Mortal Enchantment by Stacey O'Neale Page B

washed over me knowing the iron sword was farther in the distance. “Your power is linked with your emotions. If you’re centered, your power will flow evenly. Without control, you’ll use too much energy.” He stepped closer. “The first part of your training will be finding your center. Have you ever tried to meditate?”
    I snorted. “No, definitely no.”
    He huffed. “Sit down and close your eyes.”
    “How do you want me to sit?”
    Grabbing my arm, he guided me to the ground. We both sat cross-legged, mirroring one another. He placed my hands on top of my knees with his hands resting on top. Heat radiated up my arms. With a soft voice, he said, “Now I want you to close your eyes and relax.”
    I smirked. Oh sure, no problem.
    He tightened his grip around my hands. “I need you to take this seriously. Do you want my help?”
    “Yes,” I whispered.
    “Then you have to trust me and do what I ask.” He loosened his hold, massaging his thumbs into my palms. Oh yeah, this was the opposite of helping. “Close your eyes,” he insisted.
    I relented. I had no idea why, but I desperately wanted to giggle. “Okay, my eyes are closed.”
    In a soothing tone, he said, “Try to turn off your mind. Listen to the sounds of the waves crashing into the shore. Focus on only that noise without thinking about anything else.”
    We sat silently.
    I couldn’t resist the temptation. I peeked out of one eye and saw that his eyes were closed. I opened both of my eyes, watching as the sunlight flickered across his face. The silver bar in his eyebrow shimmered in the light. The salty breeze blew a few stray hairs onto his cheekbones. My fingers tingled with the desire to tuck them back behind his ear.
    “This isn't going to work unless you try,” he said, jolting me out of my haze.
    How did he always catch me watching him? Frustrated, I squirmed in the sand. Rowan was right though; I wasn’t trying. Dad would expect me to make this work. If he was not found in time, I needed to be prepared to take his place. And right now, at this moment, I have to make more of an effort. I closed my eyes, focusing on the roaring waves. Random thoughts popped into my head, but I pushed them out. Starting over each time—concentrating on the ocean.
    I had no idea how long we had been sitting here. “You're doing a good job,” he said, breaking the silence. “Let's try taking the next step. I want you turn off the sounds you hear and only visualize yourself sitting here. Start at the top of your head and don't stop until you are at your toes. Can you see yourself?”
    I tried not to break my concentration, visualizing myself sitting here. From behind, I saw my backside. I cringed, realizing my hair situation was completely out of control. Rowan was the total opposite. Even with his eyes closed, he managed to look yumtastic. I refocused on me until my body started tingling all over. It was as if my senses were alive. I was totally aware of everything around me. Each grain of sand, the ardent sun, every gust of wind—they were part of me—we were all connected somehow. What a total mind trip. I saw myself again, except this time, a soft golden yellow light swirled around my body. “Yes.”
    “Can you see an aura of energy around you?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    “That’s your power when you’re focused and controlled. Remaining centered will allow you to use more energy for longer periods of time.” He released my hands. “As you lose control of your emotions, the color will darken. The power will become impossible to control and will drain you. Potentially even kill you.”
    I lost my focus completely as the panic brewed in my stomach.
    “Kill me?” I shook my head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” Dad had told me the power was part of me, but I never thought using it could weaken or kill me. The moment after I closed my eyes, I swallowed hard. The aura had darkened to a burnt orange, appearing as thick as