A Modern Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,23

Remember, I have the amplifying spells in place. No one on the street is hearing your thoughts as you walk by. This is a taste of what you could do with more training, but you’d also have more control.”

Lauren just stared.

Back off, big guy. She needs time and space, which means you need a fast exit plan. “We can talk more about all this later. Time for a break now.”

He looked at Lauren’s wide eyes. Shit, he wasn’t managing this very well. Most people he tested very much wanted to be witches. “I know it’s a lot to deal with. One step at a time, okay? For now, I’m meeting a friend for lunch. Come with me.”

Lauren managed the beginnings of a smile. “I think I need some time alone, but thanks.”

Jamie wished he knew how to offer her a little comfort. “No problem. Will you let me in if I come back later this afternoon? I can show you some of the first mind-witch training exercises.”

He got at least half a grin this time. “I’ll consider it.”

She was already finding her feet. That was good. If she was half the witch he thought she was, there were some interesting times ahead.

Jamie gambled again and tried using the one piece of information he had inadvertently picked up from her mind. She wished someone named Nat were here. “It’d be really helpful to have someone willing to play along—do you have an open-minded friend who might like to try some mind reading? The kind of thing we did with the motorcycle, nothing creepy or invasive.”

Lauren nodded slowly. “Reinforcements might be a good thing. My friend Nat’s coming over for dinner. She’s unflappable, and one of the few people I know who would think floating plates are really cool.”

“I don’t think you’ll be floating anything, but someone you trust is perfect. I’ll come an hour earlier so we can do some initial prep work. Do you guys eat Chinese? I’ll buy dinner.”

“Yeah. I like lo mein, she likes lettuce wraps. Ice cream would get you bonus points.”

Jamie left Lauren sitting in the corner of her couch, hugging a pillow. He pulled out his phone and tried to pick up a wireless signal even before he’d left her building. She wasn’t the only one who needed reinforcements.

Chapter 6

Jamie: Nell, that is a touchy login spell. It told me I had the wrong password twice.

Nell: It’s meant to keep out troublemakers, brother mine :-).

Jamie: Be nice to me, punk sister. I have at least partially good news for you.

Sophie: That must mean Lauren let you in.

Jamie: I brought coffee and bagels. I also ambushed her early in the morning. Figured I might get further if she wasn’t entirely awake.

Moira: Surely that wasn’t necessary, Jamie? Such manners.

Jamie: I didn’t know how else to play it, Moira. It didn’t seem like good manners would get the job done in this case. Since she let me in, I figure it wasn’t such an awful choice.

Sophie: Were you able to test her?

Jamie: Yeah, got a solid test done this time. Total dud on elementals, but she’s at least moderately strong on all forms of mind magic. I’m going back tonight to start some basic barrier work with her.

Nell: No elemental powers—that’s unusual. How did she do with the testing?

Jamie: She was pretty overwhelmed when I left. Most of the people we test want to be witches, or at least know they’re different. I’m not used to being the bearer of unwelcome news.

Moira: Is it unwelcome, Jamie, or is she just needing some time?

Jamie: I don’t know. She can project emotions with a hell of a wallop, and she definitely got pretty wound up. I can’t blame her, honestly. We don’t usually start with the mind-witch training because it’s so much more invasive.

Nell: That, and it’s usually the elemental powers that get witchlings into trouble.

Jamie: Well, that too. But there’s a lot more intimacy involved in mind-reading practice than working with candle flames or blooming flowers.

Sophie: The first magic I ever did was helping a flower bloom, and you’re right—I didn’t even realize at the time that Aunt Moira was assisting me.

Moira: I remember that, Sophie dear. You were so excited.

Jamie: She was actually pretty relaxed for receiver testing. It’s when I tested her on projection that she reacted strongly. She feels like I invaded her headspace.

Moira: I’m sure you had better manners than that.

Jamie: Did, but there’s no reason for her to believe that.

Sophie: What now?

Jamie: She has