Page 34 of Anaki

Iknew it was too good to be true. The lack of pain from the past few days came back with a vengeance.

I watched Tajah show a series of magic tricks to Luis for a few hours. Tajah's magic tricks captivated Luis the whole time. They started small, but grew bigger over time.

Tajah flickered the lights on and off at first, then moved Abuela’s crystals around the room. She even had Luis levitate, but I think none of it was as impressive as moving the plane across the sky while we were inside of it.

It took time for Luis to warm up to Tajah. Which was odd because Luis was always friendly with everyone he first met. When I excused myself to use the restroom, the awkwardness had vanished by the time I returned. By the time the afternoon wore on, they were thick as thieves.

Tajah brought up my ailments and said she would check her spell books for a numbing potion to help with my pain. I told her not to bother. While it may numb my pain, it wasn’t a cure.

Tajah still waved me off like it was not a problem for her to look. I didn’t have any hope for much of anything in return.

In a few years, I would be indefinitely confined to a wheelchair.

The door opened, and Abuela walked back in. She immediately came to sit beside me and rested her hand on my back. She could tell when I wasn’t feeling my best, despite the smile I put on my face for Luis. I didn’t want him to know I was in pain this afternoon.

Tajah's feminine hand wielded a sphere in the air, conjuring a luminous ball of vibrant purple light that hung weightlessly before her. Luis, his eyes widening in awe, leaned closer, his breath catching in anticipation. Beretta, a mischievous grin played on her lips, nudged Luis towards the enchanted ball. He let out a high-pitched scream when he touched it. In an instant, the ball erupted into a dazzling ball of lights, engulfing the entire space with a kaleidoscope of shimmering colors that danced and flickered, transforming the cabin surroundings into a rainbow of colors.

Had I not watched all the dazzling magic earlier, I would have been worried about Luis getting hurt. But, as I observed how they had treated and watched over Luis throughout the afternoon, I felt comfortable enough.

I had assumed they were part of the care team when they first arrived to relieve Anaki. Only to find out that they were there of their own accord to ask Abuela questions. Anaki only left to grab more clothes, and more likely, to get away from me.

Tajah took some of Abuela’s blood to test, to help find out more about our ancestors. She was very interested in why Abuela understood and wielded as much magic as she did.

Meanwhile, I felt like a terrible granddaughter because I didn’t have any idea she was using magic to keep us safe.

“I knew Abuela was special,” Luis said. “Abuela could always put me to sleep as a baby when I had colic and Mama couldn’t stand. Abuela said she used a magic song.”

Abuela laughed and shook her head.

Now I’m wondering if that was true.

The door creaked open, and Anaki strode in. My body instantly responded, especially since he didn’t have a shirt on.

Dios Mio, what the mierda is this man doing to me?

It was all I could do not to look at him. Just his presence alone would make my heart race. To show indifference to him was difficult, especially when he showed so much care to Luis.

Made my ovaries want to release all the eggs.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Do not go there.

He stepped deeper into the room, a bag in his hand. As he set it down, Luis went barreling toward him to give him a hug. “Anaki! I missed you!”

Anaki smiled. “I was only gone a couple of hours. I’m sure Beretta and Tajah kept you occupied.”

“The boy is mine now.” Tajah leaned back in her chair. “Magic is way cooler than dragons.”

Anaki scoffed. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

“She has shown me magic, and you haven’t shown me your dragon. Even Bear and Nadia have shown me their animals,” Luis confessed.

Anaki placed his hand on his heart. “You wound me. I’m still healing. Soon, I will shift, and you will be so jealous of me.”

And why did I find that idea so hot? When we saw Nadia’ and Bear’s animals, they were cute and fuzzy. Sure, they were dangerous, but a dragon? They were known to be fierce in legends.

I couldn’t see Anaki as fierce. He was everything light and happy.

I needed someone calm, sweet. Just like him.