10. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

T he power coming off Seryn always left Ulises in awe. It was inspiring in some ways because it made Ulises want to work harder at channeling his magic.

Seryn had never had a teacher. What he'd learned, he’d figured out all on his own. Ulises hadn't ever had a mentor either, but it was because he'd been sick his entire life. No one in his coven had bothered to mentor the boy with the lumps. Their reasoning had more to do with the fact his mother was human, but some of it was because they thought he was a dead man walking.

"Picture the dome around you." Seryn whispered from behind him. He stood so close Ulises could feel the heat from his body, which wasn't comfortable at all. Even with the central air cooling the practice room, Ulises was still sweating his balls off.

"I can't think about anything. I'm too hot." His problem was his inability to focus and it had everything to do with the stupid dating app Easton had talked him into.

"That's because all of your magical energy is building inside you with no place to go. It happens to beginners." Seryn must have stepped back. "Take a break. Get some water and a snack. We'll try again in a few minutes."

Ulises sighed in relief. "I'm sorry. I'm not a very good student."

Seryn patted him on the back. "My only requirement is that you try your best and you've done well up until today. Everyone has off days, Ulises."

How come Ulises had to have an off-life when everyone else just had a few scattered days?

Ulises grabbed a towel from the stack on the cart. As Seryn's housekeeper, he made sure the towels in the practice room were easily accessible. It was a little perk of the job because Seryn hadn't asked Ulises to keep a supply in the practice room. He didn't need them. But Ulises always needed one because he always sweat each time they practiced.

"I feel like I'm not making progress."

"It takes time. Especially if you learn as an adult. And you've perfected fire. You learned that so fast it makes me wonder if maybe you have a natural ability for it."

It took Ulises a second to hear the praise woven in between the words. "Thank you. I thought I was terrible at all of it."

"You've done very well with fire. And you'll learn concealments. Have patience, young grasshopper." Seryn nodded toward the door, indicating he wanted Ulises to follow him. He was good at making sure Ulises took care of himself. He bought Ulises electrolyte packets and had given him a water bottle with his name on it. And he made sure he had a snack.

"Did you just make a joke?" If he did, it would be the first time he'd done so in front of Ulises.

"Not that I'm aware of." Of course, the deadpan way he spoke made it seem as though he were trying to be funny, when he really meant he had no idea why Ulises had thought he joked.

"You called me grasshopper." Ulises thought, by pointing it out, he might help Seryn figure out the term could be construed as teasing.

Seryn shrugged. "If you'd like to think of that as a joke than be my guest."

Ulises chuckled. "I think I will."

A second later Seryn changed the subject. "As I said earlier, you've been more distracted today. I want to know why."

Ulises stopped in the middle of the hallway. When Seryn realized he wasn't following him anymore, he stopped and turned, closing what little distance there was between them. "It's stupid."

"Just tell me. Maybe I can help."

"I don't think you can and it's sort of a good problem. I think." Ulises wrinkled his nose and smiled at the same time. "Easton made a profile for me on a dating app."

"Your doctor? That's above and beyond."

Ulises rolled his eyes. "He's not just my doctor. He's my best friend. And it's not as above and beyond as you mentoring me. I am your housekeeper after all."

Seryn had never frowned before, but Ulises had noticed a change in Seryn since Mitchell had come into his life. He was more expressive with his emotions than before. Ulises was sure it said a lot about Seryn's mental health improving but it was still scary. "We're family."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

Seryn nodded in acceptance of the apology. "What's bothering you about the dating app?"

"Well, beyond the fact my picture is plastered all over the internet." Okay, that was an exaggeration. He had tasteful pictures for his profile. They weren't anywhere else but on the app. But they said things on the internet stayed forever and knowing they were there forever creeped him out.

"You're self-conscious because of the tumor." Seryn stated it in a matter-of-fact way but it still brought heat to Ulises face.

"Always. It's also more than that." Ulises scrunched his face up again. "Two people actually liked my profile and messaged me."

"Is that the sort of result you're looking for?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." It wasn't something he had considered until the apps chat box thing said he had a message. His expectations had been low.

"You can choose to not respond, correct?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I should, right? I mean I agreed to the whole dating app thing."

"Is the profile permanent?"

"I can delete it." He was the master of his fate regarding the dating app.

"Do you want to do that?"

"I think…maybe I want to respond."

Seryn shrugged and lifted his eyebrows. "Problem solved."

"No because I don't know what to say in return." Ulises wasn't very charming. He hadn't dated a lot. The closest thing he’d ever gotten to a relationship was Izzy and they both pretty much knew it was just fucking. As much as Ulises might have wanted more, he’d known Izzy's reputation when they started messing round with each other.

"I'm probably the wrong person to ask how to respond." Seryn had probably had guys lined up for him before he’d met Mitchell. He was beautiful. "Mitchell would know what to say. Would you like his help?"

"I’d like to go it alone, I think. I want to be genuine, and it wouldn’t be if someone else was telling me what to say."

"Whenever you like." Seryn began their trek through the house, heading toward the kitchen.

"Thank you for listening to me whine. I know it's a good problem to have but I'm out of my depth."

"It's what friends are for." So Seryn considered him a friend? That was sort of surprising, but also great to know. "You know you don't have to date if you don't want to, right? There’s nothing wrong with being single."

"I want to. It would be nice to find someone I could connect with on a deeper level."

When they got to the kitchen, a plate of what looked like giant cinnamon rolls sat covered in a glass dome in the center of the island.

"Wow. Did the new chef make these? They look delicious." Ulises had a sweet tooth.

Seryn grabbed a plate and put it in front of Ulises. "Have one. But also drink water. You need to rehydrate."

Ulises nodded. His focus was on the biggest of the rolls.

Seryn blinked at him as if Ulises baffled him. "Where do all those calories go?"

"Straight to my heart because I am in love." Ulises didn't bother with the tongs. He reached in and grabbed it, taking a big bite before putting it on the plate. He shut his eyes as he chewed. "Your new chef is really working out for me."

Seryn chuckled. "I'm going to find Mitchell. When I come back, we'll start again."

Ulises pulled his phone out of his back pocket and set it next to his plate before sitting on the stool. He settled into his roll when his phone lit up. He glanced at the screen and noticed it was yet another message from the dating app.

"Three!" That was way more than he expected. One would have been more than he expected. This one was from stirringuplove42.

Ulises clicked on it. He wasn't sure why. He hadn't clicked on the other two. The guy's username reminded him of the roll, which was orange-flavored not cinnamon.

Stirringuplove42: Hi. I like romance novels and cooking. What's your favorite book and sugar concoction?

MagicMan365: Hello. My favorite romance novel is Road Trippin' by Amy Lively. And I'm currently eating the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. What about you? Favorite book and sweet.

He responded right away.

Stirringuplove42: Mated to a Mad Wolf by J.M. Marrs.

MagicMan365: I've read that. Sweet?

Stirringuplove42: I haven't read your favorite but I just ordered it. My favorite sweet comes with a story. It's an orange roll. Want to hear the story?

Ulises eyed what was left of his orange roll. Was it a coincidence?

MagicMan365: Orange roll? Really?

Stirringuplove42: Yeah, why?

Ulises didn't answer right away. He didn't know what to say because the orange roll thing left him a little wary. Finally he decided to change the subject.

MagicMan365: About that story?

Stirringuplove42: Growing up, I baked with my grandma. She would let me knead the dough since it was my favorite part.

Aww, that was so sweet.

MagicMan365: My favorite used to be these smores cookies I discovered at a bakery a few years ago. Marshmallow and chocolate. Orange rolls have surpassed them. It's a very recent development.

Ulises heart beat heavily when the nerves kicked in at his admission.

He clicked on Stirringuplove42's profile and scanned through it. He didn't want to make it about looks but the guy was beautiful with blond hair and light green eyes. He had on a chef's jacket. He had a nice smile and kind eyes.

His profile also said he liked hiking and guys who didn't cheat. There was definitely a story there.

Ulises decided to leave the cheating comment for another time and struck up a conversation about hiking.

He took the last bite of the roll and rinsed the dish before putting it into the dishwasher.

Seryn came into the room. His lips were puffy and red as if he'd been kissing Mitchell the entire time he'd been gone. "Ready?"

Ulises nodded and followed Seryn out of the room. "Hey. What's the new baker's name?"

"Todd."

Ulises held out his phone for Seryn. "Does he look like this?"

Seryn glanced at the picture of Stirringuplove42's profile. "Yeah. That's him."

Ulises bit his lip. "We're talking. On the dating app."

Seryn gave a smile that could have meant anything from being pissed to not caring. "Don't cause drama in the house."

Ulises nodded. "Does that mean you'd rather us not start dating?"

"I don't care. As long as it doesn't cause problems."

"Like at the club with me and Izzy."

"Yes."

Lightning couldn't strike twice, right? His luck had to change eventually. And besides that, they were just talking. It didn't mean they'd fall in love or anything.