She was proud of herself. Not once have her tears gotten the best of her.

Not even on the third day of not seeing him.

She was glad he hadn't come. She was still too angry to see him. If she saw him now, she might go all witch done wrong on his ass.

At least, that's what she told herself.

Oh, she was angry enough. She just knew she could never hurt Vallen. No matter how much he kept hurting her.

Even knowing why he'd gone to someone else didn't help.

Knowing that he had failed helped a little.

She didn't call him. Didn't send any notes or try to talk to him. She didn't pine for him.

She was proud of herself until she woke up in his arms this morning. Once again, she'd been all over him like a wet blanket.

She'd been pulled into one of his nightmares. Since she woke before she could help him, she'd gone to his room to see if he needed her.

She could still remember the strength of his grip as he held on to her in his sleep. In his dreams, he was just a small boy who was scared and hurt, and she hadn't been able to look the other way.

She didn't know if she had it in her to ever be able to do that.

Whispering words meant to comfort him, she held on to him and promised that it was going to be okay. That she was there and that she'd keep him safe.

Then she did a spell to chase away the dreams. She couldn't take his past or his memories away. She knew they were important to him. She knew they helped make up who he was, but she could put them away where they wouldn't hurt as much.

Placing them way back in his mind so he could remember that he didn't have to be scared of them any longer.

Her plan had been to get out of there as soon as he was sleeping better, but finally being that close to him after days of not seeing him had been too much of a temptation. While holding him and watching him sleep, she'd let his heartbeat lull her to sleep too.

Then she had some dreams of her own.

Dreams of first, second, third and fourth base. Fifth base.

When she woke with a low moan to find his mouth back on her and her breast bare, she laced her fingers through his hair.

When she woke for real this time, she knew it was time to get the hell out of dodge before he did wake up and realize that she didn't have an ounce of self-respect where he was concern.

"Are you ready, Nevaeha Roe?"

She turned away from the window and nodded at Mr. Churchill.

This was her third attempt to find Eveningale's magic. This time the council moved it back to the library, thinking that if the other girl needed the more comfortable setting.

Eveningale looked nervous. Not because she was nervous about Nevaeha or the council. She was nervous because the council told her if it didn't work this time, then they were bringing in Cash to see if that helped.

The other girl was a lot like Vallen. In denial and fighting her destiny tooth and nail.

Today, Nevaeha was wearing her mourning dress with the veil. It seemed like a fitting dress since the love of her life wanted her but didn't want to want her.

She thought she's been lenient. Patient.

Freaking as forgiving as a mate could be. Should be at least.

Understanding.

"Nevaeha, could you pay attention before you get yourself thrown through another wall?"

That might be a good idea. She nodded at Mr. Herrmann and smiled at Eveningale in an attempt to be reassuring.

"Eveningale, try to think about whatever you were thinking about that day." Conway told her as all of them stepped back from them.

"She was thinking that Nevaeha has lost her mind." Nevaeha winked at her and finally received a soft smile.

"I was concerned. For just a moment. I feared you might have a crush on me."

She laughed. "Imagine poor Conway when I was hanging on him. All this practicing with you is helping me through. I'm doing a lot better, right, Conway?"

He gave her an irritated look since she had to be pulled off him just this morning.

Sebastian was smart to stay away.

She offered Eveningale a kind look and took her hand. "Having Cash here might help. I think it was your need to protect him that awaken your magic. Try to think about how pale he looked. Remember how you had to reach out to keep him up right."

"That was before you told me about... everything, so it was probably my need of protecting anyone."

"In that case, Mr. Churchill, you should send for Julio or Benjamin."

"Conway, send for one of them. You two concentrate harder."

He was right. She wasn't trying very hard.

She pushed away her worries. Her ache from missing Vallen and she searched Eveningale's eyes.

Nevaeha knew some had to live without magic, but she couldn't imagine having to live that way. Her magic was as much a part of her as this town. As her ancestors were. Her home.

Her magic wasn't just a thing inside of her, it was a feeling, it was alive, and a part of her. It made her who she is. She is a better person because of the magic inside of her. The world was a better place because there was magic in it.

She thought about how Vallen called her witchy sometimes and how her magic swirled inside of her when it mixed with the desire and the love she felt for him.

"Eveningale, maybe it wasn't just your need to protect him. Maybe it was from being that close to him. From touching him. It could have even been from me touching him. Remember how I was_."

She was thrown across the room again. This time only stopping just short of hitting the wall as Conway, Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Herrmann all worked together to catch her.

She smiled her thanks and snapped her fingers, so she was standing back in front of Eveningale. Then she took her hand again. A girl could get used to this much power flowing through her fingertips.

Eveningale wasn't as strong as Vallen but there was one thing she had that Vallen didn't. Her power, when she could find it, was free and unleashed in its glory and not coiled tight inside ready to strike like Vallen's.

Nevaeha smiled. Her hands rubbing up and down the other girl's arms. "You didn't like me touching him. Anger awaked it. Our magic is tied to our feelings. I'm going to push you so we can see how strong you are."

"She's strong. I feel it now." Conway looked at the others. "How was all this inside of her and us not know it?"

Mr. Churchill shook his head. "I still don't feel it. Have you ever heard of someone who can keep others from sensing their magic?"

He shook his head, but then nodded. "You're right. It's like there's a cloak around her that keeps her magic from being sensed. Her gift is she's able to hide her strength."

"And we saw firsthand that she can move things." Mr. Herrmann nodded at Nevaeha. "You can begin now. We are ready."

Working together, they'd put a force field around her and Eveningale.

"I'm not angry." The other girl whispered. "And there is no way I was jealous. I've never thought of him like that. I'm not one of those people who want what they can't have. My life is good. I'm happy with my quiet life."

"You're his mate. There's a connection between you and him, whether you want it or not. A part of you knows that even if you won't admit it. A part of you calls to him. Longs for him. Recognizes him. Don't fight it, Eveningale. Don't be one of those people who can't accept their destiny. Their fate. You hated me touching him. I don't blame you. He's a very handsome guy. No one can deny that. No one at our school could. They all wanted him. Chased after him. He can't go anywhere without those same girls touching him and hanging on him. He isn't safe from any of them."

Eveningale's magic rose and built.

"I wonder how many of them he's kissed. How many of them has he_"

Force field be damned. She threw Nevaeha right out of it and straight up. Her magic was so strong that the men couldn't stop it.

It didn't help that none of them thought she'd be able to get through the barrier around them.

Nevaeha hit the ceiling this time. She'd say with the force of a semi.

She was too dazed to say a spell to cushion her fall, but luckily Conway caught her with his own magic and sat her down gently.

"Oh, Nevaeha, I'm so sorry."

She couldn't tell her it was alright because she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

"She's like a snake striking that you never see coming. Magnificent." Mr. Churchill said in awe.

Since she couldn't speak, she looked at Conway and let him feel what she was thinking. He nodded.

"Get her out of here. He won't care that she's a girl if she hurt Nevaeha. All of you go. I'll brave him. Eveningale, all will be well. You'll learn to control it. I will work with you. And don't worry about Nevaeha. She will be fine."

He knelt at her side once they were all gone and gave her his hand. "Take my magic, Nevaeha. It will help with the pain."

'Brace.' Was the only warning she could give him.

It was enough. Conway stopped Vallen from being able to get his hands on him and saved himself from being tossed like a rag doll.

'Don't hurt him. He didn't_.'

Seeing her pain, everything else was forgotten as Vallen went to his knees beside her and dragged her into his lap.

Even once she was healed, they cling to each other. "I l_."

"Don't say it."

She looked up at him. Her hand cupping his cheek. "Okay. It's enough that you know. Enough that you can feel it. I just want_."