“Whoa, I just went off there, didn’t I?” I say with a whoopsie face.
“You did,” he agrees. “But I like what you said. There’s raw truth to your words. There really is.”
“Well, to be fair, it was kind of a recycled conversation I had with Bailey when she was freaking out about her sound and vibe of music.”
“She’s a musician.”
“Yeah. Weirdly enough, I ended up getting that mirror from that cursed fire seeker because I stopped at this pawn shop to try to get her guitar back. I pawned off this necklace that my mom gave me just to get it back, even though the guitar was stolen.” I consider something. “You know, I probably should’ve driven to his store after you guys killed him and tried to get it back.”
“It has sentimental value to you?” he asks, and I nod. “Hmm … maybe it’ll find its way back to you then.”
“You make it sound like a puppy or something?”
He just grins. “How about we get this spell done? We’re probably running low on time.”
“Right.” I’d almost forgotten I was actually supposed to be doing something other than taking a stroll down memory lane. “So, what do I do first?”
“Remember how when I taught you to put your cloak on, I said to envision it wrapping around your body?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s similar to that, only you’re not going to zap your fingers.”
“What do I do then?”
“You’ll whisper this underneath your breath.” Then he dips his lips toward my ear and says softly, “Signare meum veste.” His breath tickles the shell of my ear and, holy hell, do I want to close my eyes and just lean into him.
Thankfully, I keep my composure, although my legs are trembling a bit. I’m blaming it on this damn connection I have with him. Because Hadley Harlyton does not get all swoony over guys. Technically, Jaxon isn’t a guy, however. He’s a reaper.
“What were the words again?” I ask, making it stupidly obvious that I wasn’t paying attention.
The corners of his lips twitch upward. “Signare meum veste.”
“Signare meum veste,” I repeat what he said while looking at him in the mirror.
“Perfect. And look in the mirror while you say it. It’ll make it easier to concentrate.”
Nodding, I direct my attention to my reflection in the mirror and try to envision the back of my dress zipping up while whispering under my breath, “Signare meum veste.”
And just like that, the dress zips up.
I beam, and so does Jaxon.
“You know, usually when reapers are learning to use their powers, they have to try each spell at least a few times.” He carefully spins me around so that I’m facing him. “You’re going to be a powerful, pretty reaper, and you’ll make a wonderfully dark and haunting queen.”
“I don’t know about that. Besides, shouldn’t I be a good queen?”
“Dark and haunting are good in our world. Trust me.”
“I do,” I tell him, which is strangely the truth. “However, there is one tiny thing I need to say.”
His forehead furrows. “And what’s that?”
I put my hands on my hips. “Pretty reaper? That’s what you’re choosing to call me?”
He drags his teeth along his bottom lip. “It seems fitting.”
“It seems like something Blaise or Alex would call me.”
“True. I guess I’ll have to just think of something better.” He starts across the room, heading toward the bathroom.
I trail after him, my dress swishing against the floor. “Or you could just call me Hadley.”
“I could.” He stops when he reaches the vanity area that’s covered with mirrors. A countertop runs in front of it, and just below it is a cushiony black velvet. He makes no effort to specify what he’s going to call me as he pulls out the chair. “Have a seat so we can get your hair and makeup done.”
I hesitate. “Aren’t I just going to do another spell?”
He presses his lips together, considering something. “You could do that, or you could maybe let me use my magic to do it.”
My brows rise. “You want to do my hair and makeup?”
He nods. “You can say no, but I’d love for you to be my canvas for the night.” He eyes me over. “I’ve been dreaming about it since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
“Liar. You hated me when you first saw me.”
“I never hated you. You were just … different. And that threw my brothers and me off.”
Blaise said something similar.
“It didn’t mean we didn’t think you were gorgeous,” he adds. “We all did … I even drew you that night.”
“Oh.” I waver as my heart does this weird fluttery thing it has no business doing. “I don’t care if you do my hair and makeup, but can I …? I mean, one day will you show me these drawings you’ve done of me?”
He nods without zero hesitation. “Maybe one day you’ll pose for me while I do a portrait of you.”
My jaw nearly smacks the floor. “Like naked?”
He snorts a laugh. “I wasn’t thinking that. Although, now it’s crossing my mind.” He shakes his head. “It can be however you want, naked or clothed—whatever.”
My cheeks are warm with a blush, and I mentally shake my head at myself. “I don’t care if you do, but I want to have clothes on.”
“Sounds like a deal then.” He sticks out his hand, I guess to shake on it. At least that’s what I think.
But when I place my hand in his, he lifts my knuckles to his lips and lightly kisses my skin, sending wonderful shivers across my body.
Yeah, again, so much for not being affected by these guys.
Once Jaxon and I make the deal, I sit down in the seat while he props himself onto the counter in front of me. He assesses me for a while with his head angled to the side, his gaze intensely on me the entire agonizing time. I become aware then of how big of a deal I made agreeing to let him draw me. It didn’t seem like it at the time, but now I’m imagining him staring at me like this while he does and, holy hell, it’s going to be a lot.
“I have an idea,” he finally says. “Do you trust me, though?”
I nod without really thinking, and I detect a slight trace of surprise in his eyes. But he hastily collects himself and slides off the counter, kneeling in front of me. That makes that stupid fluttering sensation consume my stomach.
“Just try to relax, okay?” he instructs as he cups my face between his hands again.
“Okay.”
I tell the fluttering to shut the hell up and focus on relaxing.
He stares at me for a beat longer before whispering something underneath his breath. Sparkling warmth kisses my flesh so potently that I gasp.
By the time I collect myself, Jaxon is looking at me with a strange expression. I start to worry that perhaps something has gone wrong, like I nowlook like a clown.
Then he says in an uneven tone, “Can I kiss you?”
I’m surprised at how easily I nod, even if the movement is a bit uneven.
He nods, too, and then he leans in and seals his lips to mine.