The night was still young, although unlike her kids, Eleanor decided to go to bed early. Melinda and Maddox were sitting with Blair in the living-room with a can of cold beer in all of their hands.

"So, how long have you been a psychic?" asked Melinda curiously.

"I'm not a psychic," said Blair. She spotted Maddox grin over the rim of his can before he took a sip.

"But then how do you explain what you did earlier?" asked Melinda.

Blair took a swig of her own beer. "It's a family trait," she shrugged.

Melinda's eyes widened. "So, your cousin, Anastasia also has powers like you?"

"Yeah," Blair didn't find it necessary to lie to Melinda.

"Wow. That's amazing," she astonished. "Can you do-"

"Stop bothering the woman, Mel," rebuked Maddox.

Melinda pouted and glared at her brother. "Fine," she said as she got off the couch. "I'm heading to bed. See you two tomorrow."

"Sorry about her," said Maddox.

"No, I don't mind," said Blair. "She's a sweet girl with a very curious personality. It's endearing to be honest."

Maddox gazed her way. "Thank you for helping them," he said.

"It was my pleasure," she told him. "You have a beautiful family, Maddox."

"I like to think so too," he admitted.

"Can you bring your mom by the shop tomorrow?" she requested of him.

Maddox tilted his head. "Sure, but all of a sudden?"

"I'd like to give her something," said Blair.

Maddox nodded. "I'll bring her by," he promised without hesitation.

"Oh, I saw Alexander leave this afternoon," she stated.

Maddox finished his can and put it on the table. "It wasn't easy sending him off like that. But, I didn't give him much of a choice," he said. "And I think he hates me now."

"He always hated you and your family," admitted Blair bluntly.

Maddox nodded. "I guess you don't really know people."

"That's true," Blair agreed. "But you can always tell which ones are fake."

"I suppose," he said. "But not all of us have powers like you, that warn you before you meet someone."

Blair shook her head. "My powers didn't teach me how to read people," she said.

"How then?"

"I learned a lot just by watching my parents," she told him. "The way they'd behave around each other, family or even strangers. They had a different face whoever they talked to. But I saw it all underneath those happy, perfect masks. They were a bitter married couple, who found happiness in each other's misery."

Maddox stiffened by her frankness. "You don't like to talk about them, do you?"

Blair laughed. "I got over it."

"You don't need to fake it with me," said Maddox.

Blair's smile fell. She gazed into his earnest amber eyes and drowned under their warmth. She never thought about opening herself up to people. It's not that she didn't like them, she did. But willingly sharing about her feelings had a lot of risks of getting hurt. Although, with Maddox it was different. She wanted more than anything to lay all her cards on the table and expose herself. The hunger to let him know that she had a few skeletons in her closet was overbearing.

"My parents abused me a lot," she said. "They didn't like me using my powers. And never wanted me to associate with my cousins."

"Did they hurt you?" asked Maddox sternly.

"I got hit once or twice," she said. "But mostly, they just said a lot of hurtful things." Blair curled her legs close to her body. "I never really cared for what they had to say about me. But I drew the line whenever they picked cousins and grandparents."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," said Maddox.

Blair waved her hand. "Trust me, I gave them a lot of trouble too."

Maddox smirked. "I'm glad you weren't an obedient child."

She looked at her hands. "I never could understand why they hated me so much," she told Maddox. "I was a good kid who did her homework on time and got exceptional grades. I never dated or stayed out late to go to parties or drink. Everyone either loved me or admired me for my skills. But the two people who mattered to me the most looked at me like I was some...outsider who could never join them." Blair laughed from disbelief. "I know, it's pathetic."

"No, it's not," said Maddox. "They were your parents. And they were supposed to protect you from everyone. But they failed."

A chill crawled down her body. "They sure did," she mumbled.

"Why did you keep practicing your magic when you knew it got you in trouble?" asked Maddox.

"My magic took me to my own world," she said. "A world that was entirely different from my gloomy reality."

Maddox laid his hand on her arm. "How did you control your magic in school or public?"

Blair pulled out the locket that was under her shirt. "This locket was given to me at birth," she said. "Its duty was to control my magic as a baby. But now, I just wear it as a memento."

Maddox grasped the locket with his fingers. And instantly, Blair felt the enchantment wake up from its deep slumber. The gorgeous colour of rich honey gold returned. She had felt this energy before and she recognized it, like it recognized Maddox. This enchantment had bound itself to her until it had found its master, and it had. It was Maddox who this energy searched for, and she was the one that brought it right to him. Blair saw the amber swirls release from the locket and swim around Maddox.

"What's wrong?" he asked when he noticed her fascinated expression.

"Nothing," she mumbled. Maddox got out of his seat to dispose of all the empty cans. She continued to watch the magic bind itself to Maddox's aura. It melted like honey and created a bright light that was beautiful and warm.

Blair was chosen to get married this year by the one that breeze had chosen. But she never believed that it could actually happen to her. This ancient ritual weaved a net, which brought Blair right to Maddox's doorstep. She had chosen Maddox just like the magic had, it felt so surreal.

Maddox returned. "You're looking at me strangely," he remarked.

"I look at everyone strangely," she retorted.

"Touché," he grinned. Maddox came over to her. He surprisingly kissed her lips until her toes curled and a storm of butterflies swept her away.

"What was that for?" she asked when he pulled away.

"I'm convincing you to stay with me tonight," he said. "Did it work?"

Blair giggled. "I think so," she reached over, "you'll have to kiss me again, so we know for sure."

Maddox chuckled. It was a sweet sound and his wicked smile was terribly charismatic. He locked his lips with hers again and lifted her off the couch. She straddled his waist, so he could take them to his bedroom. Maddox stripped them both of their clothes before they even hit the bed.

Maddox caressed her plump breasts, he rolled her hard nipples that ached to be touched by him. She writhed underneath him, her body felt like it was on fire. That deep cologne of his that swarmed around her didn't help either. She could smell him on her and she could feel ever single touch of his was heightened to an uncontrollable level.

He positioned himself between her legs.

Blair was drunk on the ecstasy of his scent and his blazing touch was being rooted into her needy body. She opened her legs wider and presented herself to him. He thrusted slowly, she winced at the sudden invasion of his shaft. Maddox pulled out but not completely, he got her dripping wet core used to his enormous size. But as his deep thrusts began to heighten her over the edge of sanity, she rolled her hips and urged him. His hard hand gripped her throat gently and his harsh breath slithered up her body that was about to break into a million pieces.

Maddox thrusted his shaft into her tight channel that felt heavy around him. She unknowingly lifted her hips and deepened his heavenly invasion. His grunts filled her ears and rippled through her body. A sudden rush grew inside her stomach and she knew that she was close to release, just like Maddox. With the last hard and deep thrust, they both came shattered and dropped against the bed.

Blair steadied her breath. She couldn't feel her body anymore and every part of her ached with this hot desire. She raked her fingers through his dark hair and loved the feel of it under her hands. Maddox teasingly nipped her earlobe sending a hot jolt through her body.

"Why did you ask me to help your mom?" she asked.

Maddox caged her in his arms. "Because you have this amazing gift that heals people who are hurting."

Blair blushed. "Oh, I didn't make you out to be such a romantic," she joked.

Maddox smiled as he kissed down the length of her neck. "I am dealing with a witch, so I have to make more of an impression," he said.

She laughed. "It wasn't hard for you to leave an impression on me," she said.

Maddox lifted his gaze to meet hers. "And what impression was that?" he asked hotly.

Blair bit her lip timidly. "I couldn't look away," she said softly, "you captured my attention from the moment we met."

Maddox kissed her long and sweet. He took his time with her body, learning everything there was to know. She welcomed this fluttering sensation that pulled her to his touch, his kiss, his eyes and that strong heart of his. The night passed with them understanding that they are becoming a deep part of the one another. Blair went to sleep; with a little angst buzzing at the back of her head; over what road her life will go down now that she supposedly found her fated soulmate.