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“I know you didn’t take part in creating the moonlit water.” Aspen holds up a hand to stop my protests. “It’s too advanced for your current skill level. I’m not upset. I’m simply saying that you don’t know how it’s made. During a full moon, a witch summons the power of the moon into purified water. Moonlit water holds the essence of moonlight. It’s an ethereal material.”
He straightens and looks at the line of lightning rods that pepper the beach. “Right now, we’re after more ethereal materials. Those lightning rods will draw the energy of storms to them, allowing us to harvest lightning sand and lightning-touched wood. It’s the beginning of your journey into ethereal magic.”
I hug my stomach. “What if you’re wrong?”
He lifts his hands. “Then we have some powerful materials to play with in class while we keep searching for an answer.”
Tris stabs the rod he holds into the sand at his feet. “Isn’t it cheating to use lightning rods?”
Aspen laughs and nods in agreement. “It is, technically, but I’m trying to step outside the box to support the witches under my instruction. Waiting for lightning to naturally strike the beach, especially with so many tall trees around, would take a lifetime.”
It might take a lifetime to train me, so I hope Aspen knows what he’s committing to.
But as I gaze out over the potted trees and lightning rods, a tingle goes through me, followed by hope. Is that the connection the others felt when they chose their ingredients?
Has Aspen finally gotten something right?
JUST LIKE THE PAST
When we return from the beach, the others are waiting on the porch, looking not at all casual this time. Haut’s shirt rests on the rail, with his shoes on the steps, while Ros stands at the back of the porch, nearest the beach, with the safety clip on his gun holster unfastened.
Aspen’s brows lift, but he doesn’t comment.
Owen comes down the steps. “It looks like another storm is brewing. We should drive down to Nesse’s Diner.”
“Well advised.” Aspen turns to me and Tris. “Would you like to ride—”
“We’ll take our own cars.” Owen catches my hand and tugs me away from Aspen. “It will make starting work after breakfast easier.”
“Right.” Aspen frowns and glances at the others before he heads to his car. “Then I’ll just meet you down there.”
We watch in silence as he slides into his car and drives off.
“Real subtle, guys.” I poke Owen in the chest. “Why not just accuse him of having something to do with the murder?”
“We still don’t know anything.” Haut tugs on his T-shirt. “People are getting restless, though, and he has to have heard the rumors, unless he stays inside his house when he’s not here.”
Tom Arnold, who had been identified as the body found in front of my house, had been a recluse, living on the outskirts of Hartford Cove. He had a habit of vanishing for days, preferring his wolf form, which is how his disappearance went unnoticed for so long. But Hartford Cove isn’t large enough for people to vanish forever without rumors spreading.
Ros joins us in the driveway. “It would be bold of Aspen to be part of this and keep showing up here every day.”
“He’s cocky about his abilities,” Tris points out. “Even if he’s involved, he knows you didn’t smell him on the body.”
“No, we didn’t smell anyone on the body, which is a whole different issue.” Haut pulls on his shoes. “Can magic hide scent?”
“We could ask Mel.” When my suggestion earns head shakes from Haut and Ambros, I throw my hands up in frustration. “Come on, we know Mel’s not involved.”
“Her moms are powerful witches,” Tris points out. “If you were in danger here, they’d snatch you up in a heartbeat.”
“Why don’t we just start suspecting Delilah or Harper while we’re at it?” Exasperated, I climb into Owen’s car. “You’re all being ridiculous. Mel has nothing to do with this.”
I slam the door before they can argue, which only saves me until Owen slides behind the wheel while the others all get into Haut’s SUV.
“We’re just being cautious.” Owen turns on the car and heads down the driveway. “Until we know more, it’s better to keep this to as few people who know as possible.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “They already know about the body in the woods. And what’s your plan for figuring out the killer if the body didn’t give you any answers?”
His hands tighten on the steering wheel. “We’re still figuring that out.”
