Chapter Twenty-One
Ava
Savannah and Iargued for maybe the third time in our decade long friendship.
“He was practically out of his mind,” she hissed. “He didn’t know who you were. He didn’t even know whohewas! You can’t be alone in a room with him until we’re sure that he’s back to normal.”
I bit back a sigh. The anxiety was rolling off Savannah in waves and her fingertips were sparking. Rhys watched our argument with his arms crossed over his chest, ready to intervene should she lose control of her newfound powers. After the binding spell, Savannah’s body was having some interesting reactions, the first being that she now shared Rhys’ ability to manifest electrical currents. She also fried electronic devices within a five-foot radius, so Kerry made her an amulet similar to the one she’d made for Rhys. It made it possible for them to use cell phones, laptops, and other devices without frying the circuits.
“Whether he remembers me or not, he’ll be calmer if I’m the only other person in the room,” I shot back.
She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked one hip. “So he didn’t nearly rip your throat out earlier?”
I sighed at her exaggeration. “No, he didn’t. He definitely wasn’t himself and he did seem a little more…fanged than usual, but he controlled himself and he didn’t hurt me.”
“But he’s an echo, or whatever it’s called!” she cried, waving a hand in the air. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
It was dangerous.Hewas dangerous. Echoes were able to “borrow” a witch’s ability. Some for just a short time and others for the rest of their existence. The length of the borrowing depended on the Echo’s level of power. The stronger they were, the longer they could hold the power.
Then again, borrowing probably wasn’t the exact word. The witch they echoed wouldn’t lose any of their strength or abilities. They never knew they’d been touched by an Echo most of the time.
The Echo’s powers seemed to learn and adapt based on the witch they copied. Almost as though the magic was a sentient being that recognized the power and imitated it perfectly. Like a chameleon blending into the background, the Echo’s power blended with whatever magic surrounded it. It was the ultimate magical defense mechanism.
Over the centuries, witches had slowly eradicated Echoes. Or at least sent most of them into hiding. The community didn’t believe they could be trusted. Something about absolute power corrupting absolutely. I often thought it was preposterous. No witch, even an Echo, could gain absolute control over magic. And even if they were able to, their power didn’t dictate the way they wielded their abilities.
Light or dark, the powers used by any witch were determined by their choices.
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted.
Savannah looked at me as though she wanted to thump me on the back of the head. Then she turned to Rhys, who lifted his hands in mock surrender.
“I’m not getting involved. Ava is older than me and stronger than me. If she says she can handle the vampire if he gets fresh again, I believe her.”
“Fresh?” Savannah asked. “What is this the 1950’s?”
Rhys shot her a look that promised retribution for that remark.
Before they could get into an argument of their own and gallivant off for the subsequent make-up sex, I lifted a hand to get Savannah’s attention.
“I will be perfectly safe with Macgrath. He’s still asleep and likely will be for a while. If he’s not…back to normal when he wakes up, I’ll call out for you, okay?”
She stared at me for a long moment and must have realized that I’d relented as much as I intended to because she nodded. “Fine.”
“C’mon, Savannah, we should get a bit more sleep,” Rhys stated, reaching a hand out for hers. When she took it, his face softened in an affectionate smile. “You’ve had a big change today and I don’t want you to have any problems.”
Savannah sighed but didn’t argue as she followed him back down the hall to the guest room. I watched them go, wrapping my arms around my waist.
As soon as they vanished from sight, I released a long breath and leaned back against the door to Macgrath’s room. Scrubbing my hands over my face, I tried to encourage my sluggish brain to move.
For the first time in many years, I wasn’t sure what my next step should be.
I always had a plan. A plan for my plan. A contingency for my contingency.
But now I was winging it. There were too many variables and too many emotions. I knew nothing of my past or Macgrath’s, and it was the same for him.
We were strangers to each other and, in many ways, ourselves.
When I lowered my hands, Kerry stood before me, her face gentle and encouraging.
