When I was about ten feet off the ground, I sat down on a branch, flipped over, and let go. I plummeted through the air, letting out a happy laugh at the rush of the wind through my hair, before landing in a low crouch. I made a gallant flourish with my hand to add to my dramatic descent, then got to my feet.
Felix grinned. “Show-off.”
I grinned back. “I do try.”
Devon craned his neck back, trying to see the troll. “So what did he do?”
“He’s got a family up there, so he’s not going anywhere,” I said. “I told him to stop throwing fruit at the tourists, and he seemed to agree. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Devon nodded. “Thanks, Lila. Good job.”
His face crinkled into a smile. I looked away from his green gaze before my soulsight kicked in, but the warm rush in my heart had nothing to do with my magic. It was just Devon being Devon, and how hopelessly into him I was, despite my need to keep my distance.
Devon sensed the change in my mood, and his grin dropped from his face. I felt like I’d reached up and snuffed out the sun with my bare fingers, and more than a little guilt curled up in my stomach. He really was a good guy, and I kept pushing him away, hurting him without even meaning to.
But I’d been hurt, too—horribly so—and I didn’t want my heart to be broken again. Not even for someone as all-around cute, charming, and wonderful as Devon Sinclair.
Devon waited until Felix had handed over my black leather belt, and I’d buckled my sword around my waist again, before jerking his thumb over his shoulder.
“Come on,” Devon said. “Let’s go home and get cleaned up.”
He and Felix turned and headed out of the square. I followed them, but something made me stop and look back over my shoulder. Thanks to my sight, I easily spotted the tree troll staring at me through the leafy branches, his green eyes brighter and more wary than ever before, as if he knew about some lurking danger that I didn’t. Our eyes locked, and once again, the creature’s worry, fear, and dread made my heart sink, my stomach churn, and a cold chill slither down my spine.
I shivered, dropped my gaze from the monster, and hurried after my friends.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 Jennifer Estep
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
KENSINGTON and the k logo are Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-6177-3824-1
First electronic edition: May 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-825-8
ISBN-10: 1-61773-825-5
Jennifer Estep, Cold Burn of Magic
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