Page 40 of Fated Midlife Christmas
“There’s no need for that,” Amanda told her gently. “We were all glad to help. In fact, our coven would like to extend our friendship to yours.”
Lorelei sat back in her chair and pressed her hand to her chest. “You don’t know how much that would mean to us.”
“You don’t think Corinna will mind?” Lars asked. He left his coffee black and took a sip.
“Um, no.” Lorelei scratched behind her ear and looked at the floor for a moment, scrunching her face. “Corinna didn’t come back last night or this morning. As the rest of the witches gathered, we took a vote. Her actions were self-serving and dangerous. We kicked her out.”
Amanda nodded. “A good choice. Someone who refuses to even help clean up her mess isn’t going to be much of a leader. Can I ask who the new High Priestess is?”
Lorelei ducked her head and lifted her hand, waggling her fingers in the air. “It’s me.”
“Congratulations!” Lars enthused, lifting his cup in salute.
“Well, thank you, but I don’t really know what I’m doing. I was hoping I might be able to talk to Maeve and Lucille and get some advice. Corinna wanted to do everything her own way, but I’d really like to chat with someone who’s got experience.”
“I’ll tell them as soon as we’re done here,” Amanda promised.
“Thank you. And really, I can’t thank you enough for last night. I know you’ve said I don’t need to, but I can’t help it. I was terrified, and I had no idea what to do. Because of you guys, The Crimson Veil has a chance to go on and become a successful coven. I hate to think what might’ve happened to us otherwise.” Tears glimmered in her eyes.
When they’d finished their coffee, Lorelei walked with them to the altar room. “We haven’t touched anything yet. We thought it’d be best to let you do what you could, then worry about everything else later. Can I do anything to help?”
Lars examined the space. It was strange to see it in the daylight. The winter sun crept in through the shattered window, highlighting the smashed furniture, the broken drywall, and the deep ruts in the floor. “I don’t think so.”
“You just holler if you need me!”
Amanda took a slow trip around the room. “Weird, isn’t it? Everything was so dark, so real, so terrifying. It’s all just stuff, though. No sign of angry spirits.”
“No, just the residue left behind from someone who abused the ley system for their own gain.” The clumps and threads of energy still inhabited the room, floating along on an invisible air current. “I’m glad we have the chance to make it right.”
“How do we get started?” She turned to look at him.
She was pure beauty. She made his heart ache with nothing more than a look, a simple question. Just being in her presence pleased his polar bear to no end.
Lars cleared his throat and forced himself to concentrate. “Let’s stand here, in the middle of the room. It’s everywherearound us. Put your hands out and close your eyes. See if you can feel it.”
Amanda did as he asked. She took several breaths as she did so. “I feelsomething.I’m just not sure what.”
“The situation in here is chaotic. Do you remember when we were walking along the sidewalk? You were feeling it in thick, concentrated lines. It’s a little easier that way.” Lars thought back to all that he had to learn as a young man. His family was gifted in this, but that didn’t mean they knew it all instinctively.
“True. That helps a bit.” She moved her hands in front of her and around to her sides, looking like someone who’s trying to find their way in the dark. “I’m not sure how to distinguish it all. It feels muddy compared to what I experience in a person, or even when I’m doing magic.”
“I have an idea.” He stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and placing his hands on the back of hers. “Is this okay?”
She swallowed. “Yes.”
Using his hand, he guided her hand up and to the left. “There’s a big mass of it. Just notice how it feels.”
“Mm.” She made a small sound in her throat as she concentrated. “Almost…fuzzy.”
“Over this way.” Now he brought her right hand further out. “How does this feel?”
Amanda simply stood there for a moment, breathing and taking it all in. “Kind of a tickle.”
He smiled. “Threads of it. Tell me, when you work on a person, can you see their energy?”
“Sort of. It’s not as visual as some people think it is, but I can see it almost like a static in the air,” she clarified.
“And what about here? With this energy? Can you see it?” His chin was just over her shoulder, and he could see her eyelashes fluttering open.
