“Yeah.I know we’ve only been together since Friday, but it seems like longer.More intense.”
Cinder hummed.“Well, you’re a witch.That means everything you do has an extra magical edge to it.So while you haven’t known him very long, what you share together is intense because you’re already marked and mated.Not to mention you’ve got two magics instead of one that have been giving you trouble, and now they’re united because of your bond to Solan.”
“It’s a lot in a short amount of time for sure,” she said.
“It’ll be okay,” Cinder said.“I felt everything with Adam intensely when we were first together, too, but it didn’t last forever.I found balance, and a lot of it came from just accepting that our relationship was unique because of who I am.Just like with you and Solan, your relationship is unique because you’re a dual-natured witch.”
“So it’s not a bad thing that I want to keep him locked up at the house with me for a while longer?”
“Nah, not at all,” Cinder said with a chuckle.“I’m sure he’d like that.Unfortunately, that bastard Brent Foley attacked the dealership, and our guys had to go check things out.But let’s focus on you.Since you’re earth and fire, I thought we could start with the basic fire spells, like lighting a candle.”
“I failed at this so much,” she said, writing down the spell Cinder showed her from her own spellbook.
“I think you were trying to light a candle with your earth power, not your fire power, since you didn’t know you were both North and South inclined.Today you’re going to focus on your fire magic, and let your earth magic lift it up and enhance it.”
She finished copying the spell and set the pen on the counter.
Cinder put a large white candle on a plate and took a few steps away.
“Why are you moving away?”
“In case your magic flares, I don’t want to get singed.”She touched her eyebrows.“I just got these shaped the way I like them.”
Kaeli snorted.“I’ll try my best.”
“Focus,” Cinder said.“Calm all the fears inside yourself.You were born to wield powerful, dual magic.It works for you, not the other way around.”
Kaeli inhaled softly and closed her eyes, touching the parts of her that were filled with magic, the heat of the flame, and the rugged solidness of the earth.And then she spoke the spell in the ancient Wiccan language three times.
Something whooshed softly, and the scent of fire made her smile.
She opened her eyes and saw the candle’s flame dancing.
“Oh, holy crap, I did it!”
Cinder came around the island and hugged her.“I knew you could do it!Now, let’s reverse it.Copy the spell to extinguish the flame, then relight it.”
She wrote the spell in the book, and then, bolstered by her success, extinguished the flame and relit it.
“Try it without closing your eyes.”
“I concentrate better.”
“Do you?I think you’re afraid it’ll fail, so you don’t want to look.”
She narrowed her gaze at Cinder.“Probably.”
Cinder grinned.“You’re doing great.Keep working on this set of spells.Light and extinguish.Again and again.”
She worked for a while, casting her magic to the candle, the flame leaping to the wick and then disappearing in a puff of smoke.Eventually, she was able to wield the spell so well that she could simply think it in her head without saying it out loud, and it still worked.It wasn’t until she left the room and could direct her magic to that exact candle that she felt like she’d mastered the two spells.Although they were basic spells that brand new witches were given to master, she still felt incredible.
Cinder set a bowl of water on the counter and dropped the candle in it.“Now, try to light the wick.”
“Are you serious?”
“You bet.”
“All right, you’re the boss.”She pushed her sleeves and focused on the still rippling surface of the water and the candle below.But before she could even think about lighting it with her magic, something ripped through her, her shoulder burning like fire had sunk into her skin and grabbed hold of her bones.But she wasn’t hurt.No flame licked her skin, no blood or injuries marred her shoulder.Just intense, terrible pain and fear.
