13. Liam

I wasin the midst of assembling BLT sandwiches when the shrill ring of the phone shattered the calm of the kitchen.

Startled, I nearly singed my fingertips as I hastily plucked a strip of bacon from the sizzling pan.

With a quick glance at the caller ID—an unknown number—I decided to let it go to voicemail.

Luca and Ollie were due to arrive this afternoon, and Shane had graciously offered me the house to myself for their visit.

When I broached the subject of asking for help from my cousins to reclaim my lost magic, I thought Shane would refuse.

After all, three mages tinkering with spells in the backyard seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Yet, to my surprise, Shane was up for the idea. Instead of dismissing it, he drew me close, his lips claiming mine in a breathtaking kiss.

"I hope it works," Shane had said after.

That kiss still lingered in my memory. Shane"s lips, soft yet firm, had molded perfectly against mine, igniting a cascade of tingling sensations that left me breathless.

In that moment, I had felt wanted, supported, and loved.

My good vibes disappeared as I listened to the voicemail.

"Shane, I haven"t heard back from you, so I assumed you"re tied up, but I"ve got a potential buyer interested in the house."

A knot of worry twisted in my stomach. Ollie and Luca"s impending visit already had me on edge.

Maybe the three of us would just end up screwing around instead of trying to reclaim my lost magic. And now this added complication? It was the last thing I needed.

Had Shane ever mentioned selling the house? It didn"t add up. Shane had put so much effort into creating that cozy reading nook for me, and we had even discussed buying more furniture for the place.

Then again, I realized, I didn"t really have a say in such matters. While we were dating, it wasn't like we had officially moved in together as a couple.

I just happened to be crashing at his place when we started dating.

Also, this house undoubtedly carried memories of Shane"s previous relationship. It made sense that Shane might want to part with it.

Still, I couldn"t shake the feeling of being blindsided.

Couldn"t Shane have at least mentioned it to me? The lack of communication stung, leaving me uncertain about our relationship and where it stood.

"Liam, is something burning?" Shane"s voice echoed from somewhere in the back.

He had just wrapped up his shift and retreated to his workshop for some much-needed downtime. I didn"t want to disturb him while he decompressed.

"Just some overcooked bacon!" I yelled back, hoping my tone conveyed more assurance than I felt.

Luca and Ollie would be arriving soon, and I didn"t want any unnecessary tension before they got here. I could always ask Shane about the call later.

"Okay then!" Shane"s distant response barely registered over the flurry of thoughts racing through my mind.

Shaking my head to clear it, I focused on finishing the sandwiches. Ten minutes later, the doorbell chimed, announcing Luca and Ollie"s arrival.

Ollie"s expression held surprise as I approached him and enveloped him in a hug.

"Hey," Ollie greeted, returning the embrace, concern flickering in his eyes. "Everything okay?"

I held onto him a beat longer than usual, drawing comfort from his presence.

"Yeah," I replied.

Ollie furrowed his brows, clearly unconvinced by my response.

"Great... uh, nice place. Where"s the rest of the furniture?" Luca interjected, diverting the conversation.

"Nevermind that. Are you guys hungry? I made sandwiches," I deflected, eager to shift the focus away from any potential issues.

"Good idea. Food first, then spells," Luca agreed.

With a nod, I led them both to the kitchen.

"So where"s the fox?" Luca asked as we sat around the kitchen table, munching on a sandwich.

Ollie shot him a pointed glare, but Luca seemed oblivious to Ollie's silent reprimand. I shrugged off Luca"s question.

He always had a knack for blurting out whatever crossed his mind without considering the repercussions.

"Shane"s in his workshop. Let"s try not to disturb him," I replied, hoping to redirect the conversation. Noticing the books in their hands, I couldn"t help but remark, "You guys came prepared."

"Of course, we"ll do our best to help you get through this dry spell," Ollie said with a supportive smile.

"Dry spell. Good one, Ollie," Luca said.

Ollie"s response was a simple eye roll, but it brought a smile to my lips.

Despite the underlying tension of my magic"s absence, this moment with my cousins felt comforting, reminiscent of our childhood days spent training together.

As they delved into their books, I joined them, eager to find a solution to my problems.

For the rest of the afternoon, we pored over the pages together, exchanging insights and theories.

Eventually, we headed to the yard, where I couldn"t shake the nerves gnawing at me.

The memory of my last attempt at magic lingered in my mind. The mugger with the gun in the alleyway of the library still haunted me.

Shane and I had yet to determine whether it was merely bad luck or if the perpetrator was involved in the attack on my family.

Either way, I didn't want to ever feel that helpless again.

Tension crackled in the air as Luca began casting basic attack spells. These were kinetic spells, the equivalent of phantom punches.

Any young mage in the McGowan household could block them with a basic barrier spell.

I can do this, I told myself.

On the sidelines, Ollie gave me a thumbs-up sign. As the spells came hurtling towards me, I found myself unable to summon the familiar magic barrier I"d practiced countless times.

With each failed attempt to defend myself, frustration mounted within me like a storm building on the horizon. The energy pulsed within me, teasingly close yet frustratingly out of reach.

I hit the ground with a thud as Luca"s last spell found its mark, leaving me breathless and defeated. Struggling to catch my breath, I pushed myself upright, feeling the weight of my failure bearing down on me.

Why was my magic failing me now, when I needed it most? Luca was ready to go again, but Ollie called for a break.

"Why can"t I do this?" I grumbled as I stared at my clenched fists. Doubt crept in. What if this wasn"t just a temporary setback? What if my magic never returned?

Could I really live the rest of my life without it? I had hoped that with time, I would regain my magic, but that seemed unlikely now.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Ollie returned with a glass of water, offering it to me with a sympathetic smile. "Here, take a sip," he said, his voice filled with sympathy.

"Thanks," I murmured, accepting the glass and taking a long sip, the cool water offering a momentary respite.

As I struggled to collect myself, Shane emerged from his workshop, a vision that made my mouth water.

Clad only in jeans and boots, sweat glistened on his torso, accentuating all the muscles in his chest and arms. For a moment, all my troubles faded away as I drank in his presence.

When Shane"s gaze locked onto mine, it was as if Ollie and Luca ceased to exist. My heart skipped a beat as he strode over to me. I became intently aware of his presence.

"What are you doing on the ground?" he asked, extending his hand towards me.

I set the empty glass down and grasped his strong, callused fingers, feeling a surge of warmth and reassurance flood through me.

"Fell on my ass like the loser I am," I muttered, unable to hide the disappointment in my voice.

"Hey," Shane said softly, tugging me close unexpectedly, his warmth seeping through my clothes and sending shivers down my spine. In that moment, I felt like I could die and ascend to heaven right then and there.

"Don"t ever let me hear you call yourself a loser, Liam McGowan," Shane"s voice was firm, yet tender, as he held me close.

I could just stay there in his arms, but the sound of Ollie clearing his throat shattered the moment. I reluctantly pulled away from Shane.

"Yeah, I can see why you're hesitant to leave," Luca said with a grin. Conscious of their presence, I offered a sheepish smile and shifted my focus away from Shane.

"Pick yourself up and try again. I know you can do it, Liam," Shane said. He winked at me, then excused himself. Watching him retreat to the kitchen, I couldn"t help but marvel at his well-toned ass.

Of course, every inch of Shane was perfect. He was a ten on the hotness scale, no doubt about it, but it wasn't just his physical appearance that attracted me. Shane was also generous, selfless, and it was a little hot how possessive he was of me. Some days, it still felt surreal that he was mine, that I was dating this incredible person.

My fox.

No, I couldn't call him that. We still had that phone call earlier to discuss. Lost in my thoughts, I was jolted back to reality by Luca"s gasp.

"Liam, look at your hands!" he exclaimed.

Glancing down, I saw swirls of vibrant blue light emanating from my palms, pulsating with newfound energy. My heart raced with exhilaration at the sight, a glimmer of hope igniting within me.

"Let"s try again, Luca, get into position," Ollie instructed.

Luca conjured another spell, and I braced myself, attempting to form a barrier in my mind to deflect it. But like a flickering flame on the verge of extinguishing, my magic faltered, leaving me vulnerable once more.

"Again," I insisted, my voice edged with frustration as this marked the fifth failed attempt.

Ollie and Luca exchanged a glance. They must have been thinking the same thing—perhaps this was all just a fluke, a temporary glitch in my abilities.

"Liam, you"re exhausted," Ollie began gently.

"I"m not," I interjected quickly, feeling the sting of wounded pride. "I can go again. I"m not useless!"

"No one said you were," Ollie countered. "Besides, Luca"s also tired."

Ollie gestured towards Luca, who leaned wearily against a nearby tree, his shirt damp with sweat.

Realizing Ollie was right, I relented reluctantly.

"Okay," I conceded, a sense of defeat settling over me like a heavy shroud. As we walked back to their cars, Ollie offered me an encouraging smile.

"It"s not completely gone," Ollie reassured me. "It will come back."

Though his words offered some comfort, I couldn"t shake the lingering fear that I'd remain like this forever. A flawed mage.

Feeling dejected and worn out, I trudged into the kitchen to tackle the dishes, hoping the mundane task would help quiet the storm of doubts raging within me.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn"t hear Shane enter the room or feel his arms wrap around me from behind until it was too late. However, as soon as I sensed his presence, I let go, allowing myself to slump against him, trusting that he would catch me.

And catch me he did. Shane enveloped me in his embrace, his warmth and solidity offering a brief respite from the turmoil swirling inside me.

"You looked like you needed a hug," he murmured softly, his breath warm against my ear.

I turned to face him, meeting his gaze. "I don"t know if I"ll ever get it back," I admitted, my voice heavy with defeat.

"It"s too early to give up," Shane countered, his tone gentle yet unwavering. "Besides, it"s not like you have a deadline or?—"

"I do," I cut him off sharply. "I mean, my family would never accept me back if I remain like this, unable to even defend myself against a basic attack spell."

"You"ll always have a place here," Shane insisted.

All he probably wanted to do was comfort me, but his words only added to my mounting aggravation. Anger surged within me.

"Lies," I spat out bitterly, pulling away from him.

Maybe it was the fatigue finally setting in, but I couldn"t think clearly, couldn"t see past the haze of my own fears and insecurities.

"You"re thinking of selling the house," I blurted out.

Shane"s expression shifted, brows furrowing in confusion as he regarded me.

Without a word, I marched over to the answering machine and played back the realtor"s message, and waited to see how Shane would react.