“Excellent. Now, I want you to close your eyes and allow the magic to guide you. If you feel like moving your hands, follow that sensation.” I followed his instructions and closed my eyes. I gasped as colors popped into the darkness behind my lids. It was like seeing a fireworks show.
The vendor spoke softly, and I took a deep breath, calming myself to listen. “It may be overwhelming at first to be this close to so many magical items. Just let their essence mingle with yours. The wand that matches your energy will draw you forward.”
I kept breathing, focusing on the colors and the tingles in my palms. My body swayed gently, allowing me to sync up with the flow of inside and out. Swishing to the right, then left, and right again before finally stopping. My feet moved and I warmth radiated, almost tickling my fingertips.
And before I knew it, my fingers closed around a wand.
I opened my eyes as the vendor clapped his hands. “Wonderful choice.”
“Oh, that’s pretty,” Imogene said, complimenting the wooden wand in my hand.
It was sixteen inches or so. It felt light in my hands and smooth like it had been freshly sanded. Carved swirls wove tightly around the handle then spread out like dancing partners all the way to the tip.
A blue gem nestled at the top of the handle. As I tilted the wand, a flash of white caught my eye.
A star.
“Aster Azulimine. Or as your world calls it…” The vendor scanned a sheet of paper with his fingers and then snapped them. “A star sapphire.”
A star sapphire.
It was beautiful and felt right in my hand.
“Thank you,” I whispered, unsure what else to say.
I wasn’t just a mother of a college student anymore.
I was a witch, with powers, and a wand to prove it.
A hand pressed against my back, and I stepped to the side so the others could have a turn. But the hand stayed splayed against me.
“Beautiful,” Rylan whispered.
I nodded, my fingers touching the shimmering star. “It really is.” I smiled and looked up at him only to find he wasn’t looking at my wand, but my awestruck face.
Oh.
My smile faltered as his face brightened. And not in an expression sense… his face was lit up because I was glowing again.
Ugh.
“For fuck’s sake,” I cursed. I rubbed my hands over my face like I could scrub the light out of my skin.
Gently, Rylan’s hands wrapped around mine and lowered them.
“Sir! Your turn,” the vendor called out and interrupted whatever was happening between us. To which I was grateful because I didn’t want to analyze my glow, his touch, or his words. Nor did I want to acknowledge how they made me feel.
Rylan glanced at the vendor, then proceeded to lift my hand toward his pink, cupid’s bow lips. He wasn’t going to…
I didn’t get to find out because a plume of daisies shot out of my wand, blasting the tent right into the air, causing flowers to fall all over the Witch’s Fair.
Chapter Twelve
What about being friends?
After the flower exploding incident, I fled to the nearest tent that looked unoccupied, hoping to escape my humiliation. Remy found me minutes later amongst stacks of purple storage boxes.
“I’m embarrassing,” I groaned, face still burning hot.
