you need to learn everything by next week. We know you have a life elsewhere, and we’ll respect that as well as we can. Come when you can, train when and how you can. Training takes time, and no one will ask you to do what you’re not ready to do.”
Lauren’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really?”
She had a point. “Well, not on purpose. One of the challenges of working with Aervyn is that he steps outside the limits of possible on a fairly regular basis.”
“And no one thinks that might happen again at full circle tomorrow night?”
Nell tried not to let her fear show. “It might.”
Lauren looked at her very seriously. “Then why are you—why is anyone—considering putting me in that circle tomorrow as channeler?”
Nell searched her heart. “Two reasons. One, the two of you made the best partnership I’ve ever seen, trained or not.” She paused. God, this was insanity to lay at the feet of a new witch.
Nat took her hand. “What’s the other reason, Nell? She needs to know.”
Nell gulped. “Because you love him. As his mama, I want Aervyn working with those who will give their utmost to keep him safe.” Please, God.
Lauren straightened up as if she’d heard Nell’s last thought. “The risk is biggest to him, isn’t it?”
“Yes. In history, a lot of our most talented witches led some of the shortest lives. If there’s anything I can do to prevent that, I’ll do it—even if it means scaring the shit out of a newbie witch.”
Lauren was silent for a moment. “I’ve been sitting here feeling sorry for myself. It’s good to remember I’m not the only one this hits pretty hard.” She took both of Nell’s hands. “I do love him. I’ll do the very best I can for him.”
It was so hard to share your children, but Aervyn had chosen well. Time to let Lauren out of the pressure cooker. “Thank you. For that, I’ll even share my other pint of ice cream.”
“I’ll get it.” Lauren stood up and grinned. “Don’t start the second portion of your program yet, though. I want to be here when you scare the shit out of Nat.”
Nat looked at Nell suspiciously. “What does she know that I don’t?”
Nell laughed. “Sucks not to be a mind reader sometimes, doesn’t it? How does it feel to have your best friend suddenly turning into a witch?”
“I’m guessing what you really want to know is how it feels to be falling in love with a witch.”
The girl has guts. “That serious?”
Nat nodded. “I think so. How do you feel about that?”
It was a day for hard truths. “I really like you, which is convenient. I really hate that you live in Chicago, since if I read Jamie’s precog correctly, he’ll eventually follow you there.”
Nat scraped the last of the ice cream from the first container. “We can’t be sure what will come to be.”
“But your yoga studio is there.”
“Yes, and that’s a big piece. Lauren’s there too.”
Nell watched Nat for a moment. She was no mind witch, but mama instincts were a pretty good substitute. It wasn’t Nat’s work that would keep her in Chicago. It was Lauren.
“She’s your family. I get that, and Jamie’s a big boy. Still, he’s my brother, and it’s hard to think of him far away.”
“You might appreciate it more than you think,” Lauren said from the doorway. She handed Nell a note.
Nice try, sister mine. And great ice cream—thanks!
Dammit, Nell thought. I was sure he hated peas.
…
Jennie pulled her car up in front of a squat concrete building with a beautiful mural painted on the side.
“This is your distraction?” Lauren asked.
“It is. With you leaving in a few days, we don’t have much time left for training. I thought this visit might do double duty—take your mind off tomorrow for a bit, and introduce you to another mind witch and the work she does.”
“Does it involve flying or any other high-risk activities I should know about?”
Jennie laughed. “I don’t think so. A friend of mine runs this center. She’s a skilled empath.”
Lauren studied the mural. It was fairly abstract, and full of color. “The mural—it gives me the feeling of a high swing on an early spring day. Did your friend paint it?”
“No, she didn’t, but she would absolutely love that description; it’s the artist’s depiction of hope. I have several of his paintings in my house. He has an amazing gift.”