Page 70 of Magic's Rise

Levi winks at him. “No harm in babying it a little until then.”

Before he can grumble about being fussed over, six women bustle in, their presence filling the room with a tingling rush of energy. The coven Levi promised is fewer than I expected, but they each carry an air of confidence that makes up for their small numbers.

The woman at the front, her silver hair braided tightly into a crown atop her head, steps forward. “Hello, my name is Elana. I lead the Silver Hollow coven, and I specialize in earth magic.”

“It’s good to meet you, Elana.” Aspen begins to get up, and a middle-aged woman with warm brown eyes bustles over to him.

“Don’t you dare stand for us.” She tut-tuts over his leg. “You should still be at the clinic, young man.”

He settles back into his chair with a wry smile. “I appreciate the concern, Phoebe, but I’m fine. The poultice you made has done wonders for quickening the healing process.”

A rosy glow lights her face, and she turns to the rest of us. “I specialize in healing magic, as you may have guessed. I met young Aspen here when he arrived last night. It saddened us to hear of the attack. Such dark times for Silver Hollow.”

Aspen nods in greeting to the other newcomers. “My name is Aspen, and I co-lead the coven in Hartford Cove. I have an affinity with all elements.”

It sounds snooty when he says it like that, but at least he left off all that circle stuff he usually boasts about.

He gestures to us. “My apprentices are Rowe, who is an ethereal witch, and Tris, who is an air witch with a minor fire affinity.”

We both wave.

Aspen motions to the last of us. “Haut is a wolf shifter, though he has acted as a witch’s assistant and is knowledgeable in the arts. He’s here as their companion.”

“Bond mate,” I correct, and Tris nods.

Elana’s eyes widen, but she dips her head toward us. “It is an honor.”

A woman who looks closer to my age, with honey-blond hair, steps forward. “I’m Lyra, water magic expert at your service.”

Her eyes twinkle with mischief as she winks at Tris, and I kick him when he smiles back.

“Hi, I’m Mina.” A young woman with raven-black locks and pale skin waves. “I work with air.”

“Kaela,” chimes in a tall woman with striking blue eyes. “Fire is my specialty.”

“And I’m Aris.” The last woman introduces herself with a bob of her head, short curls bouncing around a softly rounded face. “I craft charms and talismans.”

Excited, I push out the chair beside me. “You, come sit here.”

Surprised, she glances at Elana, who nods.

As Aris settles next to me, the others spread out, and Mina pours the tea.

I turn to my new companion. “A few of my coven members make potions and charms. Fascinating stuff.”

A blush creeps into her cheeks. “It’s not anything flashy, like what elemental witches can do.”

“Flash is overrated.” Mina sets a teacup in front of Aris, but I cover the top before she can reach for it. “Don’t drink that. It might have prejudiced-old-librarian spit in it.”

“Oh, my. But I have a spell for that!” Aris pulls a keychain from her pocket laden with various charms.

She flips through them until she finds a tiny purple potion bottle. When she dips it into her tea, it turns green.

Grinning, she holds it up. “No spit detected.”

I gape at her. “You are amazing. Where can I get one of those?”

Giggling, she takes it off her ring and hands it to me. “You can have this one.”

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