Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison Page A

would be a good match.”
    â€œHmm,” said Tristan. Obviously, he did not think it was a good idea.
    I didn’t really think it was a good idea anymore, either. Branna needed someone more even-tempered. Someone like—well, I would worry about that later. Although maybe I should have learned my lesson about love philtres at this point. “Anyway, what I am trying to ask is if you know how to reverse a love philtre. Nothing against you,” I said. I licked my lips and couldn’t stop myself from wishing I could lick his. “But I think people should fall in love out of their own free will.” Did I sound like my mother?
    â€œLove philtre. But there was no love philtre,” he said. “That is not why—”
    â€œIt is why,” I interrupted. “Look, I thought maybe you knew something new about magic, about how to counteract a love philtre. Haven’t you been around magic all your life?” Unlike me.
    â€œWell, yes,” said Tristan. “But—”
    â€œThen tell me about love philtres,” I said.
    â€œA true love philtre can never be counteracted,” said Tristan, his face a study in earnestness.
    I sighed. “Then it looks like we’re stuck with each other, at least for a while.” I had no reasonable expectation of breaking the love philtre now, but I clung to the hope anyway. At the same time, I was on fire for him. I could literally feel my temperature rise now that I was in the room with him.
    â€œThey will keep coming,” said Tristan, his hand out-stretched. “You must know that.”
    I jumped when he touched me. Then I grabbed his hand and rubbed it back and forth against my cheek. “Who?” I said absently. Maybe Mark had been right. If I wanted a rational conversation with Tristan, I should have it remotely.
    â€œThe servants of your father’s enemy,” said Tristan. “Like the slurg. Your father was very powerful. When you were born, they wanted to kill you while you were young and weak, not yet ripe in your magic. Your father protected you. But then he died and you and your mother disappeared, cut off from all contact with the magical world. No one could find you. Many have sought for you, moving from place to place in hopes of discovering you.”
    Tristan had come from the magical world because he was looking for me? Was it luck that had brought us together, or something else?
    â€œNow that you have used your magic, however, they will be able to find you,” said Tristan.
    â€œWhat did I do with it?” I asked. I still didn’t know.
    â€œThe day I arrived at Tintagel. You were on fire with it. I knew I had found you the moment I saw you. I thought you meant for me to see. You are using it now. Did you not know?”
    â€œI am?” Could I turn it off? I felt hot. Was that magic?
    â€œYour magic calls to me,” said Tristan. His gaze was intent on me, and I groaned and got out of the wheelchair. The pain of standing was nothing compared to the pain of not kissing him. I pressed against him on the bed and felt his lips against mine.
    I think I went unconscious after that, or maybe I was delirious with happiness.
    The next thing I knew, Tristan was talking again, and my head was nestled next to his on his hospital bed.
    â€œYou are the one who will save us,” said Tristan.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou will save us. I know it is true. You will free us from the serpent who enslaves us. We have been waiting for you.”
    â€œWho are you talking about?”
    â€œI will show you,” said Tristan. “They will be eager to see you. When you are ready, of course.”
    â€œReady for what?”
    I heard a knock on the door and leaped away from Tristan and back into the wheelchair, just in time, because Mark walked in. “You okay? You look tired,” he said.
    â€œYeah, I’m tired,” I said.
    â€œYou ready to leave now? I was worried you had