That did not sound pleasant. None of it.
“Close your eyes and focus. Is there a building pressure in your chest as if there’s a pool, or even a fulness?”
My eyes slid closed, and I concentrated. The ballooning in my chest expanded, pushing against my throat. I gasped on a breath as the sensation continued building.
“It hurts,” I rasped. Sleet started pounding against the window.
“Pull back, don’t access it,” he muttered. Concern seeped in his voice.
The pressure intensified. My body began trembling with the sensations running through me.
“Stop. Rae!” Tyran yelled. It startled me from the grip I had on the well of magic, or more accurately, the grip it had on me. I coughed and inhaled sharply as it released me. “I think you tapped into it too fast.”
I rubbed my sternum. The residual billowing ache receded, but a dull pain settled.
He rubbed his face. “You need to learn how to tap into your magic in moderations.”
“How would I do that?”
“Very carefully. The way Luz explained her abilities, while magic is bound, it’s stuck within you. This is dangerous especially for you, since you don’t know how navigate it. You will implode if you tap into it too much. Think of it as if pouring out a vat of water. You have to tilt until you have what you need. You were just pouring so it filled you to a dangerous extent. Having the essence means there is no end like there are for every other Fae. It can take control and destroy you. You must be cautious. It won’t ever be that your magic runs out when you unbind magic. It will be that your body can’t take anymore, and it shuts down. If you’re lucky, you just fall asleep, but the worst case is you die.”
The news was startling, but I understood. There was no way I couldn’t with how it felt like I was being filled with electricity that had incrementally been spreading. But…it was progress. Moments ago, I hadn’t known what that uncomfortable pressure in my chest was. Now, I’d been able to access it. Excitement zinged through me.
“I want to do it again,” I declared. He blinked at me and started to shake his head. “Tyran, I won’t learn if I don’t practice.”
“Maybe you need rest…” When I quirked an eyebrow at him, he sighed. “Fine. The moment you feel it get uncomfortable, promise you will withdraw. I’ll repeat, since it’s all bound within you, you won’t create havoc, you’ll just implode.” He cleared his throat, eyeing me wearily. “To get rid of that residual edge from your trapped magic, you can force the weather to bend to your will. That was the only way Luz kept from dying.”
I nodded, and my eyes slid closed. Reaching for that well, I dipped into it slowly, unlike last time when I’d practically jumped into it. Electricity trailed up my arms, coming to the forefront quicker with the leftover ache in my chest.
“Force it to do what you want. You’re its master, not the other way around. It’s all about balance.”
I focused on making the sky clear. I squeezed my eyes tighter and flexed my trembling hands. They began to numb because of the prickling sensation racing over them. The pressure in my chest lessened so it wasn’t as suffocating.
“You’re doing it, Rae,” he said with awe. “Don’t lose focus.”
My eye slit open, and my heart rate picked up. Light filtered through the windows. The suns peeked through the clouds.
My magic expanded in my chest in a quick burst. I felt myself losing control as it built and built. Tension rose and, with it, the panicked feeling. My chest pumped up and down, air whooshing out of me. On an inhale, I choked on the mounting fear inside me, and with a sob, I curled down into my crossed legs.
Tyran touched my shoulder, and the emotion receded just as quickly as it had come. I popped up and was perfectly fine. The tightness in my chest was still there as if it had retreated.
“I told you to withdraw—”
“I lost focus. It all happened so fast.” I blinked at the snow falling outside.
Tyran’s lips tightened grimly. “That’s why you must only practice with me. I will be able to bring you back.”
“How did you do that?” I rasped, still catching my breath.
The guilt on his face sent rage through me. My teeth clenched. Damn Fae, he did something to me. Fear kicked in overtime.
“What did you do to me?” Without a thought, I launched myself at him and wrapped my hands around the front of his clothing, bunching it in my fists. It took only a second for me to register the savage twist of my lips as I leaned over his still form. He did nothing as he let me pin him to the floor.
What was wrong with me? Appalled at myself, strength fell from my arms, and I let gravity take me down. My body pressed against his—chest to thigh.
My torso heaved against his, pushing my breasts against him in a rhythmic motion. The friction sent a shiver down my spine, and I trembled. I looked down at Tyran’s shocked eyes and knew it had nothing to do with him. It could have been anyone, and my body would have reacted. Not that he wasn’t an attractive Fae.
Realizing I was pushing my body closer to him at the thought, I moved to spring away from him, but his hand pushed against my lower back, keeping me in place.
“You’re okay,” he rasped, desire swirling in his eyes. His firm touch caused a domino effect, and my breath puffed out as I forced myself to still. I curled my trembling fingers. I wanted more of that sweet friction.
His thumb gently rubbed my back, and that one touch sent shocks across my lower half. I allowed myself to sink closer to him. He stilled me and kept caressing. Tyran kept me there until, gradually, the intense
