“No, I'm fine.” She’d had several cups already. If she drank any more, she was likely to embarrass herself.
She sat, placing the satchel on the floor beside her chair.
Brandon eased into the chair across from her with natural grace. “Ask.”
“Have you ever done this before? Resonance binding, I mean?”
“Yes. Once.”
She waited for him to say more. He didn’t. Message received: mind your own business. “How invasive is it?”
“Minimally. Once bound, I would be able to sense your magic. I could tell whether you were calm or agitated, or if a surge was building. My magic would harmonize with yours, rising or falling as needed to keep you on an even keel until you can do so yourself.”
“And me? Would I be able to sense your magic?”
“To a lesser extent, yes.”
“Why lesser?”
He smiled gently. “Because mine is more controlled. Its purpose is to guide you, not overwhelm you.”
“Right. Okay. Walk me through it.”
“We’ll start with small exercises. Simple magic worked together. Letting our energies interact gradually until they learn to recognize each other.” His voice was patient, instructive. “We'll build up slowly to avoid overwhelming your magic or mine.”
“What if it doesn't work?”
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue, but we’ll know soon enough.” He leaned forward slightly, his expression earnest. “Muriel, I won't lie to you—this isn't without risk. Anytime you grant someone access to your magic, you’re making yourself vulnerable. But I give you my word, I will not abuse that access. I won’t use it to hurt you or control you.”
She searched his face, finding nothing but sincerity and something else that made her pulse quicken and her magic stir in response. It was the same pull she'd felt the first time she met him. Undeniable attraction and a sense ofrightnessthat terrified her as much as it intrigued her.
“Will this make you vulnerable too?”
“Yes.”
Knowing she wouldn’t be the only one with skin in the game made her feel slightly less anxious. “Okay,” she heard herself say. “Let’s give it a try.”
“You're sure?”
“No,” she admitted. “But I do think it’s the best option under the circumstances.”
Without taking his eyes from hers, Brandon made an elegant flicking motion with his hand. The sign on the door flipped from Open to Closed, and the sounds of the outside world faded away. “For privacy,” he explained.
“Wait. We’re going to do it now?”
“No time like the present.”
Brandon leaned in closer. “Ready?”
Not even close. Being alone in a locked shop with Brandon felt more intimate than educational. Aloud, she said, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Relax,” he said with an easy smile. “This won’t hurt. I promise.”
Muriel took a deep breath and nodded once.
“We’ll start by dampening your signal. The sooner we do that, the safer you'll be.”
That didn’t sound too bad. “What do I need to do?”