Mom bundled him off to bed, and I sat on the couch with my leg propped up and resting on my father’s lap.
Once Eli was down, my father wasted no time getting into specifics of the magick I’d done on Henry Walker.
“How hard did you hit him?” he wanted to know.
“Do you remember that time Nathan and I were playing soccer?” I asked.
“Oh Hannah, you didn’t.” My mother rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “I think this calls for a drink.” At home, she got up to help herself to the wine in the fridge.
“You and your brother are the reason I went prematurely gray,” my father announced.
I hunched my shoulders defensively. “I was only thirteen. I didn’t have control over my abilities, and besides, he’d been calling me names.”
“I’ll never forget that day.” He patted my knee. “You nailed your brother with a blast of air, sent him flying a good fifteen feet. It knocked Nathan out cold, sprained his wrist, and gave him a concussion.”
“Well, I broke my distance record today.”
“How far did he go?” he wanted to know.
“I’d guess around twenty feet,” I said.
“Really?” My father laughed.
“Padrick!” My mother complained. “This is no laughing matter!”
While Dad continued to chuckle, my mother gave me the stink eye. “Hannah Osborne Pogue,” she said, sounding pissed.
“I’d run out of options.” I shifted on the couch, trying to get comfortable. “If I wouldn’t have blasted him away from the shed, he’d have been seriously injured, or maybe even killed.”
“What’s done is done,” my father said. “You knocked him out after all, he may not even remember you calling upon your element.”
“And if he does remember, Padrick?” Mom asked. “What then?”
“We’ll convince him that he imagined it.” Dad winked at me. “After all, he did get bumped in the head.”
CHAPTER NINE
The next morning I was informed that I was to take the day off work, per Edmund’s orders. Mom headed in to open the spice shop, and Dad took Eli to daycare for me so I would have some time alone. I puttered around the apartment with the cat for company, and I managed to take a bath by keeping my leg braced on the rim of the tub, and washed my hair in the kitchen sink.
I sat on the bed, slowly combed out the tangles and tried to figure out why I had all of these conflicting feelings regarding Henry Walker. It simply didn’t add up. How could one man cause me to be annoyed, attracted, charmed, and confused all at the same time? I set the comb aside, pulled the carved box out, flipped up the hinge and stared at the poesy ring.
“It’s all your fault,” I grumbled. “Ever since I inherited you, I’ve been all twisted up inside...impulsive and reckless.”
I twisted the box in my hand and watched the light catch the emerald. Unlike the sexy visions the poesy ring had granted, yesterday had hardly been the romantic fantasy of my dreams. We hadn’t even completely undressed. And it was intense, frantic and over far too soon.
“Grow up Hannah,” I sighed. “Stop comparing fantasy to reality. You may be a Witch, but your life isn’t a faery tale.” Without touching the ring, I shut the box, carefully tucking it away again.
I thought it over some more and brewed myself a cup of tea. Maybe the ring had only shown me what I wanted to see? Shown me what was possible—but not actual?
No matter what was happening in my personal life, the family’s magickal legacy had to remain safely hidden. With that responsibility pressing on me, I pulled out my oldest magickal journals and spell books and reluctantly began putting together a spell—in case I would have to make Henry Walker forget the magick that he’d seen me do.
A few hours later, I sat at my kitchen table in my ratty gray shorts and a faded butterfly tank top. Surrounded by spells and incantations, I dropped my head in my hands. The prospect of working manipulative magick held little appeal, but after thinking everything over...I had to admit that adjusting his memories might be my only viable option.
A sharp knock at the door jolted me out of my brooding. “Hannah!” Rowan called, “Open up. I brought lunch!”
I limped over to the door and checked the clock, surprised that so much time had passed. I flipped the lock and held the door open for my gorgeous cousin. Rowan blew into the apartment in a long blood-red summer dress and with her tresses done in an intricate braid down her back.
“An offering to the local heroine!” Rowan laughed, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Thanks.” I shut the door behind her.
“Hannah?” Rowan frowned. “Are you feeling bad?”
“No,” I lied, brushing past her.
“You’re schlepping around in your oldest clothes, and don’t have any makeup on.” Rowan was scandalized.
“Yeah, so? Who’s going to see me?” I went to the table and began clearing away the books and notes.
It only took Rowan a couple of seconds to figure out what I’d been studying. “Uncle Padrick filled me in. Are you going to have to spell Henry Walker, after all?”
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted.
“Hey, honey, are you sure that you’re okay?” Her face mirrored her concern. “You’re putting out some intense vibes.”
“I’m fine. I just embarrassed myself at work yesterday, that’s all.” I cleared off the books, gathered up my notes.
“That guy, Henry?” Rowan pulled the sub sandwiches out. “Now that I’ve had a chance to check him out, I have to admit. He’s pretty hot.”
“You think so?” I said. “I think he’s rude, egotistical and overbearing.”
Rowan’s eyes danced as she unwrapped her sandwich. “Rude, eh? That’s funny, because it seemed to me like he’s totally into you.”
Her words, so similar to what Henry had said, had my eyes shooting to hers. “Why would you think that?”
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “Well for starters he watches you. As in every move you make.
