Damon listened attentively to Talia recollecting the incident from the lake, and when she was done, he asked questions.
Unfortunately, there was not much to go with. Talia wished that there was an on-off switch for controlling her so-called powers, or at least a replay button where she could see everything from another person's perspective because now that she got to talk about it, it all sounded unbelievable.
Damon told her that her eyes were glowing with silvery light, and he reminded her of a few times when others bowed to her. And there was also… "Do you remember that you were the one who told Tatiana to come with us to the car when we were heading to the beach?"
Talia remembered. "I asked her to join us."
"No, kitten.", Damon said while looking at her helplessly. "Tanya wanted to go with Kalina and others. She was ignoring Max. Yet when you approached her, she caved in immediately. I felt your aura fluctuating at that moment."
Talia's brows came together. "Are you saying that I influenced her?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. And the fantastic part is that you are not even aware it's happening. You are natural, kitten."
"Is this my wolf's ability?", Talia asked.
Damon was not sure. The incident with the rogues happened before Talia's wolf awakened. However, there was a possibility that Talia could use her wolf's power without her wolf being present. And there was always a chance that these were Talia's abilities, but either the conditions were not met, or Talia used them without realizing it. In any case… "Your wolf will shed more light on all this when she wakes up, but we don't know when that will happen. Until then, we need to figure out how much we can. If someone realizes what you can do, it will attract attention."
Talia was overwhelmed. How did things turn out this way? She wished that Damon was wrong, but there were too many instances of strange things happening, including that woman (aka Jill), getting on all four in the restroom at the Shifters nightclub.
Talia was just a girl who hated injustice and wanted to help people she cared about. How did it turn out into her subduing people and having mysterious glowing powers?
But Damon was right. Some of the incidents could be explained by her wolf being strong. However, the glowing, stopping water currents, healing others, and flinging rogues into the air were totally different things.
If she could really do that, she needed to learn to control it before it attracts trouble.
"It was like… I wanted it to happen, and it did. And I was either not aware that something was unusual, or it was done before I realized it. Sorry, but I can't remember anything specific."
"No, no.", Damon said right away. "There are few things that are repeating in every case."
"There are?"
"Every time you showed extraordinary ability, it was because you wanted something to happen.", Damon reminded her.
Talia's brows came together. "How is that helpful?"
Damon raised a finger, indicating to her to be patient. "And every time, you wanted it for someone else."
"For someone else?" How was that a clue?
Damon confirmed. He thought that it made absolute sense. Talia was selfless and she always put others ahead of her. It went in the line with her personality that she would use her mind-blowing powers for others subconsciously.
"When you dealt with the rogues, it was to save me. In the hospital, I believe you wanted to heal me, but you ended up healing both of us. And what happened in the lake, it was for Max and Tanya."
Talia still didn't get it. "Are you saying that every time I make a wish for someone else, magical things happen?"
Damon puffed his cheeks. "It sounded better in my head, but when you put it that way, you have a point."
Talia felt guilty for dissing Damon's idea. Even if he was not on the right track, he was trying.
"Let's not forget about the burning sensation in my stomach.", she said. "Maybe me wanting to save a life triggered my ability to… do something."
Damon smiled. "I think we are onto something here. I don't believe it's just a simple wish, but you need to really want it to happen. Try to think about that situation and how you felt. See if you can make it happen again."
Talia closed her eyes and Damon was quick to say, "Not now. You just recuperated. Wait until you rest properly."
Talia was touched by his concern. "Thank you for watching over me." Before Damon, she was all alone, with no one to help her when she was hurt or lonely. And here was Damon, a powerful Alpha, holding her in his strong arms and making sure she doesn't overexert herself.
Damon shook his head at the silly girl. "Who will watch over you if not me?" If anything happened to her… he didn't want to think about it.
Talia let out a long breath. "I hope I don't have the power to make wishes come true magically."
Damon had no idea from where that came. "Why?"
"The magic wears off eventually.", she said. "When I was in the attic, I would read the Cinderella book and I wished for a prince charming to come and save me. And then you showed up."
Damon's eyes widened. "Are you saying I'm your prince charming?"
Talia poked his chest with her finger. How can he get cocky at a moment like this?
"That's not the point."
"You just called me your prince charming. I think that's big enough to become a point. An important one."
Talia rolled her eyes. "I wanted to say how Cinderella's magic wore off at midnight. What if my magic wears off and I realize that I'm still in that attic and that you…"
She stopped talking when Damon put his index finger over her lips.
"If that happens, I will find you again.", he said with all the seriousness in the world. "We are mates, meant to be together. If we are apart, no matter where you are, I won't sit still until I find you. Do you believe me?"
"I do." She really did.
Damon relaxed and wrapped his arms around Talia, pulling her into him and wishing that their bodies completely merge into one so that they never separate. Whenever she was out of his visual range, he would be restless, and the thought of them actually being apart was agonizing.
Damon dispelled those dark thoughts away. Now that Talia knew they were mates, and she accepted it, their bond only needed his mark to be sealed for eternity, there was no way that they will separate.
"If you can make wishes come true, would you indulge your mate?", Damon asked.
Talia had no idea where he was going with it. Was it something naughty? Probably.
"What is it?", she asked.
"Can you wish our guests away?"
Talia stifled a laugh. "They just arrived, and you want them gone?"
Yes! Out of all the guests present, the only one Damon wanted to socialize with (in small doses) was Maddox, and Maddox was now busy with Tatiana. Tony only brought work to Damon, and Axel made him wary. As for the others, Damon didn't care. So, if Damon could have it his way, they would all go home, and Damon would be left with Talia to enjoy their time together without the need to entertain guests.
"Does that mean you can't make my wish come true?", Damon asked with a pout.
"It will happen, but with a slight delay."
"Let me guess.", Damon made a thoughtful expression. "A week?"
Talia nodded earnestly. "Give or take a day."
Damon rolled his eyes dramatically. "How is that called granting a wish when that's the time they would leave anyway?"
"We can always ask them to stay longer."
"No, no!", Damon was quick to say. "One week is fine."
Talia giggled. "I'm happy that my Alpha is sensible."
Damon sighed and then chuckled.
Both of them enjoyed this carefree moment where they could be themselves and have fun. It was all in the little things.
