Seduced by Innocencey(13)

"Mother, we can't do that." I avoided Blake's eyes as I defended his life. "He could die."

Blake spoke up before Mother had the chance. "I'm willing to risk it. We have to do this. I don't want anything to happen to any of you. You're my family, the only one I've ever known. I would do anything to protect this coven."

I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to meet them. His intensity made me too nervous.

Mother stood. "We do this now. He'll leave late tonight, when it's safest. The power will sustain him."

Now? We were just going to blast him with our power right this minute? I was so not ready to do that—and neither were a lot of people by the looks of it. But once Mother decided something, it was impossible to dissuade her.

I slipped on my coat and scarf and followed behind Ocean as we made our way as a group to our circle outside. Our magic was bound to the earth, sky, water and air, to the elements that made up life. We were stronger outside, our power more focused and pure.

When we reached the pentagram that contained the coven magic, we each took a spot around the circle, and Blake stood in the middle with his eyes closed. Mother used sage to purify the sacred space and each one of us. When she got to me I bowed my head as she waved the sage around me, up and down my front and back. Then I lifted my feet so she could purify that area too. I never felt any different after this, but it served a function in the rituals we performed.

She then bound the circle as we held hands and focused our power on Blake.

Magic surged through me, fed by each member of our coven. Everyone had a unique flavor to their magic. Mother's felt unmovable, like a rock. Ocean's felt powerful and vast, like her name. Even Mist joined us, her power sweet and delicate, like a flower.

Mother chanted, and we focused. I didn't want to release my magic, didn't want to be responsible for harming another person again, but caught up in the flow of power I had no choice.

The magic poured out of me, mingled with other strands of energy in a rainbow of light, and then slammed into Blake, who screamed and fell to the ground.

I broke the circle first and ran to him, but with my fear of touching, I couldn't offer any help. Darren approached and I backed away, watching as the healer laid hands on him and searched his body.

When Darren finally looked up, he didn't look alarmed or worried. "He's just passed out, but he's fine. He'll awaken shortly and, I believe, not suffer any ill affects from our spell."

Murmurs of joy rippled through our small crowd, and my heart lightened knowing we hadn't caused any permanent damage.

Blake's chest rose and fell steadily, and he had a peaceful look on his handsome face. I left him to those who could better assist him and made my way to my own cottage to get some work done on Master Kyoung's website and sort through everything that had happened that day so far.

Ocean followed close on my heels, grabbing my arm to walk together. "You're not getting away that easily. We're going to talk about this date, but our talk will not involve whether or not you're going. No, it will involve which outfit of mine you're going to borrow so you don't look like an old schoolmarm who's never been kissed."

I laughed. "But I haven't ever been kissed. Well, except that time with Blake, but that hardly qualified as a kiss." I cringed at the memory.

"He doesn't need to know that! Let's go pick out something suitable and get you ready. We only have a few more hours before he'll be here to whisk you away."

Only a few hours? What kind of torture was my best friend planning for me?





SIX





Talk of Peace





DEREK





Peace? I hate the word

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet





I TWISTED MY tie in a loop and tried to straighten it, but it still looked like a blind child had put it on. Who invented this torture anyways? I'd have been much happier in my leather jacket and a t-shirt, but Rose deserved my A-game, such as it was.

"What are you getting all dolled up for, Bro?"

Tammy's voice startled me from my misery. I spun around to face my sister, who leaned against my doorframe, smiling.

"I have a date."

"With a girl?" She raised her voice in mock astonishment. At least I hoped it was mock.

"No, a penguin. Yes, a girl." Another twist and my tie fell apart in my hands. I sighed and threw it on the bed.

"You've been home a day and you've already met a girl? Figures. But I thought your bar dates usually preferred a more casual look?" She walked into my bedroom and picked up the tie, then stood at my back and reached around me to tie it. "You're doing it all wrong. Let me help."

I bent lower so she could reach my neck, and even still she had to get up on her tiptoes to finish it.