Chapter 72
Wes stood at the door of the lunchroom and watched Ann flip through a copy of the new release. He could tell by her expression that she was judging her own work. A few times, she scowled at it, and he knew enough about her that she was being too hard on herself. “It’s looks amazing.” He walked in and went over to the coffee maker.
“A few pages slipped by me.” She said quietly and as she flipped another page.
“You’re too hard on yourself.” He opened the cupboard and got out the ground coffee.
“How did you know when Teegan was in trouble?”
He paused in filling the water receptacle and glanced at her.
“When she couldn’t breathe?”
He nodded and turned back to the machine. “I have a detection spell on the entire building. So I know when magic is used or, in that case, is happening.” He turned the brewer on and then looked at her.
She smiled. “Smart.”
“We weren’t sure what to expect, so I wanted to make sure I had a heads up if things started happening.”
She closed the magazine and ran her hand over the cover of it. “A lot has been happening. Everyone has been whispering to each other for several weeks now.”
He should have known she would notice. Glancing at the brewer, he decided he had time. Sitting on the other side of the table, he smiled at her. She, in turn, pinned him in place with her pale eyes, demanding information. “Too much has been happening for my taste. Although the sneaky spells didn’t scare me as much as Lee and Teegan’s magic moments did.”
“What do you mean?” Her expression relaxed to a more curious look instead of a harsh one.
Wes puffed out his cheeks and then released the air. “When they were close—their magic amplified each other, and there was a concern that too much and all of the information in Teegan’s mind would burst free all at once.”
Ann gave him a wide-eyed look. “That’s bad?”
“Because she was unaware of it, yes. Also—” He checked the status of the brewer and got up and grabbed a cup. “—it was like a beacon to anyone else with magic or looking for magic.”
“I supposed it’s been difficult for Teeg and Kat.”
He poured the coffee while nodding. “It hasn’t been boring.” He heard her sigh.
“I often wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn’t known.”
Setting the cup on the table, he picked up hers. Flipping the kettle on, he turned around and leaned against the counter. “I, for one, am quite thrilled you already know. Attempting to explain to the others that they held magic was not easy.” He cringed. “Trying to tell you that you held something from three hundred years ago would have been…”
She smiled. “It may not have gone well.”
Wes nodded. “My thoughts exactly.” Turning back around, he opened the cupboard and got out one of the teas he knew she liked. Dropping the bag into her cup, he looked back at her. “Have dinner with me tonight—before we go to the warehouse.”
She didn’t mask the surprised look on her face. That was another thing he liked about her, she didn’t fake anything. “Did you miss the part where I said I didn’t care for mated magic and all that goes with it?”
He held up his hand. “No, I did not. I probably should have led into that invite with more explanation.” He smiled. “I would like to pick your brain about a few things, and if we could do it without Mitch’s rambling and Kat’s enthusiasm…”
“Ah.” She smiled back at him. “This is a magic discussion dinner.”
“Yes.” He dunked the tea bag a few times, then left it in the cup and set it in front of her. “We both need food, and an uninterrupted conversation would be very nice.” He sat down. “Dealing with Mitch is not my favorite thing to be doing.”
“He seems like the perfect partner for Kat.” She laughed. “Anyone that can keep up with her deserves recognition.”
Wes nodded slowly. “They do, I just—” He sighed. “Going through school with him was…”
She picked up the cup and magazine and stood up. “We’ll have dinner. You can make the reservations and pay the bill.” She flashed him a quick smile. “Get back to me with the time. I have a deadline rushing toward me.”
He watched her walk out. “And the fact that I can be near you, now that all things are out in the open, is why we need to have this long overdue date.” He said quietly to himself.
He remembered the first time he met Ann when she came in for an interview. He’d almost swallow his tongue when she came into the room. It had been hard to focus on relevant questions—even though she would have gotten any position she’d wanted. Being one of the descendants ensured that. Still, he’d spent each day since that moment trying not to stare at her, drool on her, or be distracted by her. The last one he had never managed, but now, she was in it, and he didn’t have to avoid her completely.
Picking up his cup, he got up. He just had to keep his magic in check when he was around her. That shouldn’t be a problem. He always had a good hold on his power.