“I’m sure he’ll be a jerk tomorrow.” He pulled off his tank top and tossed it aside. “How about we get started?”
Trying not to gawk at his muscles, I lifted my gaze to his blue eyes. I’d seen Garrett without a shirt in Woodlake, so I knew he had a muscular body. While his muscles were smaller than Kaleb’s, Garrett definitely took care of himself. “I’ve practiced what you taught me, but it hasn’t been working. Maybe me invoking water before was a fluke.”
“No.” He shook his head. “That’s why I brought you here. You don’t have a strong affinity for water, so you probably need more water around to invoke it. It’s a problem for some witches.”
Chewing my lower lip, I glanced at the lake. “That’s a lot of water to control.”
“Yes, but you don’t need to control all of it. Just enough to splash me. Try it.”
“Okay.” I kept my focus on the lake. “Hail to the Guardians of the West, of the power of water, I call upon thee. Come this way, I summon thee. As I will it, so shall it be.”
Nothing happened, so I repeated the words over and over until droplets of water lifted from the lake.
“Don’t lose control of it,” Garrett whispered, closing his eyes as he tried not to break my concentration.
I beckoned the water to me, then flung my hands toward Garrett. As it drenched him, I burst out laughing. “You were right.”
“Of course I was right.” Wiping his face, he got to his feet and kicked off his shoes. “Now for some fun.”
I screamed as he scooped me up in his arms and carried me into the lake. “Garrett, put me down. Don’t you dare throw me—”
“A little water won’t hurt you.” He chuckled.
I closed my eyes when he let go, tossing me into the water. Shrieking and cursing at Garrett, I went under. I swam back and grabbed hold of his leg, causing him to fall next to me. Laughing, I staggered to my feet and made my way to shore. Once I was back on dry land, I took off my summer dress and squeezed out the water, then tossed it over by his tank top.
As a guy in a canoe headed our way, I removed my sandals and turned to face Garrett. He stood several feet away, shaking his head like a dog. When he stopped, his gaze slowly took in my red bikini. Something Orla had ordered for me online last week.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, planting my hands on my hips. “Does it look bad on me?”
“No.” Garrett picked up our stuff as he glanced at the guy in the canoe. “I told you to wear a swimsuit.”
“This is a swimsuit.”
“It’s a bikini, and you look way too hot. Here, put on my shirt.” He handed me his tank top. “Every guy here will be checking you out.”
I blushed, trying hard not to smile. He’d said I looked hot. “No one’s going to be looking at me. They know I’m off-limits now we’re dating.”
“Hey, you guys want a ride to the other side?” the guy called out.
“Yeah,” Garrett yelled as I put on his tank top. He held my hand, and we walked to the canoe. “Stay near me when we join the others, and no being friendly with the guys.”
“You’re being silly,” I muttered as we got into the canoe. I sat in the middle, facing the guy. “Thanks for coming to get us.”
“No problem.” He grinned.
Garrett sat behind me, wrapped his arms around my body, and pulled me back against his chest. He surprised me by kissing my shoulder before starting a conversation with the guy. Something about a party tomorrow night at one of the houses.
I glanced down at his protective hold on me as an unexpected tingle fluttered in my belly. This didn’t feel like pretending, and that scared me. Falling for Garrett was not part of my plan. I needed us to stay good friends. Nothing more.
Chapter 20
After eating lunch, I glanced at the calendar that hung on the side of the refrigerator. I couldn’t believe it had been almost two months since I’d arrived at the coven. Time had flown, and I still hadn’t invoked any elements other than air and water.
I grabbed Marie’s grimoire from my bedroom and walked to the High Council’s sanctum to meet Calandra. Hopefully, whatever training she had in mind only took an hour or two. It was Friday, and Garrett had invited me to a pizza party. Keeping up appearances as a couple had been more time-consuming than I’d expected even though I loved hanging out with him and his friends.
When I arrived at the library, I found Calandra and Grace out front, arguing by one of the benches. Neither looked happy, and I didn’t think interrupting them would be wise.
“That’s not acceptable. You know she’s in love with him.” Grace glared at Calandra, grabbing hold of her arm. “Did he say how much longer? Because if he doesn’t tell her, I swear I’ll—”
“Sienna,” Calandra said as she noticed me watching them. She pulled her arm away from Grace. “Can you wait for me in the sanctum?”
“Sure.” I gave Grace a quick smile. She’d been kind enough to stop by Hale House every two days to read my mind. I still wasn’t able to completely block her, but she’d told me it was taking much longer each time she tried.
“Remember the rules; don’t touch anything,” Calandra said.
I nodded and walked toward the door, hoping their discussion wouldn’t take long. As I entered the library, Grace and Calandra turned to each other and continued their argument. Inside, the couches and chairs were empty; the place seemed deserted except for three young warlocks who were goofing around near the spiral staircase.
When I reached the sanctum, the door stood open. I placed Marie’s grimoire on the table and shoved my hands into my pants pockets, wanting to ensure I didn’t inadvertently touch anything. Dying wasn’t on my list today.
The sacred books and artifacts looked well taken care of, except for the items in the oak curio cabinet. Dust covered almost everything locked inside, including the creepy-looking dolls and chalices. A row of skulls on the bottom shelf caught my attention, and as I kneeled to get a closer look, a shiver ran down my spine.
“Sienna,” Julius called out from behind me, sounding concerned. “What are you doing?”
As I jumped up, I bumped the cabinet, causing the skulls to rattle. “I was just looking at this stuff. Calandra told me to wait here. She and Grace are talking outside.”
“Are you okay?” He looked at the skulls.
“Yes.” My gaze drifted to the door with the five padlocks. “What’s behind that door?”
“Cursed items that should never see the light of day. It’s nearly impossible to gain access, as the spell on those locks requires that all five High Council witches be in agreement.” He took several books off one of the shelves and sat at the table. “Did you touch anything? It’s important you tell me the truth.”
“No.” I walked over to join him and stood beside the table. “Calandra told me about the ancient spell and how I shouldn’t touch or take anything out of this room without permission.”
“Good. Next time, please wait in the hallway. Some of these objects have a mind of their own, and I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”
I nodded. I wouldn’t have set foot in the room if Calandra hadn’t told me to. Maybe she’d meant for me to wait in the hallway like Julius had recommended.
“Do you mind if I take a look?” He pointed to Marie’s grimoire.
“No.” As I took a seat next to him, I caught a whiff of his sandalwood cologne. Unlike previous times I’d seen him, Julius looked casual and relaxed in a pair of black shorts and a white T-shirt.
“I can’t believe every single page is blank,” he said as he flipped through the pristine white pages. When he reached the end, he closed Marie’s grimoire and stood. He walked over and took a wooden bowl from a shelf, which he placed on top of the books. “What’s Calandra teaching you today?”
“I’m not sure.” I shifted in my seat as Ava and Boris entered the room. They wore their High Council black robes and neither of them said hello or seemed to care I was in the sanctum.
�
��Calandra told us you’re doing quite well. She said you’ve already invoked air and water. I’m sure you’ll soon invoke the earth element with more practice.” Julius took two vials from a shelf and placed them in his pocket. “How’s your training with Carter going?”
“It’s okay.” I shrugged. “Taking down a wolf shapeshifter without using spells or my telekinetic power is a lot harder than it looks.”
“He’s not letting you use spells yet?” Boris shook his head. “It’s been almost five weeks since you started training. I’ll speak to him.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled. Had I got Carter into trouble? Crap. He’d definitely make me run more laps at our next session or shift into a wolf and pound on me.
“I’m sure Carter knows what he’s doing.” Ava took a book from the shelf and looked at me. “How are you and Garrett? Are you still dating?”
“Yes, things are good. He’s helping me invoke the elements.” I glanced at the doorway, hoping Calandra would appear. Maybe these High Council witches were just being friendly. But I hadn’t come here to be questioned about my personal life, and I couldn’t believe Ava had asked me about Garrett. I had no idea if she liked me or even approved of us dating.
“Are you going to the Dover County Fair next week?” Ava asked. “I don’t remember seeing your name on the list, but Garrett goes every year.”
“I haven’t decided,” I replied. Rosella and Orla had already spent the morning trying to convince me to join them. Sounded like everyone went to the annual county fair for the games and the rides.
“You should sign up,” Ava said as Calandra entered the sanctum. “It’d do you good to get away from your studies. But I know Calandra doesn’t like you taking breaks. She’s worried about this beast and how you’re going to kill it.”
“I never said I was worried.” Calandra crossed the room. “Sienna gets plenty of breaks. She knows not to overexert herself when invoking the elements or testing her powers. Hopefully, she’ll remove the protection spell on Marie’s grimoire soon and have access to her family’s spells.”
“She still hasn’t removed the protection spell?” Looking surprised, Ava directed her question at Calandra, ignoring the fact that I was in the room. “Have you tried her blood again? Now that she has her powers, it might work.”
“Yes, and that didn’t work. I also tried Nell’s blood and that failed too,” Calandra said.
“Don’t worry, Sienna. Marie trusted Cyprian, so she probably used his blood. That may be why you can’t break the spell.” Julius grabbed his pile of stuff. “We’ll figure something out. Perhaps the fae can help.”
Julius left the room, along with Ava, who also carried several books.
“The fae can’t help. I’ve asked them already, and they can’t break the spell,” Boris said.
“Forget about Marie’s grimoire.” Calandra took a wooden bowl off the shelf and set it on the table. “For now, keep doing what you’ve been doing and work to master the elements. You need to focus on invoking earth and fire.”
“What if I can’t?” I asked. “Does that mean the prophecy won’t come true?”
“No. It just means you need more training and time,” she insisted. “You are the Lost Raven. I know you don’t want to believe it, but the Ursitori wouldn’t lie. You need to accept the truth and prepare yourself for what’s to come. And don’t worry about this beast; I’m working on it.”
“She’s right,” Boris said. “I also agree with Ava. You should sign up for the county fair trip. I know Orla would love it if you went.”
“I’ll think about it,” I replied.
“You can’t hide behind the coven’s barrier spell for the rest of your life. Trust me. I spent two years stuck here, and it wasn’t fun.” Boris left the room, taking nothing with him.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Calandra’s eyebrow rose. “Being a marked witch is something you’ll always have hanging over your head unless the Rocklin alpha changes his mind. I thought you didn’t like county fairs, but if you want to join your friends and go with Garrett, you should. A bus shuttles everyone, and two High Council witches will be there at all times.”
“It does sound like fun,” I mumbled as I thought of funnel cakes and corn dogs. Maybe they were right, and I should go. At least Garrett and the other witches would be with me.
Chapter 21
“What the hell was that?” Carter stormed across the grassy field, a look of disgust on his face. “Haven’t I taught you anything? Don’t be afraid of me.”
“I’m not afraid.” With a grunt, I rolled to my stomach and scrambled to my feet. I didn’t want to be here, and I definitely didn’t want to hear Carter’s crap today. “I’m tired. We’ve been at this for two hours. Can’t we do this tomorrow?”
“No. We’re done when I say we are.” He shook his head, looking even more irritated. “How are you going to fight if you’re constantly tired? Did you even sleep last night?”
“Of course I slept.” I looked away, hoping he couldn’t tell that I’d lied. The truth was I’d spent most of the night hanging out with Rosella, Orla, Cindy, and two other witches. We’d baked cookies, painted our toenails, and talked about boys. It felt normal, like my old life in Texas before Mom moved us to Woodlake.
“Do it harder.” He slowly walked backward, keeping his gaze fixed on me. Using both hands, he motioned for me to come at him.
But I didn’t move. I just stood there watching Carter. Something about the way he moved reminded me of Kaleb. Why couldn’t he be alive and here training me? He’d certainly be a lot nicer. Of course, we wouldn’t get as much—
“Did you hear me?” he yelled.
“I’m not deaf!” I unfolded my arms and rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the built-up tension.
“Let’s go. Hit me harder. Don’t hold back.”
I groaned, wondering if he’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He wasn’t his usual arrogant, cocky self. More like a mean, pissed version. Perhaps he was just as frustrated with all this training as me. Not that I could blame him. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to get the upper hand. Carter was too strong, much stronger than that first day when I’d jumped on his back. At least he hadn’t stripped naked and shifted into a wolf recently.
“What are you waiting for?” he snapped. “Use whatever powers you have. Attack me!”
“Are you sure?” I felt suddenly giddy at the thought of using my powers. He had no idea how much I’d trained for this moment. He finally thought I was ready, despite him constantly beating me.
“Yes! We’re not leaving until you knock me down. Focus!”
I cursed under my breath, then gritted my teeth and ran at Carter. Anger filling me, I drew closer, wanting to wipe that disappointed look off his face. He’d already decided I’d lose again, but that wasn’t an option. Not unless I planned to spend the rest of the day with him. And that was the last thing I wanted.
“Hail to the Guardians of the East, of the power of air, I summon thee,” I muttered as I ran. “Fill me. Lift me. Push me. As I will it, so shall it be.”
Within seconds, the wind picked up, and I found myself flying through the air. I held out my fists like Carter had taught me, and hit him square in the chest with as much force as I could.
He flew backward, struck a tree trunk, bounced off it, and landed hard on his back.
With a grin on my face, I stumbled and fell to the ground, then rolled over and stared up at the sky. I’d done it! I’d finally knocked the jerk over. I groaned, knowing I’d need to cast a healing spell later. Maybe even get Garrett’s help. But at least nothing felt broken.
“Does this mean I can leave now?” I glanced over at Carter, wondering why he hadn’t congratulated me. He probably thought I’d got lucky.
He lay sprawled on the grass, unmoving.
“Crap,” I muttered as I got to my feet. I limped to his side. “Carter, are you okay?”
No movement. Even his chest remained stil
l, as if he wasn’t breathing.
Touching his neck, I searched for a pulse but couldn’t find one. I placed my head on his chest and closed my eyes, quietly listening. He still had a heartbeat. It was faint, but I hadn’t killed him. When I pulled away, I found his dark brown eyes staring at me. “You jerk. I thought I’d hurt you.”
“You were worried about me?” He smiled.
“No.” I stood, looking away.
“What’s wrong?” He jumped up and touched my arm. “I’m fine, Sienna. You didn’t hurt me, and even if you had, I’m an olden. We heal quickly.”
“Nothing’s wrong.” I froze, staring down at his hand on my arm. He had an unexpected tenderness about him today, and I didn’t like it. I preferred his arrogant jerk side because I knew that’s who Carter was. Not this guy who stood in front of me, acting like he cared. “Are we done training? I need to see Calandra.”
“Yes.” He jerked his hand away and put some distance between us. “Is it true what they’re saying? You’re able to block your mind from others?”
“It’s true.” I folded my arms, eyeing Carter suspiciously. How did he know I’d mastered mind-blocking? It had only been two days since Grace had happily informed me she could no longer read my mind. I still needed to learn how to keep my guard up permanently, but for now, I could block anyone who tried to pry.
“There’s something I need to tell you. It’s important. Can you meet me tonight?”
I tried not to cringe, but meeting Carter at night was not my idea of fun. Even though he’d been friendly lately, I didn’t trust him. He was still the same wolf who’d been willing to kill Kaleb for money. The same wolf who’d demanded a handful of potions in exchange for training me.
“Why can’t we talk right now?” I finally asked.
“Someone might overhear us.” He winked. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
I pressed my lips together. Had this been Carter’s plan all along—gain my friendship, convince me to leave the coven with him, and then hand me over to the Rocklin wolves?
Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3) Page 13
