† Sage †

Maddock didn’t come back all night. I’d worn a path in the dirt yard where I’d been pacing. After realizing there was nothing I could do that didn’t require me leaving Coral alone or dragging her who knows where to find Kera, I coaxed my crying sister into the cabin.

She’d slept beside me like she used to do when she was small, nestled in my arms as if we were alone in the world again. The warmth that radiated from her sleeping form was a soft golden glow of magic.

This time I could see it. It flowed from my hands as I’d scratched her back and now it drifted in the air with her slumbering breaths.

Magic.

It was real and it’d always been here all around us. My mind was still blown that I could see it. Or maybe the radiation had finally done its job and I was living in a full-on hallucination now in some kind of purgatory

before the afterlife if there was one.

But it didn’t feel like I was dying.

It felt like I’d finally woken up in the real world. And it was Maddock who’d opened my eyes.

There was a new ache in my core that felt incomplete with missing him. A thread that tied us together somehow. It was another type of magic.

I laid awake listening for him to come back, wishing there was something more tangible I could do. Apollo was sick. Even though he was Kera’s father, I didn’t trust that she was safe with him.

But I trusted Maddock more than I’d ever trusted anyone. He’d protect Kera. I knew it.

My worry was like gray storm clouds drifting around me and I focused on blowing them away so they didn’t taint the golden magic of Coral’s slumber.

This was going to take some getting used to.

*

“Who do I have to kiss to get some breakfast around here?” Kera’s

voice filled the cabin and jerked us awake. Coral screeched, scrambling out of bed. The air was pure and light with a relieved happiness.

I blinked as I opened my eyes, glad the magic wasn’t some dream and it was still waiting for me to explore it this morning. Not bothering to fix my hair or find a bra, I ran out of the room after Coral.

The two girls collided in a tangle of limbs and flying hair as if they’d been apart decades instead of one night.

“Are you alright?” I asked, checking Kera over quickly for any

injuries or scratches and hating that I’d been so blind to how wrong her situation was before.

“I’m fine.” She looked to the floor. “That was really embarrassing.

I’m sorry he acted that way. He gets in these moods sometimes.” “Sweet girl, never apologize for something that’s not your fault.” I

wrapped my arms around her, wishing I could take away any hurt she’d ever suffered and make her feel the love she deserved.

My stomach did a little flip when Maddock opened the cabin door. There were dark circles under his eyes, but he gave me a small smile that made my heart fill with happiness.

“Whoa there, Sage. Calm down with the magic.” Kera giggled as she patted my shoulder and broke away from the embrace. “You’re making my wolf want to roll on her back and get a belly rub.”

I laughed out loud, pure joy radiating through my being, as the girls’ hands intertwined. There was a calming blue magical glow that radiated

where they touched. It was beautiful.

“Is she alright?” Kera leaned over to whisper in Coral’s ear. “I think she got laid,” Coral mumbled.

“I’m standing right here and can hear you.” I shut my eyes tight, cringing from listening to my little sister talk about my sex life.

“Sage is fine.” Maddock growled, placing his hands on my shoulders with a protective squeeze.

He may have been growling, but I could feel his wolf sigh in something I’d only describe as a cat’s purr. I wanted to bask in the sound and warmth, to feel Maddock’s magic radiating through me again. The touch on my skin wasn’t nearly enough.

“Are you sure? Because she’s acting a little drunk.” Coral snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Sage, wake up.”

“I am awake.” I shook off the intense feelings and stepped away from Maddock before I lost myself in the magic of our bond, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.

The girls stared at me blankly.

I coughed to clear my throat. “Kera wanted breakfast, so she gets to pick the meal. What are we eating this morning?”

*

The eggy thing as Kera called it, extra potatoes, and deer sausage were on the table as fast as I could make them. There was an embarrassingly long few moments where I picked the basil leaves off my

plant and I could have sworn she was singing, but my baby seemed happy with the pruning haircut so I didn’t want to interrupt by asking questions.

Maddock’s eyes followed my every move with an intensity that made me blush–or want to drag him to the bedroom–but food first because that

was important.

I wanted them all happy and fed.

Both girls leaned back with a sigh of content after they’d devoured their meals. I’d noticed it before without understanding, but now in the glowing light of their auras it seemed like their souls were of the same magic.

“That was so good.” Kera moaned. Coral nodded. “I needed that.”

I couldn’t stop smiling as I took in their happy faces and the warmth that surrounded the table, but I shook my head to try to clear my thoughts and hated myself for having to ruin the moment.

Maddock moved closer so his leg was touching mine and he draped

his arm over the back of my chair as if somehow, he knew I’d need comfort.

I drew strength from his calming presence and focused hard to not get lost in it as I fidgeted with a fork on the table. “I need to know what we’re dealing with here. Does Apollo not want Kera as the next Alpha?”

“No. He doesn’t.” Kera sighed.

“But he doesn’t want anyone,” Coral hurried to explain.

My brow creased as I watched my sister. Since when had she become so knowledgeable in pack politics?

“The girls are right.” Maddock clasped his large hand over mine. “Apollo feels threatened by anyone who would challenge his position as Alpha because the title is all he has left.”

The tingling sensation from the touch of his skin warred with the tense breath of magic in the air. I closed my eyes to try to block out the sight of it.

“Sage, you can look at me.” He trailed his finger down my cheek and my eyes snapped open. “I swear that no harm will come to Kera just like you and Coral are safe.”

I tried to focus only on his words, but I was lost in the colors of his

irises that swirled with a vibrant intensity. Since when was gray so loud? So beautiful?

I shook my head to break the spell. “Okay. I trust you.” Coral scoffed, her jaw locking as it dropped. “Just like that?”

“Yep.” I stacked my plate on top of hers. “Now go do the dishes and get dressed for the day. I need your help at the restaurant this morning.”

“I’ll help today too.” Kera jumped up and started clearing the cups from the table.

“She never trusts anyone that fast,” Coral mumbled as she followed Kera into the kitchen. “All my friends had to basically pass a background check before we could hang out.”

“I heard that.” I smiled as I squeezed Maddock’s hand. “And it helps that I just got laid.”

Coral’s gasp made me chuckle as I tugged Maddock outside.

*

“What time is your planned opening today?” Maddock tucked a lock of hair behind my ear as we stood on the front porch. Desire warmed my skin as I thought of where his hands were last night and my body ached with the need to drown in the soft white glow of magic again.

I took a step back, closing my eyes. “At noon. It’s a soft launch so I’ll serve one meal to work through the kinks, but I’m afraid that if I don’t get

these feelings under control then I’ll mess everything up.”

“Feelings?” He took a step forward and lowered his face to mine so I felt the heat of his breath on my skin as his lips skimmed across my forehead. The anxiety of his wolf called to me.

“Calm down, growly.” I placed my hands against his chest. “I’ve already come to terms with the way I feel about you. It’s all this magic stuff now. I need to learn how to control it fast.”

“We can always postpone your launch.” He smirked as he moved me back and placed his hands against the cabin on either side of my head. “The tavern isn’t going anywhere. I’d much rather spend the day learning what

you’ve decided your feelings for me are.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I studied the specks of blue crystals in his gray eyes. “Well, you’re definitely not friend-zone material and I’m trying to figure out how much it’ll hurt to be bitten by a wolf.”

I ducked under his arm and skipped off the porch. “Do me a favor and keep an eye on Coral and Kera while I’m gone.”

“Where are you going?” He shoved his hands into his pockets with a frustrated sigh. For being so macho and growly, the man really was a giant teddy bear.

I dangled the truck keys in my hand, delighting in the tingling sound of metal against metal while the woods breathed an early morning song around me. “I need to go see a witch.”

*

“Finally.” Lisa smiled as she threw open the door to her cottage.

“It’s only been a few days.” I shrugged, trying to keep my excitement in check and failing as it bubbled over. “But seriously, what is this?”

“It’s life,” she said. “Magic is the universe and every living thing within it. This is the truth of the world.”

“It’s so beautiful.” Tears filled my eyes. “Why did I never see it before?”

“Because you were taught not to.” Lisa pulled me to her chest. The protective warmth of her motherly magic was a subtle pink and burnt

orange glow. I inhaled deeply and let it fill my soul, wanting to stay in the embrace.

Except I had a deadline to meet.

Cringing, I pulled back, already anticipating her response. “The problem now is that I need to learn how to control it.”

“What do you mean?” Lisa laughed. The charms in her hair made such delicate chimes. “You’ve been controlling it, badly I might add, for your whole life. This isn’t something you can get rid of, which you’ve obviously learned the hard way.”

“I guess, but…” I dug the toe of my shoe into the worn floorboard.

“Like yesterday, I tried to turn cornmeal into wheat flour and I couldn’t get it to work.”

“Oh no.” She clasped her hands over her mouth to hide her grin. “What made you think you could do that?”

“Um, because it’s magic.” I threw my arms out wide, motioning to every single thing around us. It all had an energy, a color, a story, a lifeforce just begging for me to explore it.

“Why don’t you take a deep breath and let’s sit down to talk?” She pulled me into the cabin and shoved me onto a kitchen chair, not noticing her own shifter strength as I had to catch myself on the table so I didn’t

topple over.

Lisa immediately went to the kitchen to quiet the kettle and poured boiling water into the two cups prepared with tea leaves.

I sighed, resting my chin on my fist. Of course she knew I was coming.

“Magic doesn’t work like that,” she hummed softly, continuing our conversation. “You can’t change the laws of nature. Corn can’t become wheat because it never was wheat.”

“It sure would have been nice if it could,” I muttered, recalling the ten-pound bag of cornmeal I’d pulverized into powder. My arms were still sore. “What can I do with magic?”

“Enjoy it.” Lisa smiled as she set a teacup in front of me. “The last time you were here, the leaves spoke of intent, but let’s start with what

you’ve already been able to do and we can go from there. Can you think of a time you felt the magic flowing through you? Nothing is too small.”

“Um.” I bit my lip as I thought about my night with Maddock and then quickly moved away from that memory, hoping she couldn’t read the desire for her son on my face.

“Last night with Coral,” I squeaked out. “She was really upset so I scratched her back like I always do to help her fall asleep, but this time I could see and feel the magic coming from my hands.”

“There you go.” Lisa nodded as she sipped her tea. “You intended for her to fall asleep and since the desire was already in her, you were able to coax it out.”

“That’s lame.” I looked to my hands, wishing they could shoot sparks or something.

“Is it though?” She tapped her finger against the porcelain cup. “Could you imagine the power you’d be able to wield in a different

situation? All living things are a complex network of wants and desires. You have the unique ability to bend them to your will.”

“This is making me feel worse,” I groaned. “I don’t want to manipulate anybody. What kind of super power is that?”

“The one the Gods have given you.” She smiled. “And I’m personally glad that it’s you that has this ability when you don’t want to use it to

harm.”

“Bless science, are Gods real too?” This was a heck of a lot to take in. “We can talk about that later.” Lisa chuckled. “For now, I want you to

see the importance of your gift. For example, if someone was intent on hurting someone that they cared about, you could pull out that desire of protection from them and change their intent with the touch of your hands.”

A silence fell between us and her words hung in the air like magic whisps of fog. I stared at them long enough to register their meaning.

“You’re talking about Apollo.” I took a sip of the bright tea. It was mint today and as refreshing as the crisp morning air.

“I’m talking about any dangerous situation you might find yourself in,” she said.

A heavy sadness darkened her eyes and clouded the magic surrounding her.

Without thinking, I reached out to touch her hand, wanting to provide comfort. “Kera is safe with me and Coral.”

“I know that.” Lisa sighed as the brightness of her magic returned. “Also, your touch is more potent than lavender.”

I snatched my hand back, a little shocked that I’d used magic without meaning to. But if this was what happened when I did, was it really all that

bad?

“Oops.” I chuckled, looking around the room. “I need to get going

soon, but I have to ask, is there a trick to ignoring the magic when you have to? I keep getting distracted by how beautiful it is.”

She bit back a playful grin. “You already know the answer to that. You’ve been doing it all your life. The real question is, do you want to go back to the way things were?”

I thought of icy water, of silent screams, of shutting down and closing my eyes. I was never fulfilled, never good enough for Ethica’s standards, all because of this untapped part of me.

I shook my head, loving the way Lisa’s beautiful magic burned brighter when she smiled.

“I will never live like that again.”