by L. A. Boruff
When Benny comes back, he puts the bowl of water in the sink. "Enough of that. Come on." He leads me to the middle of the bay. "Now, I'm going to try to distract you, and you're going to pull water out of anywhere you can in here, except not me or Sugar. Make a water ball enough to soak the front of my shirt."
“Distract me?”
“It makes it harder to focus, so you’ll do better in the real world.”
Makes sense.
I start stretching my senses out, feeling for the water in the air. For a minute, I feel nothing, and then it’s suddenly there, all around me. In this moment, it’d be easy for me to pull the water to me.
But that’s not the challenge.
I can’t do it yet.
Benny snaps his finger and music suddenly fills the air. A slow song with a sexy undertone. Music? He really thinks music will distract me?
And then, he bows. “May I have this dance?”
I laugh. “Dancing? Seriously?”
“Trust me,” he says, flashing me a dashing smile. “It’ll take your water abilities to a whole new level.
I take his hand, and he twirls me into a dance, back and forth across the room, leading me in a way that it doesn't matter that I've never danced a day in my life, because he has all the control. All I have to do is let him lead, and we flow into any easy rhythm.
"The last time I danced was at a middle school prom-thing, and the boy that asked me didn't even move his feet."
Benedict roared with laughter. "What has James been doing? Sitting on his thumbs? He's a fool."
"Oh, he's not. We've been a little distracted."
"As you are now. You've not tried once to pull any water to you, have you?"
I laugh as hard as he did when I realize he's right. "Your distraction worked, you jerk."
He took the name lightly, chuckling as I ignored the fancy steps and focused on sensing the water in the room.
"You know, you don't have to stay here and face this mess," he says in a seductive voice.
I drop the water I've been gathering, and it hits the bay floor with a splatter. "What are you talking about?"
He chuckles, moving one hand off of my back and waving it. The water gathers and flies out the open bay door. "I mean, the Queen would love to have someone of your magnitude in her court. You'd be honored there, powerful."
“Me?” I blink at him. Yeah, right.
“Yes, you.”
“I think there are a lot of more powerful witches than me, even just around here.”
His eyes sparkle. “Have you ever been to Europe, Callie?”
I shake my head.
“Just imagine it... the sunsets are breathtaking. There’s wine, amazing food, and you could explore so many things you’ve never seen before.”
“That does sound nice,” I admit.
“And the queen doesn’t just need the most powerful witches. She needs witches who are young and passionate. Witches like you.”
“The people need me here.” I don’t tell him that the idea of not having all of this on my shoulders would be tempting, in another life.
We stop dancing, and he pulls me a little closer. “You’re new to our world. Don’t you deserve to enjoy being a witch? Do you really need the mantle of ruler on your head so soon?”
I open my mouth, but I don’t know what to say. Of course, I don’t need it, but it’s mine all the same.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Will's furious voice cuts through the music. Benedict steps away from me and snaps his fingers. The music shuts off. I turn to see my entire crew, all the people on my side, walking into the fire station. They don't look like themselves, but I recognize their facades.
"Just a simple water lesson." He bows at me, then turns to Sugar. "Pleasure."
He winks at her, then walks up to James. "I'll be in touch, old friend."
"Where are the trucks?" I ask.
Will’s face is covered in soot, but his expression is still enraged.
Hank is the one to answer, his voice tense. "Left them with the human firefighters. We got the fire out, got Iris out, and came home."
That’s when I notice the small woman at the back of the crowd. They'd brought her home with them. "I guess you guys had better find another cot." I push through the crowd to the much-ballyhooed woman. "It's nice to meet you."
"Princess," she breathes. "I've prayed for your return."
For some reason we hug. And the strangest part is that it doesn’t seem strange at all.
Somehow all the people in my care have begun to feel like my family.
And maybe they are.
Chapter Fifteen
James
Watching Benny hold Callie, who shouldn't have been there to begin with, and dance around the firehouse shoots a flame of anger through my body. She doesn’t look like herself, but it is her. I would know her anywhere with any face.
For a moment all I can think about the Benny I knew. The charming asshole who swept every woman off her feet. Would he sweep Callie off her feet too?
My stomach turns. If anyone can do it, it’s him.
And the worst part? I wouldn’t blame Callie at all. Benny is everything I’m not and more.
"I'll be in touch, old friend." Benny says, flashing that smile of his, then heads out the door.
"What the hell?" Will’s voice drips with the same jealousy and anger humming through every ounce of my soul. "We're out there risking our lives and you're over here... dancing?"
Sugar holds her hands up. "It wasn't like that. Let her explain.”
Will shoots her a warning look.
She makes a face. “I'll go talk to our friend and give you guys a minute." She scurries after Benedict.
"They know each other?" I ask in a quiet voice.
"Apparently," Hank replies, watching her walk out the door.
We look at Callie, who still doesn't look like herself through the glamour. But then, neither do we. "Well?" I ask.
"Well, what?" She's got her hands on her hips and her strange face looks pretty pissed.
"Sugar said you could explain." I prompt.
"I shouldn't have to!" Her face is a mask of anger. She points at Will. "You just accused me of goofing off while you were out in danger. As if I wasn't worried. As if I didn't try to come after you to help!"
Hank throws his hands up. "We specifically asked you not to come after us."
"But I should have. Sugar stopped me and then Benedict showed up or I would have!"
Sugar sticks her head in the door. "That's true, and you all are shouting loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear."
When I look behind me to see Sugar, I remember everyone else is there with us, too. "Theresa, can you take everyone home, maybe start some dinner? It'll be dark soon."
She nods and shoots Callie a wide-eyed look. Probably some girl code for how to handle this situation.
The only way to handle this is an apology from Will for jumping the gun, then huge explanations from Callie about why she was dancing and flirting with a questionable man while we were fighting a fire, and she was supposed to be at home. Safe. And I need to have a talk with Sugar about letting Callie goof off with a virtual stranger. She should've sent her right back home.
She stares at Will, who doesn't budge.
I lean toward him. "Apologize for jumping the gun and speaking rashly and we can get to the bottom of this," I whisper.
Callie turns her glare on me. "There's nothing to get to the bottom of. Benny was distracting me and helping me practice with water. We were dancing and he was attempting to draw my attention away by making me laugh. And it worked, proving that I need to work more with water!"
"But dancing and laughing?" I ask. "It seems a little insensitive, considering what was happening at the moment."
She clenches her teeth. "There wasn't a single moment that my heart wasn't frozen with fear. Not one moment I was distracted enough to forget that I wasn't there with you."
Maybe she had been worried about us, but maybe that’s not enough. We don’t just need her to care about us when our lives are on the line. We need her to want us more than other men.
This situation has drawn us together, but what at the end of it she realizes she can do better than us? The thought makes my chest ache. Callie wouldn’t be the first woman to realize she could do better than me. That’s for sure.
"I thought we had a great thing going," Hank says, trying to sound really hard like he’s not upset, and failing. "It hurt to see you dancing with someone else. I understand that the three of us, and you, we have an unconventional relationship, but whatever is budding between us, it's great. It's more than great."
She narrows her eyes. "And you're willing to risk that amazing, great, budding new relationship on one thing you saw and misconstrued?"
That’s one way to twist this.
Hank mouths at her soundlessly. "I'm not risking. I'm just saying it hurt my feelings. I wanted an explanation."
Will clenches his jaw as Hank elbows him.
“Come on, man,” Hank mutters.
"I'm sorry," Will finally says through gritted teeth. "But I'm still mad to see my girlfriend dancing in a man's arms that just a few days ago we were watching like a hawk."
Callie turns her eyes to me, waiting for me to say something. But nothing comes out. Certainly not what she wants to hear. My throat clenches around my fear that she’ll think Benny is exactly who she needs.
Callie clenches her fists and slams them into her hips. "Nope. No." She rushes past us toward the open doors.
What does that mean?
"Where are you going?" Oh, yeah, now my voice works.
"Anywhere I damn well want to!"
All three of us rush after her, but she stops in the bay door and turns back. "Don't follow me. Give me some space, damn it." Her voice is so harsh we do what she says.
Chapter Sixteen
Callie
When I turn away from the open door, Benny is waiting. He's leaned against the brick wall of the firehouse. "Need some air?"
"I need to walk."
Ignoring him, another man I don't need complicating my life, I cross the street and head on the same path we took the last time I was allowed to leave the house. Within seconds, I realize he's right behind me. "What are you doing?"
"Going with you." He sounds so sure of himself.
"Why?"
"It’s dangerous for you to be alone, isn't it?" His voice is pretty hot.
I look at him out of the corner of my eye. "Do you know where the ceremony takes place?"
"The one on the Solstice?" He sticks his hands in his coat pockets.
"Yeah."
"No."
I sigh in disappointment. "Me neither."
"I could do a spell," he offers.
"Would it draw attention to us?"
He shakes his head as we get to the woods we'd need to cut through to the beach. "Nope."
I consider the advisability of going to an unknown location with Benny. "Are you going to turn me over to the king?"
He laughs, a rich sound. "No."
"Then lead the way."
I'm still mad enough to be reckless, but I'm sure this man won't hurt me or allow me to be hurt. I'm equally sure he won't make a move on me.
He turns back toward the sidewalk and then left. "Tell me about your childhood," he says.
I look at the concrete under our feet and think about what to tell him. I don't want to go into the early parts where I was turned into a sort-of cat shifter. The thought of my cat still tightens my throat. Makes me ache like the loss of part of myself.
Feeling tears rise, I try to push them down, but it takes a long minute before I’m not worried I’ll start blubbering about her. What had he asked? Not to bear my soul. Just about my childhood.
Take a deep breath. Choose your words carefully.
"I was hidden from my uncle early on." That’s enough detail about that. "And spent time in and out of foster homes. My grandmother blocked my magic, so I always thought I was human."
"How'd you get back here?" He seems genuinely interested.
"No, it's your turn. Tell me about your childhood."
He gives me an appraising look. Then he smiles and nods. I think I surprised him by firing back at him. "Nothing special. Your typical upper-class British upbringing. Lots of boarding schools. Mum spoiled me; Dad ignored me. All very proper."
Now that’s a story I’d like to get into. Maybe if I get him talking about himself, he’ll forget to question me. "That sounds like another world to me. How young were you when you went to boarding school?"
He laughs. "Nope. Your turn."
With a sigh, I squint at him. "What was your question again?"
"How'd you make your way back to Blackwater Falls?" He turns us down another side street as he asks.
"You can take the magic out of the princess, but you can't take the..." I stop and consider the phrase. "No, that doesn't work." I roll my eyes and explain flat out. "I still suspected magic existed in the world." I have no idea if he knows about my cat, but I'm not mentioning it if he doesn't. "I started a blog documenting the real evidence I found as I explored the world."
"And that led you here?"
"Right to my Uncle's front door." I sigh as he leads us off the sidewalk.
"Not far now." He looks around and then continues on slightly to the right.
For a moment, I reconsider the advisability of going this far away from the house with Benny, but what's done is done. My magic likes him, so that's good enough for me.
I'm loathe to use it, but I coax it out and toward Benny, walking through an empty field in front of me. It's almost dark now. Walking back will be a bit sketchier.
My magic sneaks forward with delight, happy to be out and useful again.
One thing I've learned is that magic wants to be used and be helpful. It's a little mischievous, as well. Like a delighted child eager to please their Mommy.
The trickle of power snaps onto Benny's butt. He jumps into the air with a yelp and whirls around. I'm far enough behind him that it couldn't possibly have been me, so I throw up my hands in innocence. "What's wrong?"
"I know how you did that." He narrows his eyes on me and the next thing I know, something pinches my butt. Hard.
Unintentionally imitating Benny, I squeal and jump into the air. When the sting fades, I glare at him.
His eyes widen in mock horror and he turns and sprints away.
"You come back here," I holler and run after him. "I'm going to get you!"
This is what I always imagined having a sibling would be like. The butt pinching wasn't hot. Not at all. It hurt. But the feeling between us wasn't malicious. It's fun.
Once again, he's taken my mind off of my anger at the guys.
Maybe I overreacted. They did walk in and see their new friend—girlfriend, by Will's words—dancing with a guy they don't really trust.
As I laugh and run after Benny, I decide to apologize to them when we get back. I think I just expected to be so relieved when they got, and for them to be happy to see me, that I hadn’t even considered that I’d be faced with jealousy and anger.
Plus, it ticks me off that they don’t seem to realize just how much I care about them. Don’t I show them enough? After all we’d been through, don’t they know how important they are to me?
Benny stops short after hopping over some rocks.
I launch myself over the same rocks. "I'm going to get—" A sense of somber respect falls over me and I freeze beside Benny with my hands in the air. "This is it, isn't it?"
He doesn't have to answer. We're in the spot where The Designation happens. The magic in the circle settles over me like a warm blanket. The stones whisper to me, words I can't quite make out.
"It's wondrous," I whisper. "I never want to leave."
Walking around the circle, I want to roll around on the soft grass and
let my magic frolic with the power that permeates the atmosphere. It’s almost like a smell, like the scent of a beloved relative. But it’s more than that, it’s the feeling of coming home.
Of coming home. The thought rings through my very soul. This place feels more like home than any place I’ve been in my life.
What does that mean?
The thought slowly drifts away, and then it’s just me and the magic. Time slips away, and it’s as if I’m flying... as if I’m dancing.
And it’s amazing.
I sigh after a few minutes. Benny stands to the side and lets me commune with the magic. But when I look up at the moon, I’m surprised to see how much time has passed.
Reality crashes around me like a brick wall. "I have to go back. I have to do what's right and apologize to the guys."
He smiles, his eyes crinkling. "You care about them."
Of course, I care about them. I care about them more than anyone in this world. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
But I don’t say that. I just nod and say, "Very much."
He sighs and I know he understands. “I care about James too, even if he doesn’t know it.”
“Yeah?” I smile.
"James is a good man. He got into a bad crowd in England. The Queen hates that little secret society. But he got himself out, and not many can say that." He takes a deep breath. “As for the others, they seem like decent guys too.”
My heart softens. "Let's go back."
It's hard to walk away from the circle. When I step completely out of it, I stagger for a second, surprised by the feeling of loss inside me. My magic was so happy there.
That feeling of happiness and belonging makes me freeze as a realization comes over me. Not everyone feels this way in the circle, I know that deep in my heart. James or Will or Hank would have mentioned the extreme emotion I felt in the circle if they’d ever experienced it themselves. So, if nothing else, I know I'm doing the right thing.
My magic connected to the magic in the circle. It will choose me. It wants me to be the catalyst.
Now I just need to survive that long.
Chapter Seventeen