Page 135 of Castings & Curses

Sage tossed up her arms. “Okay. I get it. Sheesh. Can I go take a shower?” She stretched her arms, feeling the ache of fatigue in her bones, as she mentally prepped for the day ahead and the need for peak performance. Now more than ever. The foursome trooped forward, silent, lost in thought.

Aspen fractured the peace for Sage’s ears only. “Long time since your aether’s popped up. What triggered it?”

Sage gnawed on her bottom lip. “I guess the threat to me.” But it was more. Way more. Way too much magic on the property confused her senses.

“You’ve had plenty of threats without your aether interfering. Your magic bonked you on the head for a reason.”

“You think?” Sage grumbled. “Don’t tell anyone. Not even Jessica.” Ricky led the witches out of the surrounding forest and toward the expansive gardens of the Wilde backyard.

The early morning sun had risen higher in the sky, its light reflecting off the dew-covered grass ahead of them. The myriad green shades of the leaves and evergreens became more vibrant, and the shadows receded toward the forest. Birds chirped their morning song, and Sage left behind the serene forest, as if it hadn’t just crapped all over her day.

The path they’d left behind was one of two connecting the backyard to the meadow beyond the woods, where tents had arisen over the last day or two as witches and warlocks converged upon the Wilde property. Not all stayed in tents. Some High Priestesses claimed the spare bedrooms in the mansion, some in the cabins on the property, or booked hotel rooms in nearby Santa Cruz to enjoy peace and harmony along the Pacific coast. Others planned to drive in each day, like the Helwigs who lived in the small town of Scotts Valley, a stone’s throw up the highway.

Blooming roses, hydrangeas, and other flowers grew in abundance in rock-faced planters. Home grounded her, and she reveled in the beauty of their gardens. She dipped her hand in the tinkling, three-tiered water fountain in the center of the lawn and created a whirlpool in the largest bowl. Tiny floating water lilies appeared and swirled in the whirlpool. Sage’s earth magic at play.

They halted on the sparsely populated patio. Still early for the overnighters to awaken after a day of travel and reunions. The aroma of coffee, eggs, and bacon wafted out of the open doors. Sage would kill for a pot of caffeine.

“Was it a Helwig?” Jessica asked. “Did you ID the familiars?”

“I suspect Zelda.” Sage rubbed her aching forehead. “Does she have a bobcat? I need to hear the familiars again to tag them.”

“Yep. Bob-kitties,” Aspen quipped as she dug through her fanny pack and produced a tiny vial. She uncorked it and handed it to Sage. “Drink up, buttercup.”

“Energy or pain?” Sage sucked down the concoction, grimaced, and smacked her lips to rid it of the vile taste.

“Pain. I’ll give you a spelled charm for energy later.”

“Thanks.” Sage tossed the vial onto a patio table. The glass tube pinged against the tempered glass tabletop and bounced to the pavers, taking Sage’s patience with it.

“The Helwigs weren’t here yesterday. They’re day trippers.” Ricky scratched his chin, his fingers following the outline of his goatee. “I’ll send a team of warlocks to investigate in full light.”

“We’ll figure it out later. I need to prep for the day.” Sage eyeballed her short skirt and the ash and dirt streaks on her legs. “Thanks for the assist.” She elbowed past Ricky through the French doors into the great room. Multicolored Tiffany lamps shed luminous light in the corners of the room, jeweled reflections bouncing off the decorative wall mirrors scattered around her favorite room. Her warlock and aunt beat a hasty retreat. Aspen not so much, as the clack of her sandals followed Sage.

“Walk of shame, sis? How much did you drink? How many warlocks did you boink?”

Sage turned and fixed Aspen with an icy stare. “Big deal. Partying on the first night is a given. I’ll adult the rest of the festival.”The rest of my freaking life. Le sigh.

“Did you really wash it out of your system?” Aspen’s light and frothy voice followed Sage up the staircase to their bedrooms. “Who’d you bang?”

On the landing at the top of the stairs, Sage recoiled. “Joshua.” She paused. “I don’t know his last name. Thought he might contain powerful magic that’d play well with my fire, but he’s not all that. Arrived with the Sacramento covens.”

“Well, you do need two more warlocks. Them’s the rules. What’s he all about?”

“He’s all about pleasing himself and ensuring any woman he’s screwing does nothing but pleasehim.” Sage gripped the railing overlooking the great room.

“Oh. My. God.” Aspen quaked with amusement. “Does he know who you are? Did he want you to bond him?”

“Yes, and hell to the yes. You know I only sleep with the unbonded to test them out. We had fun until we hit the sack. So much lost potential, so little magic.”

“Wow. You’d think he’d flip over backward for the opportunity. You pickedhimfrom all those warlocks vying for your attention last night?” Aspen belly-laughed, pressing on her middle.

“Dial it down, dimwit. You’ll wake the house.” Sage cupped her hand over her sister’s mouth. “Massive error in judgement. I thought he’d at least know what to do with his mega dick. What do you expect from a twenty-one-year-old? Plus, the magic in his aura’s half-assed. The sex was so bad I couldn’t figure out what element he’d wield.”

“So he wagged his mega dick at the wrong sage bush?”

“He’s better suited to you, Aspen tree.” Sage snorted and trod to her room. “Take him for a spin. At twenty, you’d teach him a thing or three. Maybe he’d get over himself. A big dick’s not enough.”

“No, thanks. Don’t want your sloppy seconds. I’ve heard all I want to hear about Mr. Ginormous Selfish Prick.”

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