The Talisman War Box Set

Chapter 19

Terrell would be thrilled. Though he showed no signs of thinking any less of Dakota, he was concerned for Dakota’s safety and health. His ability to survive. Terrell didn’t even care that it meant he could catch something. He worried that Dakota might be in danger.

Though everything between them moved far too fast, it still felt nice to be loved, to be cherished and put on a pedestal. No one showed him this kind of attention before. And in fairness, he never cared about anyone else as much, at least not romantically. He found himself falling for Terrell. Gradually, like a slow burning fire.

The guy deserved to feel loved back. Dakota wanted to make him happy. With a slight spring in his step, he dashed down to the second floor and found him scribbling away in one of his prized notebooks.

Without looking up, Terrell spoke. “Lanie figured out what Kenna’s talisman does. It’s defensive like we thought. And it’s incredible.”

He tried not to dampen his excitement. “Oh, yeah?”

“It’s the strangest thing,” Terrell continued. “She was wearing it, keeping it activated, and she burned herself on the stove. Eddie went to pat her on the back, and she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t touch her. She said it felt like an invisible force field a few inches off the skin. And when Lanie gripped Emily, she was protected, too. No one could touch them.”

That last part came as more of a surprise than the first. The defensive talismans worked by proxy? So, if Dakota wore the anti-magic necklace and reached for Terrell, he’d be safe, too? Which meant he could absolutely make sure he stayed out of danger if they got another visit from the murderer. He just had to keep him close.

“I can believe it, actually,” he confirmed. “When that guy tried to burn me, he couldn’t do it. The fire still happened. I felt the heat. But it didn’t hurt me. And now that I think about it, he has a defensive talisman, too. Like your sister’s. I tried to hit him with the base of the rifle, the polished wooden part. After I ran out of bullets. That’s how he got the drop on me.”

Terrell’s eyes widened. He moved quickly to add more notes to the gently worn tome. “That’s incredible,” he muttered after a few paragraphs had been added. “I bet there’s others just like the ones we know about.” His voice trailed off for a moment as he lost himself in the details of the revelation. Then, he abruptly looked up from his work. “That’s not why you came down here. You found something?”

“Uh, no.” Reaching for his cellphone, he raised it for Terrell to see. “But I have some pretty good news. I called the clinic, and they had my test results. I’m fine. I’m completely healthy.”

His mouth dropped open. “Oh my God! Dakota, that’s wonderful!” He walked over to him without his cane and embraced him tightly with both arms. Dakota returned the action and followed it up with a passionate kiss.

Terrell looked away bashfully for a moment before turning back. “We should really go through my Nana’s stuff.”

“There are eight boxes. It can wait. Besides, now that I have a clean bill of health, I would love—really love—to give you a good work out.” Dakota reached behind him and closed the bedroom door. He grinned. “I’m not letting you go. Not this time. You’re mine.”

Terrell looked like he might try and object, but he changed his mind. “I’m yours. You know I am.”

Kissing him deeply, Dakota walked him toward the bed. He planned to take the lead in an entirely different way.