Communal magic usually involved a blood oath and incantation where the blended liquid was embedded into something. Many witches did them with best friends or loved ones to commemorate special occasions. Hazel and I had only done it once. “Our back tattoos.”
We each had gotten a large tree representing each other etched onto our backs as sisterly bonding. I pointed over my shoulder to where my hazel tree was displayed above the back of my dress.
“Now, there’s no pressure to get your magic flowing again, but it would take some to be able to cast on it and trace her.”
“Would I need mine back for it to work? Couldn’t I just let you use your magic with my tattoo to do the spell?”
“Since we’d be utilizing your communal magic with Hazel, it would pull more heavily on you, even if we helped. Saros would probably be the best one to cast.” He ran his palms along my arms, then dragged me to him and kissed me again, stroking my spine and spinning circles at its valley.
My body warmed, starved to take him to bathe in the moonlight. But before I could drag him outside, his pocket buzzed. He brushed a hand to my cheek and broke the kiss, then withdrew his phone, swiping a few times, looking serious. “We can work with whatever you have but I won’t risk putting you in any danger. Meet me at Luna’s tomorrow. Text me what time is convenient for you and Aspen.”
“Tomorrow?” I repeated, voice dropping low in disappointment. “I thought… Never mind.”
“Oh, I haven’t changed my mind about wanting this.” He tutted, drifting his hand to just below my clavicle. “Looks like you need a reminder before I go, though.”
He winked, and a surge of his own desire shot between my thighs, warmth spreading deliciously all the way to my toes, making them curl. His eyes were pinned to the movement, a smirk playing at his lips. “See you tomorrow, Wicked.”
He strode out the door, shutting it quietly behind him.
I leaned against the wall, chest heaving, legs clenched together, the full moon beating on me, as if the Goddess herself wanted to know: was I really ready to let my magic fizzle out?
Chapter16
Oakley
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz.
I craned open one eyelid, then the other, gaze settling on Aspen asleep in my arms in the plush rocking chair, curled around one exposed breast. Light pulsed from the ground as my phone continued to vibrate.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Slowly standing, careful not to wake Aspen, I lifted him to the crook of my neck, rocking him a few moments before pressing a kiss to his forehead and placing him back in his crib.
The buzzing stopped and the illumination vanished. I lowered to the ground, crawling around in the pitch, running my hand along the carpet, feeling for my phone. My fingers hit the plastic of my case, and I gripped it just as Aspen released a big yawn. I tapped on the screen.
Lynx Caven
Two missed calls and a text message asking me to call him.
Fuck. Does he have news on Hazel?
I scrambled on my hands and knees, as quietly as possible, out of the nursery and into my room. Then I slowly closed the door, waiting until I felt it click shut before sitting against it and pulling my phone back out. I took a deep breath, tapping it to dial Lynx. My nerves catapulted in my fingertips, nearly making me hang up just as his smooth voice dripped like honey through the speaker. “Hey. You okay? I got worried.”
Concern wove through his tone.
I kept my voice just above a whisper. “Sorry. I had my phone on silent. Aspen was hungry and I couldn’t answer.”
“He sleeping now?”
“Yeah.” I yawned, moving away from the door until I was leaning against the foot of the bed. “Did you learn something about Hazel?”
“No. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to get your hopes up.”
