Page 68 of Hooked on a Witch
She held her breath waiting for his reply. He broke into a full, toothy grin, which turned into a laugh. She punched him in the arm. “Stop being an asshole.”
“Ow.” He rubbed his arm. “Yes, it’s the best piece ofpeachpie I’ve ever had.”
“But not thebestpie you’ve ever had.”
“I’m not sure what other pies you have in your arsenal. I’ll hold my opinion for best until I taste all that you can cook. I’m partial to key lime pie.”
“You’re a tough customer.” She got up and snagged a glass off the drying rack. “Want some water?” She drank half a glass. “I love the water here. Something about the minerals.”
He nodded as he slid the pie plate his way and cut himself a second piece. “Want more?”
She shook her head.
“So, what did you do to me when I was in the backyard dying?” His eyes flickered a deep blue. For a moment she was stunned by the vibrant hue, but then as if the sea had become stormy, the color swirled and darkened. His aura churned with conflicting colors that made no sense. She couldn’t gauge his mood or intent.
“What do you mean?” She placed a glass of water in front of him and took her seat again.
“If you hadn’t done whatever you did, then I’d probably be having a chat with my uncle Hades.”
“I, uh, helped you.”
“You did more than help. You took away the poison and healed everything. How?”
She shifted on the barstool to alleviate the sudden urge to squirm. “Sometimes we Pleiades are able to pull someone back from death.”
“You can do this death save on anyone?”
She shook her head.
“Can you do this with someone other than me?”
She chewed on her lip. “Only you.”
“Why me?”
“We’re linked…connected.”
“Destined? Isn’t that what your father called it?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure.”Yes.He was her one-and-only. Healing it confirmed it, but she didn’t want to freak him out. He wasn’t a stayer as the hostess had said.She rested her chin on her hands with her elbows on the table and stared at the stove. “Most of my life I ran from all the destiny crap. I hated knowing I’d have to be the head Pleiades when mom died. I don’t deserve to be their leader. I’ve got the least experience. Then Mom died. I never wanted to jump dimensions and use these weird abilities that I still have no idea how to control. All I wanted was to be normal.”
He put two fingers on her chin to pull her gaze to his. “What the hell is normal? Every person in the world faces the death of those closest to us and the burden of responsibility. Our lives come with complications far beyond what most people deal with, sure, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. The extra abilities are a part of us. They make us who we are. What do you mean you can’t control your abilities? What can’t you do, or what do you think you should be able to do that you haven’t figured out yet?”
“My mom had elemental abilities to control wind, water, and sometimes fire. I think I got those, but I really suck at it. Mom was the turbo-charged espresso version of a witch and I’m a weak-tea version.”
“I need for you to become good at whatever skills you’ve got. There are a lot of black-magic shitheads in the area who sound like they’re gunning for you. What do you mean by control water?”
“Move it. Change its form.”
He stood and filled his glass with water. “Stop the water.”
He threw it at her.
Without hesitation, she held up a hand, stopping the water midair.
“Now change it to ice.”
She hesitated. The water fell onto the floor in a huge puddle.
