The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,21

“Or maybe someone told them I impersonated the queen the other day?”

My eyes widened. “You did what?”

“We had to retrieve a crystal from inside Buckingham Palace.” Somehow that grin grew more dangerous. “You should have seen Jackson’s face when I walked in and caught him standing on top of the table – while I was disguised as the queen. Granted, I probably could have let him off the hook quicker but my way was so much more fun.”

I threw my hand over my mouth and laughed.

She leaned back in her seat and popped her biscuit in her mouth. She frowned as it crunched, then licked her lips. “Not bad. Our biscuits are so much better.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What exactly is an American biscuit?”

She gasped. “Blasphemy. Here, try this.” She waved her hands in front of her and that rainbow-colored smoke billowed in a little tornado between us. When it vanished, there was a saucer with a round golden piece of dough. She handed me a knife that had definitely not just been there. “Biscuit. With butter. You’re welcome.”

I bit my bottom lip and took the knife, then cut myself a piece. The sound that came out of me as my tastebuds exploded sounded far too much like Shelly this morning. My cheeks warmed. “Your lot probably would’ve won the war faster had you just shared some of these.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “This is why women should lead wars, my friend.”

I couldn’t help myself, I laughed. This girl was…absolutely unnerving. She just sat down here like we were old friends, unless that was typical for an American? I didn’t know. But it wasn’t just that. There was an energy rolling off of her that felt like standing outside during a thunderstorm. It felt like lightning striking something close by and making the hairs on your arms stand tall.

“I’m Tegan Bishop, by the way. Not that you haven’t heard that by now.”

“I did hear.” I grinned. “But nice to hear directly from you and not like a creeper.”

“Oh, I’m a creeper. You just haven’t noticed it yet.”

I snorted. Again. “I’m Chloe Lancaster. I also know you’re the High Priestess in The Coven and you have a soulmate. Is that creeper level yet?”

“Oh. Feisty. I like it.” She narrowed those pale eyes again and cocked her head to the side. Some kind of light flashed in her eyes, but then it was gone. She leaned forward. “You’re interesting.”

My heart stopped. Somehow that was not a compliment. “W-why?”

“You have more magic than the rest.”

My eyes widened. I didn’t know what to say to that.

“Give me your hands, Chloe.” She laid hers on the table between us, palms up. “Don’t be afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you.”

There was no way I wasn’t going to see where this was headed, even if my fingers trembled as I laid my hands in hers.

She smiled softly. “You don’t have to be afraid of your magic. It won’t hurt you. It wants to protect you, to help you.”

“You speak like it’s a living thing.”

“Yes…and no. It’s an extension of yourself.”

Her fingers wrapped around my hands and then electricity sizzled between our palms. That rainbow smoke seeped out, coiling around us. There was a flash of light and my red smoke poured out of me.

“You see this smoke?”

I nodded.

“That’s your magic, it only comes out when it thinks you need it or when you summon it.” She smirked. “Red. Like the Lancaster rose. Why am I not surprised?”

My jaw dropped. I hadn’t thought of that.

“This morning was really rough for you, wasn’t it?”

I nodded.

“Don’t be afraid, Chloe,” she said softly. Then she closed her eyes and whispered, “Runes of water, air and ground, seek the gifts that can’t be found. Charms for strength, seed and flower, search within for magic and power.”

Air surged within me. Light flashed. Heat bloomed in my chest. Electricity tingled up and down my entire body. My eyes twitched. That red smoke of mine billowed around us higher and higher.

“I call the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, to calm this spirit heart and stone. By flame and breeze, sand and sea, Ease thy soul by power of three.”

My breath left me in a rush so hard I actually slumped forward. I blinked and looked around….and frowned. I felt lighter. Stronger. Like I’d been buried under a boulder that was suddenly lifted off of me.

“What did you do?”

Tegan grinned. “Well, your magic is…old. It needed a little more of a bump. You’ve