Arielle knew the magic was unstable, unpredictable, and extremely disrespectful of personal boundaries…
…but she didn’t expect it to react to proximity.
Especially not this proximity.
Because Noah was standing so close she could smell his cologne—warm cedar, quiet spice, a softness that made her stomach do gentle backflips. His eyes were fixed on her with that too-careful, too-tender expression that made every cell in her body forget the meaning of “chill.”
“Arielle,” he said softly, “look at me.”
She didn’t want to.
Not because she didn’t want to see him.
But because the moment she did…
The magic pulsed in her chest like a heartbeat made of light.
She stared stubbornly at the floor. “I’m not glowing. I’m fine. Totally normal. See? Nothing is happening. My emotions are very under
