Page 58 of The Witch’s Daughter

Then he dropped his hands.

“It wasn’t you,” he said.

My gaze went to his face. “What?”

“The ice. The darkness on the ward. It wasn’t you,” he explained, lowering his voice as he looked over my shoulder. “Vincent controls the weather.”

“That’s impossible.” I shook my head. “You don’t have to lie to me.”

“I’d never lie to you,” Jaxon growled, and I knew he meant it. “I saw it with my own eyes. He can manipulate the wind. The clouds gathered at his call. I think he can control ice and rain too.”

“That’s not….” My eyes widened as I thought through the implications. “Jaxon, that’s not possible.”

“Isn’t it, though?” He looked at me.

I heard what he wasn’t saying. That much power was unheard of for a witch or warlock. Sure, some of us could draw from the elements. But controlling them? I’d only ever met one other being with that kind of strength, and thank the gods, he knew not to mess with it unless absolutely necessary.

According to all the stories, legends and myths before our time, power of that magnitude corrupted anyone who tried to wield it. But those were just stories.

Weren’t they?

You better hope so.

“There’s more,” Jaxon barely breathed the words. I strained to hear him, stepping onto my toes. “Sarah Ossory has gone missing. Her coven thinks Vincent has something to do with it. You were right to stay here and find more information on him. Kera will want to know this.”

I was right. I smiled, staring up into his earthy brown eyes. They were so deep and steadfast. A girl could get lost in them.

“So you see…” Jaxon smiled. “Your magic isn’t that powerful.”

I gasped, taking a step back. “It is too.”

When I saw one of Vincent’s warlocks pass by, I understood the abrupt change of conversation.

But he didn’t have to be so rude.

“Your magic definitely wasn’t strong enough to break my ward,” Jaxon said.

“Our ward, you mean.” My eyes narrowed.

He shrugged. “Seemed like I was doing most of the work back there.”

“Are you kidding me?” I cried. “It was a team effort.”

“Sure.” Jaxon shoved his hands in his pockets, whistling as he started walking away.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Herbs and potions testing is next.” Damn his stupid, arrogant grin. “This one should be easy, even for a broken witch like you.”

*

I couldn’t not stay after his blatant challenge. Plus, a part of me was clinging to hope that Jaxon was right and I hadn’t messed up the ward. That my magic had somehow been a part of us passing that trial. And I wouldn’t lie, it felt good to be using some magic again.

The long table was set up at the far side of the field with unlabeled bundles of dried herbs in the center. I took an open spot in front of the empty vials. Of course, Jaxon claimed the space across from me.

I didn’t look at him, choosing to focus on the herbs instead as I tried to identify them by their flowers and leaves. I was good at herbology. Gram and Mom had made sure of it. Even my non-witch sisters knew their way around tinctures and potions.

It was Earth’s magic—not mine—so it wasn’t that hard not to mess up. Though if it involved complicated steps or an oven, count me out.