Page 109 of Dark Moon Secrets

“Don’t use your magic,” warned Luna. “Please, give it another two days at least. Then you should be all right. The herbs we are giving you are strong, and the healing magic from Pepper is intense. The best thing you can do is rest.”

“I’ve just the thing to help with that,” said Pepper, coming up the stairs.

“More tea?” I didn’t want the tea to wear off like it had during the night.

“Not yet, but soon.”

Dark shadows under Pepper’s eyes told me the strain she was under trying to heal me. I wanted to tell her to stop, to send me to the hospital, but she was the best bet for me to be able to use my magic.

Her clearly being a healer made me wonder what my skill was. I really wanted to know.

“What is your skill, Luna?”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she was taken aback by my sudden question.

“Oh, you mean my magical skill. Well, it’s foresight. I have visions of what’s to come.”

That did sound rather cool, but nothing like I’d ever experienced. That wasn’t my skill.

“And yours, Willow?”

“Contacting spirits.”

Nope, not mine either. But that made sense now of her role in the ceremony. What could my skill be?

All I had managed to do so far was to send out sparks that hurt Luna, and I didn’t count killing a wolf as a skill, more sheer luck than anything else. My mind foggy from the side effects of the drugs in the tea made it hard to think. Otherwise, I was sure I could figure out what my skill was.

“Your friends are here,” said Pepper.

Her words brought me back to the present. My friends were here, and I was in no state to see them.

I was about to say don’t let them in, but then Mia and Caleb burst up from the stairs, bustling past Pepper, almost knocking her over.

“What have you done to yourself?” asked Mia. “Fuck, you look a mess.”

“We should never have let you out of our sights,” said Caleb.

They hurried to my bed and embraced me. Pain flooded my body, and I cried out.

“Oh, does that hurt? Sorry,” said Mia.

They quickly pulled away, and I wished them back. It felt good to be with my friends again.

“No more hiking for you, do you promise?” Caleb looked sternly at me, and I knew he wasn’t kidding.

“Promise.” The first lie with my friends made this all very bittersweet for me.

“Hmm… I’m not sure I believe you.”

I laughed, then abruptly stopped as pain gripped my body.

“Oh, Tanjie, I’m sorry,” said Caleb.

It felt good to laugh. I needed to laugh.

“I’ll prepare more tea, then you must let her rest,” said Pepper.

“But we’ve only been here a few minutes,” complained Mia.

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