Xavier's body shook with coughs, harsh and ragged. Before the fit could splatter the pages, Cassius plucked the book from his grasp with effortless disdain, holding it at an angle that allowed Arabella to glimpse the words as well.
"That hardly seems safe," Cassius remarked, unimpressed.
Xavier swallowed down the pain with a teacup drained in one breath, though shame lingered in his eyes. "It isn't as impressive as when she performed it. And it's not a power I can bend to my will. Most times, it fails completely. Today it worked… which is unusual and worrisome."
Cassius gave no reply, his attention fixed on the book. Arabella leaned against his shoulder to read, her brow furrowing as her eyes trailed the lines. "This… it sounds like a child's story."
