that in front of humans, not to another man, but warlocks didn’t have the same disposition on men lying with other men or women with other women. We never had. Our culture was of the mind that love was a celebration, no matter who it was that you loved.
“Excuse me?” Isiah dropped his hand, but didn’t release his shield.
“Even your magic is beautiful, Isiah… what did you say your surname was?”
“I didn’t.”
When he didn’t offer it, I figured maybe that was why he was scared, so I left it alone. For the time being. “Would you feel better if I took an oath and promised you no harm?”
His shield faltered. “You would do that?”
“Of course.” I pulled my magic around myself and willed it to do my bidding. My magic was fire-based. Not surprising since there was always a bit of a risk that I’d explode at any moment. “I vow to do no harm to Isiah… as long as he does no harm to me.” My fire magic swirled around me, burning the oath into my very skin. My fire never burned me, but this was different. This was a promise spell, one I had every intention of keeping. It was well worth it to spend even one minute with the beautiful man in front of me. If I broke it, the burning would intensify by one hundred or more, burning me from the inside.
Isiah dropped his shield. “I cannot believe you did that. You don’t know me.”
“No, I don’t. But I’d like to.”
He licked his pink lips and scanned the bar before nodding. “What would you like to know?”
My magic hummed underneath my skin as if it wanted to reach out and touch Isiah’s. I grinned and took a step closer to him. He held his ground, watching me warily, and I whispered, “Do you feel that?”
He nodded.
“I think… it’s as if my magic recognizes yours,” I whispered. “It wants to know you as badly as I do.”
His eyes were searching for a long moment before he admitted, “Mine feels the same.”
I smiled at him, then held my hand out, palm up. An invitation.
He hesitated before gently placing his hand in mine. The moment our skin touched, I felt both our magics come to life, like two cats rubbing against each other in soft caresses. His bright blue eyes met mine, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he felt it as well. It felt like we were meant to meet, meant to know each other.
I whispered, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isiah. Would you like to go somewhere to talk?”
He swallowed thickly and nodded. “Up on the roof. My familiar likes to explore at night, and I like to keep an eye on her.”
I smiled. “Mine will meet us there as well.”
He gingerly released his hand from my grip, then walked toward the back door. When he glanced over his shoulder and gestured for me to follow, I took a step toward him, and somewhere deep inside, I knew my life would never be the same.
Lazarus
SIXTEEN MONTHS AGO
Traveling for work could be fun, especially when I came away from an estate sale with some great pieces for my antiques shop. I didn’t travel too often anymore, but I was glad I didn’t pass up this opportunity. And tonight, I was celebrating.
The hotel’s bar had been nearly empty and kinda sad, so I walked down the street to another bar that had a rainbow sticker in the window. I wasn’t particularly looking for a guy or a gal tonight, but at least I knew I wouldn’t get my ass kicked if I was caught ogling a man’s ass.
As I started on my second beer, a man sat beside me to order his own, and when he turned a sexy smirk on me, I was blown away. His eyes were dark, his face covered in a trim beard, his dark brown hair was styled messily, and he was big—tall and muscular, probably big enough to manhandle me, if I let him.
After I ran my eyes over the length of him, his smirk grew, and my stomach fluttered. I was in trouble with this one.
He held out his hand to shake. “I’m Leif. Nice to meet you.”
“Lazarus.” I shook his hand, and as soon as our skin touched, I gasped. It was like an electric shock ran from him to me. The buzzing sent a thrill through me, and I suddenly never wanted to let go.