She gave me a curious look. “Is that even possible?”
“Maybe. I think so. Trixie here,” I covered the bracelet with my hand, “just offered.”
“Trixie? You gave your bracelet a stripper name?” She gave my wrist a dubious look.
“Trixie as in Trixie Belden. Didn’t you ever read those books as a kid?”
“Hmm. Actually, I think I did. Wasn’t Trixie’s best friend’s name Honey?”
“Yes. So?”
“So, I thought it was a cool name.”
“I meant so, as in do you want to be able to use magick?”
“Would it be temporary or permanent? And would there be any strings attached? Any changes or restrictions I’d need to be aware of?”
I laughed. She’d asked all the questions I should have. Well, Trix?
It can be either temporary or permanent, the choice is hers. No strings, no restrictions. The only physical changes would be those needed to allow her to channel magick and those would be internal only.
I repeated this to Sam.
“Let’s make it temporary for now. Maybe just for tonight and tomorrow. At least I’d be helpful that way, instead of needing to be protected. What do I need to do? Will it hurt?” The look she leveled at my wrist wasn’t exactly full of confidence. She was probably remembering what had happened to Rand.
There may be some minor discomfort, but I believe I can make it painless for her. When you are both ready, simply reach out and touch her.
I relayed this and gave her the chance to back out. “It—she believes? As in, she’s not really sure?”
Tell her I am ninety-five percent sure. I do not know what her tolerances are, or I could estimate more accurately.
I blinked in surprise, but passed the information on.
“Fine.” Sam steeled herself, closing her eyes tightly, and holding out her hand. “Do it.”
Crap, now I was worried, too. Maybe this was too much. We should be able to protect her just fine.
She wants this, that much I can tell. The yearnings of mortals are visible in their auras. You will need to decide now. We do not have much time before we reach the bird-man’s destination.
Bird-man? I almost snorted when I realized she meant Jeremy. Taking a deep breath and hoping I wouldn’t regret this, I grasped Sam’s hand.
Trixie began glowing, becoming brighter than I’d seen since Rand’s transformation. Sam gasped and I would have dropped her hand, but she gripped it so tightly, I began to worry about my circulation. The glow enveloped Sam’s arm and moved up and over the rest of her. The soft chanting around us had stopped as everyone stared at us. There was a sudden flare of blue light and then Trixie dimmed to a soft glow again.
It is done. She should have enough magick to fuel the amulet she wears. It is temporary, as she requested, but how long it will last I cannot say, as it will depend on how quickly she expends what I have given her.
I extricated my hand as gently as possible and waited for Sam to say something. When I met her eyes, my mouth went dry. They were glowing a soft blue. She smiled and looked around us.
Before I could ask if she was okay, she said, “I can see your magick, Roxie. I can see it in you and all around us. It’s . . . beautiful.” She took a couple steps away, reached up and grasped the crystal necklace. A shield shimmering with a faint blue light appeared in front of her and her smile spread to an ecstatic grin. “This is beyond cool.” She dropped the shield. “I don’t want to waste the magick.”
I tried not to gape. She was given a temporary magickal bus pass and she could call magick up and drop it that easily? Supposedly, I had a buttload of magick and it had taken me months and a pixie-and-blood-magick-infused sapphire bracelet to be able to tap into it without major effort.
Did you help her with that, Trixie?
No. I only shared some of my own magick with her. The rest is all her.
Wait, you gave her your own magick? What does that do to you? Are you okay?
She brightened slightly and I could feel she was pleased with my concern. I have more than enough magick, even after giving you your knight and the small amount I shared tonight, for you to call on me if needed.
My knight? You mean Rand?
Before she could answer me, Jeremy called out. “Dat signal gettin’ stronger. We find dem childrens soon.”
“How long?” Rand called back up to him.
“Maybe ten minutes.”
Crap. We hadn’t tested the shields yet, because my attention had gone totally sideways. “Pixies, are you ready?” They dove off the roof, drawing their swords as their wings caught the air. “Shields up, ladies.” I pointed at the hovering pixies. “If any of you lose yourselves and draw blood, I’ll put you in timeout for the rest of the night. No rescue, no battle, are we clear?” The horror on their faces was enough to assure me they knew I was serious. “This is just a light test to see what those crystals can withstand.”
Tess waved at me. “Can I get some of whatever that was that Sam got? I don’t think my shield is going to hold up.”
We didn’t have time. “Selma, grab Tess’s hand and use the tandem version of the spell.” Selma held the potted plant in one arm. I
