Page 46 of Hex You

She heard Hunter giggle softly at the words of her spell, but her sister gripped her hand tightly. Mercy felt the ley line energy flow through her body, but as it got to her hand, the one clutching Hunter’s, it sputtered and like a wave receding from shore, washed away.

“Uh, Mag, I don’t feel anything,” whispered Hunter.

“I know! I don’t understand what’s wrong. I can pull the power up from the ley lines, but I can’t make it go into you.”

“I’ll help.” Hunter reached over for Mercy’s other hand so that they faced each other, gripping both hands. Hunter closed her eyes and concentrated. Her face relaxed visibly as the ley line power responded to her, but when she opened her eyes and stared at her sister, concentrating on sending the warmth to her, she shook her head in exasperation. “Nothing! I can’t make it go to you at all.”

“Something’s wrong. This has only happened to me when I tried to heal one of the trees. Do you think we’re too stressed to cast a successful spell?” Mercy had to blink hard to keep from bursting into frustrated tears.

Hunter moved her shoulders. “I don’t know, Mag. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Mercy sighed. “Well, let’s just concentrate on twin love and blow out the candles. It’s still a spell, even if the ley lines let us down.” Together, Mercy and Hunter blew out the candles and then Mercypulled her sister into a tight hug. “Nothing will ever come between us again. Promise.”

“Promise,” Hunter echoed.

Still holding hands, the sisters walked back to the house. “Do you feel better?” Mercy asked Hunter.

Hunter glanced at her sister. “Yeah, but that has more to do with what you said to me before the spell than the spell itself.”

“What do you mean?”

Hunter stopped and the twins faced each other. “You took responsibility without blame and without being forced into it. Mag, I do believe you’re learning and growing.”

Mercy sighed. “You meanfinally.”

“No. I mean for real, and that’s more important than any messed-up spell.”

“Oh. Okay. Good.” The twins started walking again—still holding hands.

“Hey, do you think Xena is going to get Khenti to eat a sparrow?” Hunter asked.

“Oh, definitely,” Mercy said.

“By the way, I like him,” Hunter said.

Mercy stopped just outside the closed back door. “I like him, too, but I’m pretty burned out on relationships after the Kirk disaster, so I’m trying not to jump into anything.”

Hunter’s eyes sparkled. “Tryingis the key word in that sentence.”

Mercy blew out a long breath. “Yeah. He is smart and kind and sweet.”

“And hot?”

Mercy tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile. “Are you asking?”

Hunter’s only answer was to raise one arched brow at her twin.

“Yeah, Khenti is definitely hot, which makes it harder every day for me to keep him in the friend zone.”

Hunter shrugged. “Well, like Mom used to say, the best relationships begin with friendship.”

“I miss her so much,” Mercy said.

“Me, too. You think when the veil is thin at Samhain she’ll visit?” Hunter asked softly.

“H, I don’t think she’s ever far from us.” Mercy squeezed her sister’s hand. “I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mag.” Hunter dropped her sister’s hand and opened the door.