A Reckless Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,70
managed to reduce the frustration level in the room ten degrees and Nat’s tension along with it. Baby magic lessons weren’t easy on the mama, either.
Do we try again? she mindsent to Jamie.
Either that, or you’re going to have to barrier her for however long Nat’s in labor. He sounded glum.
Nat stared pointedly as Devin laid a plate on top of her belly. “Feel free to have that conversation out loud, you two.”
Devin looked over. “What’s up?”
“Our baby’s got your stubborn, I-want-to-learn-it-by-myself gene,” said Jamie. “We’re trying to show her how to mind barrier. She’s not cooperating.”
“She’s hardly the first stubborn witchling in the history of the Sullivans.” Devin scooped a forkful of Nat’s breakfast.
Which earned him giggles from Nat—and more points from Lauren. Her best friend had grown up with none of the normal fun of siblings and close family. It seemed like Devin was taking personal responsibility for filling in the gap. He got a lot done for a guy who looked like he wasn’t up to much of anything.
Devin plunked into an armchair and looked over at Lauren. “How are you showing her?”
“Mental hand over hand.” It was the only way she knew, at least the only way that didn’t require words. “I can’t exactly tell her to watch.” Or at least, not without being a lot more invasive than she wanted to be.
Devin looked pensive for a moment. “I wonder if that tracing thing Sierra does would work.”
Jamie’s fork stopped halfway to Nat’s plate. “Damn. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Devin grinned. “You got the looks, I got the brains.”
Lauren was smart enough to duck as the pillow left Jamie’s hand, since she apparently wasn’t yet smart enough to keep herself out of the line of fire in the first place. “Are either of you going to explain what tracing is?”
“Nope. Sierra can show you.” Jamie looked out the front window. “That’s her now—she just ran back to her house for more clothes. It’s gonna be cold out at Govin’s this morning.” He laughed and got up as the doorbell rang. “Somebody needs to tell her witches don’t have any manners.”
Truth. Lauren still wasn’t used to people bursting in her front door at all hours of the day. She’d come home more than once to a gathering in her living room, quite comfortable to raid her fridge and chat while they waited for her to arrive.
Jamie came back into the room, Sierra on his heels. She looked contagiously happy. “Good morning, everyone!”
Witch Central strikes again, thought Lauren. Sierra’s new apartment had been put together with generosity, love, and unique decorating flair—and clearly it had totally hit the mark.
“How’s The Monster treating you?” Jamie handed her a plate of food. “Lost anyone under the cushions yet?”
She giggled. “I think Mia and Ginia slept on it all night, but we can’t find Shay. Maybe The Monster’s a cannibal.”
Devin snorted. “If it wanted a witch to eat, there’s been plenty of opportunity.”
“Maybe it was waiting for a small and tasty girl.” Sierra stabbed a piece of French toast. “You guys are kind of old and stringy.”
The guys had her upside-down, shrieking with laughter, in two seconds flat. Without moving from their chairs.
Lauren just shook her head, amused and impressed—by both the magic and the obvious message of brotherly love behind it. The Sullivans had taken in another stray. Don’t break her, she sent to Jamie. We need her to help teach that little girl of yours, remember?
A couple more shakes, and they dropped Sierra in a giggling puddle on the floor and resettled her neatly rescued plate of breakfast in her lap. Devin sat down beside her. “While you eat and mock your elders, can you tell Lauren how you trace magic spells?”
“Sure.” Sierra cocked her head, her mind suddenly jittery. “Why? Do I do it wrong?”
Devin’s mental curses rang in Lauren’s ears, but outwardly, he just rolled his eyes. “No. Because us old, stringy witches don’t know how to do it.”
Her eyes got big. “Seriously?”
“Yup. You said Aervyn does it, which explains how he picks up magic so fast.”
“Hmm.” Mouth full, Sierra thought for a moment. “Maybe he learned when he was a baby, just like I did.”
Lauren caught the sudden interest in the room. Jamie leaned forward, eyes intent. “You were born with magic?”
“Uh, huh. Just water magic at first. That’s why Momma went into the ocean while I was born.”
Jamie nodded slowly. “If she didn’t have a circle to help her, that was smart.”
Sierra grinned. “Momma