“We’ll leave the way I brought you in.” She stepped into the hall and as Braden joined her, she gave him a quick explanation of the layout. She gestured with her hand to the emergency rooms, the kitchen then the communal courtyard and living areas. These were scattered throughout several houses she’d bought up and added to the Landing complex over the past year. An architect she’d rescued had helped her to join the properties to create a more functioning space.
She turned to the right and led him through the wide emergency entrance double doors to the outside. The Jeep was parked close.
“We brought you here in this.” She glanced back at him. “Do you have any memory of it?”
She wasn’t surprised when he shook his head. “Not even a little.”
Once outside, she took him to a gate, again to the right, then into a small yard. It had been part of the original house Frank had bought for her when she first entered Five Bridges. Most of the house was used as Landing Offices now, though accessible only from the inside. The small garden, however, she’d kept for her private use.
The yard wasn’t much to speak of, though it did have a tall Sissoo in which her screech owl had made a home. She kept promising herself she’d tend to it, but never had enough time. She knew as a witch she’d gain strength from her garden. But at this point in her life, she just didn’t care. Getting the still-living out of the Graveyard every night, then taking care of those she’d rescued, all had priority.
Her owl, Whimsy, greeted her with his piercing shriek. “We’re doing some practicing with this.” She lifted her left arm. In the dark night, and with her skin tingling, it cast a faint glow.
Whimsy left his roost in the tree and flew to the top of the roof. “Good call.”
Whimsy shrieked once more in response.
She glanced at Braden. “Get close.” Her words came out in a tight command. She almost apologized for being so strident.
Braden didn’t seem bothered, however. He just resumed his position from earlier in her workroom, then shifted to whisper in her ear. “Relax. You’ll do better if you can let some of your tension go.”
She readjusted her head-space and what do you know, her lungs opened up. She took a deep breath until her shoulders eased down. She even ended up adjusting her stance slightly.
“That’s better.”
He was good for her and again, she was grateful.
As he’d done before, he ran his palm down the length of her arm. “When I train my new wolves, especially those recently arrived in Five Bridges, I always tell them to take three deep breaths before doing anything. With each breath, force your mind to focus on one particular object. In this case, see that dirt patch where your lawn isn’t growing? Aim there.”
Maeve followed his orders to the letter.
First breath. Rocks and dirt.
Second breath. Rocks and dirt and a cluster of small rocks.
Third breath. The center rock with a green tinge down the side.
She lifted the mint pouch to her nose, brought her killing power to the fore and let a pulse fly.
A golden stream, exactly like the energy she’d released during her failed induction ceremony, flowed at the group of rocks. It delivered the strongest part to the center just as she’d visualized. Dirt and rocks kicked up into the air.
She took a moment to assess. She drew her hands together, but couldn’t detect even the smallest change in temperature with her left hand. Only a slight tingling remained.
Braden stepped around her to meet her gaze. “How was that?”
“Simple. Amazing. You’re good at training.”
“I always like seeing my wolves succeed.”
“You must miss them.”
“Every minute of every day. But they’re here.” He slapped his chest. “And I know they’re with me as I take care of business. But they’re in excellent hands with Jeremy. He’s my main beta who, I’m convinced will soon be an alpha. Warren, the alpha of the Caldion pack, keeps an eye on them as well.”
“I saw Alpha Warren once. He’s scarred.”
“Yes. He is. A witch did it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
