bundle of dried herbs on the doorjamb, explaining the ingredients as she gathered them. Gray spider flower and St. John’s wort, to relieve terror and provide protection. She fixed the bundle into place with an iron coffin nail and the blunt end of a butter knife. Apparently Kate wasn’t above grave robbing for nails and graveyard dust, but didn’t believe in the usefulness of a hammer. She passed Whip the knife and proceeded to bang on the wall above the doorframe with her fist, causing my heart to jump.
Magic always made me nervous. You never knew the exact outcome. Kate was the first to admit magic was fallible, subject to many influences, no matter how strong the will of the spellcaster. Her simple spell to wipe some of Paige’s more paranormal memories had resulted in odd personality changes. Not that I minded. Paige was far more bearable now. Still, would this spell have side effects? We weren’t all as fortunate as Wade, who was immune to certain spells thanks to his witchy inheritance.
Satisfied the charm wouldn’t dislodge when the door opened or closed, Kate held her hands out over the swath of herbs and chanted under her breath. Magic stirred the air. Whorls of energy rose beneath us, drifted up the ladder, and radiated from Kate’s hands in a silver glow.
In seconds the glow embedded itself deep in the bundle of herbs and flared to life. Silver sparks shimmered along the entire outline of the doorframe, and then spread to the crown molding and the baseboards, traveling the walls like a lit fuse on a stick of dynamite. An electrical charge similar to the hum of cicadas echoed through the entire two-story structure as the ward sought each line of the old Victorian house and settled in.
To my sensitive nose, each and every person, brand of magic, or power had its own odor. Once I’d had a whiff, I could identify the source of residual magic or track someone—or something— by scent alone. A nifty trick inherited from my wolven mother. It did have its side effects though. Large masses of people enclosed in tight space wreaked havoc on my senses. Kate’s magic was the ginger and other exotic spices that swirled in the air. Which was why the faint hint of mint cutting so clearly through the chai and nutmeg, strengthening the ward, demanded my attention.
Wade’s magic was laced with ice and mint. I’d recognize it anywhere. He was the source of the irresistible aroma weaving through Kate’s magic. Almost as if she had found a way to access Wade’s talent for creating strong protection wards.
Was that even possible?
The scent of him was driving me mad, clouding my mind. I really shouldn’t be longing for a guy so close to the dark side. He was shadowed.
A tiny thrum of Kate’s power lingered. I tasted the magic in the air. It pulsated on the tip of my tongue. I met Kate’s eyes, uncomfortable with the knowing in her expression. We held the stare for a moment before the pulsation of magic evaporated entirely.
The spell was complete.
Kate broke the hush that had settled over us while she’d been spellcasting. “It’s not just my power I’ve secured. I have other sacred, ancient objects housed within these walls. If the night mare were to get those as well…”
“Let me guess,” Matt said on a flippant grin. “The world as we know it will cease to exist.”
Kate met his gaze, her eyes narrowed. “Pretty much.” Matt’s smile died. He swallowed hard.
But Kate wasn’t finished. “Each of you is a potential target now that the demon has seen you through his minions’ eyes,” she said. “You’ll need some extra protection. I’ve prepared a few charm bracelets.”
Not what I was expecting.
“Why don’t we use dreamcatchers?” Brit asked Matt, voicing my exact thought.
Alec stiffened at my side.
Matt grimaced. “Every First Nations dude should have one over his bed, right?” He teased Brit gently. “Thirty years ago, sure,” he said. “But now they’re gimmicky. More commercial than
Magic always made me nervous. You never knew the exact outcome. Kate was the first to admit magic was fallible, subject to many influences, no matter how strong the will of the spellcaster. Her simple spell to wipe some of Paige’s more paranormal memories had resulted in odd personality changes. Not that I minded. Paige was far more bearable now. Still, would this spell have side effects? We weren’t all as fortunate as Wade, who was immune to certain spells thanks to his witchy inheritance.
Satisfied the charm wouldn’t dislodge when the door opened or closed, Kate held her hands out over the swath of herbs and chanted under her breath. Magic stirred the air. Whorls of energy rose beneath us, drifted up the ladder, and radiated from Kate’s hands in a silver glow.
In seconds the glow embedded itself deep in the bundle of herbs and flared to life. Silver sparks shimmered along the entire outline of the doorframe, and then spread to the crown molding and the baseboards, traveling the walls like a lit fuse on a stick of dynamite. An electrical charge similar to the hum of cicadas echoed through the entire two-story structure as the ward sought each line of the old Victorian house and settled in.
To my sensitive nose, each and every person, brand of magic, or power had its own odor. Once I’d had a whiff, I could identify the source of residual magic or track someone—or something— by scent alone. A nifty trick inherited from my wolven mother. It did have its side effects though. Large masses of people enclosed in tight space wreaked havoc on my senses. Kate’s magic was the ginger and other exotic spices that swirled in the air. Which was why the faint hint of mint cutting so clearly through the chai and nutmeg, strengthening the ward, demanded my attention.
Wade’s magic was laced with ice and mint. I’d recognize it anywhere. He was the source of the irresistible aroma weaving through Kate’s magic. Almost as if she had found a way to access Wade’s talent for creating strong protection wards.
Was that even possible?
The scent of him was driving me mad, clouding my mind. I really shouldn’t be longing for a guy so close to the dark side. He was shadowed.
A tiny thrum of Kate’s power lingered. I tasted the magic in the air. It pulsated on the tip of my tongue. I met Kate’s eyes, uncomfortable with the knowing in her expression. We held the stare for a moment before the pulsation of magic evaporated entirely.
The spell was complete.
Kate broke the hush that had settled over us while she’d been spellcasting. “It’s not just my power I’ve secured. I have other sacred, ancient objects housed within these walls. If the night mare were to get those as well…”
“Let me guess,” Matt said on a flippant grin. “The world as we know it will cease to exist.”
Kate met his gaze, her eyes narrowed. “Pretty much.” Matt’s smile died. He swallowed hard.
But Kate wasn’t finished. “Each of you is a potential target now that the demon has seen you through his minions’ eyes,” she said. “You’ll need some extra protection. I’ve prepared a few charm bracelets.”
Not what I was expecting.
“Why don’t we use dreamcatchers?” Brit asked Matt, voicing my exact thought.
Alec stiffened at my side.
Matt grimaced. “Every First Nations dude should have one over his bed, right?” He teased Brit gently. “Thirty years ago, sure,” he said. “But now they’re gimmicky. More commercial than
Similar Books
Played: “Sometimes you never know who is playing who, until the damage is done."
Bad-Boy Storyteller
