if I could,” I said softly.
He winked. “I know, sweetie.”
I sighed.
His eyes narrowed at me. “Lexie …”
“Riley got taken because of me,” I reminded him. “She’s now been converted into a vampire. Our families are hopefully out of the line of fire, but I need you to stay away from here until this is over. I won’t fuck up your life too.”
His expression darkened as leaned towards me. “Do you guys have any kind of plan to get out of this yet?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
He nodded. “You really think I need to stay away?”
My throat tightened. “It sucks, but it’s what’s best for you.”
He seemed to struggle with something before he scooted closer and I tugged him into a hug.
“You’re probably right,” he murmured.
My eyes stung as he squeezed me.
“Be safe, okay?”
“As long as you do,” I whispered.
“I will.” He let me go, got to his feet. He cleared his throat as he looked down at the wooden floor before turning and walking away.
I watched as he left the living room, my heart heavy. It was what was best for him. Safer. Lately, safer always seemed to be away from me. I closed my eyes and let out a slow, deep breath. It’s not me, it’s Jadis. It’s not me, it’s Jadis. I’m not the one making this situation, only responding to it.
I was still sitting there fifteen minutes later when the front door opened and closed.
“Evelyn’s help should be here tonight.” Uma strolled into the room from the foyer. “And—what’s happened?”
I shook my head. “Nothing, I just told a friend to stay away from us until this is over.”
“Oh, good idea.” Uma sat gracefully onto the other couch.
“Now, what’s this about backup?” I asked. I didn’t remember talking about it.
“While you were at the hospital I called Evelyn. She’s sending us some help. To keep you safe,” Uma explained as she crossed her legs sideways. “She’ll be here tonight.”
I nodded, deciding I didn’t want to know the details. “And what do we do in the meantime?”
“Well, there’s nothing to do now but wait. And have you practice.”
“Zombie raising now?” My eyebrows went up.
She shook her head. “Magic practice.”
I groaned. “I just sent my family away so they don’t get killed, doesn’t that get me a day off?”
“No, young lady, it doesn’t.” She got to her feet. “Come on.”
Cursing under my breath, I shoved the blanket back and followed her down to the basement.
“Do you have your stone?” Uma led me into a barren warded room that the witches used for practice. A protective circle was painted on the cement floor.
“Always.”
Uma sat inside of it on one side. “Good.”
I sat on the other. “So, what are we working on today?”
“Control,” Uma stated.
I sighed. “Maybe I just shouldn’t do magic?”
Uma met my gaze. “Do you really want to not be able to protect your men? Yourself?”
I growled. She had a point. “Okay, fine.”
I didn’t miss the smirk that flitted across her face. “I thought so.” She settled herself a bit more. “Close your eyes and find your center without dropping into it.”
I cursed under my breath as I closed my eyes. Deep breaths in, and slow breaths out. I had enough practice finding my center without needing much time. When I was at that place that was me, right before dropping in, I held myself in that spot before memories surged.
“Here.”
“Good job,” she said. “This is what we call your grounded state. Your connected state to who you are. This is where all magic is done for humans. This is your workspace.”
“Workspace?”
“This is where the energy from ley lines or stones goes to. You change it through your channels for magic, you make it yours. Then your will is what controls it. Do you understand?”
“Channels are a funnel for energy, turning it into stuff I can use,” I summed up.
“And your will is the control,” she confirmed. “Now, staying in that state, take out your stone. It’s time to learn how to use that energy.”
I pulled the small orange stone out of my pocket and palmed it. Energy ran up my arm, raising the hairs.
“Drop your barriers a tiny bit,” she instructed. “Let the energy in.”
The energy was hot as it moved through me to my center, like a whirlpool that didn’t drain.
“That’s enough,” she said. “Close your barrier.”
I did as she said.
“Now, this is the tricky part. You need to visualize what you want. You need to feel it, smell it. Will it to exist.”
“What do you want