“Don’t you see? You need to clear your mind for the magic to flow. Sweetie, you really do need to get some sweaty horizontal action. You never had this problem when you were with him. Your magic was at its peak back then. We need to fix this. Now.” Her mother’s firm tone worried her.
“Short of a miracle, I’m not sure how that’s going to happen. I’ve not been interested in anyone else since. He left me for no good reason and took my sex drive with him. What was I supposed to do? Go after him? Beg? I don’t think so.” Remembering hurt. In denial, she had blocked that time of her life. “Mom, I have to go. Just face it. I have. I’ve lost the touch.”
“This is unacceptable. There is no way in hell I will just face it. Sharmila Alene, you were born under the blessings of nature, given the gift of magic like your mother, and are protected under the stars. You are blessed, like all the women in our family. You do not just give up.”
“OK, I’ll try the mountain thing next. Just give me until it’s a little warmer. I don’t want to freeze my ass off.” A painful throb hammered the back of her skull. In a moment, she was going to have to shut off the lights and meditate to rid herself of the pain.
The silence from her mother’s side unnerved her. The magic that flowed through her veins should’ve grown by now, not diminished. She was losing an integral part of herself and didn’t know why. None of the things she’d tried had worked. It was almost as though her magic was slowly leaking away—as if it were depleting.
“We’ll fix this, Shar. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to you later, darling.”
Shar hung up the phone. What the heck was her mother planning to do? She would never let the problem go until Shar’s magic was fully restored. Too exhausted to think about it, she shut her eyes to relieve the pain in her head.
Chapter Two
Anahid opened her front door using the power of her mind. She smiled when she saw the man at her doorway.
“Luthian. Come in, please.”
The broad-shouldered warlock entered and lifted her hand to his lips. A shiver of awareness ran up her spine at the slight touch. Whenever Luthian came around her, she turned into a blushing teenager. It disgusted her to no end. At forty-five years old, she didn’t want or need that kind of reaction to the younger man.
A glint entered his eyes when he smiled. “You called on me.”
Of all the people she could’ve asked for help, she chose him. “I need information on someone. A demon.” Her long white dress wrapped around her legs with every step. She walked back to her table and to her large looking glass. She said a few words, and the image of Zahir filled her glass. “What can you tell me about him?”
Luthian took a step closer. She lifted a brow at his movement, knowing he saw clearly from where he had been standing.
“Zahir Darkrath. Very powerful. Above all others we’ve come to know, he’s extremely dangerous. How do you know him?”
She stepped away and headed toward a sofa. “He’s my son-in-law.”
“What?”
She smiled at his surprise. Not many knew she had a daughter, much less one old enough to be married. When she and Sharmila went out, many thought they were sisters. It always made her laugh when she told others her age. They refused to believe her.
“Yes, my daughter married him in one of those spur-of-the-moment things. Within a few days, he left her without a reason. Ever since then, she’s had difficulty with her magic.”
Luthian sat on the sofa across from her. He stared at her for a few long seconds, and she had to picture all kinds of disgusting things to bring her libido under control. Goddess, what the hell was wrong with her? He was not young enough to be her son, thank goddess, but he was at least eight years under her. Luthian was also the most powerful warlock she knew, a descendant of Merlin. She was his junior even with the magic that flowed through her veins.
“He’s very strong. I’ll have to look into this to know what is causing her magic’s decline. In the meantime, I suggest bringing them back together. It’s a temporary solution, but it will probably help. His power will enhance hers.”
“There is some kind of dark power trying to get at Shar. It’s been conjuring evil, and if it weren’t for all the protection spells I have placed over her combined with my constant pushing away of evil powers, it would have caught up with her already. I could easily take care of it—”
“Don’t. Give Darkrath a call. Let him handle it.” He stood to go.
At her door, he lifted her hand once again to his lips. Their gazes met and held. A wicked smile lifted his sexy lips and she gulped. Luthian had more sex appeal than any man she’d ever met. Heat unfurled inside her. Great goddess, she hoped the next time she saw him her body wouldn’t embarrass her again. Any other man but him would be less torturous to want.