanished, the wind dying down around us.

“You’re going to have to show me how to build that fire again!” Driscoll called. “You know, I’m feeling very taken for granted right now.”

Neither Poppy nor I moved, our bodies still so close as she gazed at me.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what? You did all that.”

She stepped back and started walking toward the fire, then turned, her hair curtaining her face, completely free of its braid now. “Thank you for reminding me not everything in this world is scary.”

“You’re welcome,” I said.