“In case of what?” He took the bundle of yerba santa.
“If something goes wrong, and I have to go planar, you can draw enough power from that to reach the plane. At least, I think it should work for you.”
“I already told you I don’t use enhancements.”
“It’s not a drug.”
“It is, actually. You can become addicted to potions and herbs, as with anything you use in excess, until you realize you don’t need to use them.”
“You’re calling me an addict now?” I raised my voice, and the driver glanced in the rearview.
“Sorry, we’re all good.” I forced a smile and nodded at her that everything was in fact good. I scooted away from Ranth, leaning my head against the door and trying to get the silvery glow back. I closed my eyes again. What if he was right? What if I actually had learned to support my ability the wrong way? Witchcraft was all about positive energy. Candles, herbs, crystals were all focus points. Making connections. Creating spaces. I’d always thought enhancements would increase my access to my power, but what if I didn’t need anything?Listing how herbs, tea, salad, and juices fueled me, proving they had a positive effect, I threw off my inner doubts.
The car slowed outside the warehouse fence. The driver glanced back at us, her sunglasses reflecting the light. “The GPS shows the number here, but there’s no number. Is this it?” the driver asked.
“Yep, all good. Anywhere here.” I could see Juke’s set-up in the distance. We’d have to walk around to the back to get through the gate, but the midday spring sun would recharge me.I tipped my face to the sun and tugged off the lavender glasses, letting the rays bathe my eyelids.
“You’re really beautiful,” Ranth said.
My eyes snapped open, ready to humble him really quick, but the expression of honest reverence on his face shut me up while butterflies danced where they had no business being. I shoved the glasses back on and opened the gate.
Juke’s tent was a white beacon in the parking lot, next to the warehouse her dad owned. The circular structure she’d put together had white triangular panels that spiraled from the tips to wide bases. Juke was hanging out under an awning, pink herringbone braids wrapped high in lime-green neon ribbons.
She pulled off her headphones, settling them around her neck. Her heart-shaped face lit up as we approached. “Hey, glad you’re okay. Come see.” She waved us toward her and held up a flap on the side of the round tent.
Ranth ducked inside, and I followed. Ranth stared up at the projection on the ceiling, rubbing his neck. “But the sun will not be visible? In the temple, there are panels on the ceiling which can be removed.”
“That’s for the final ritual thing. This is for the finding-map—but I’ve got you. I already thought of that.” Juke pushed a button. The top of the tent split open.
I squinted up at the sky. “That’s all levels of awesome.”
“Yup, I know. We have enough screening to see the map grid, or starscape, and you get your sunlight too. Everyone’s happy.”
“You’re amazing.”
“Hey, it’s what I do.” But her lips spread into a cat-with-cream toothy grin, and I was sure her eyes sparkled behind the chartreuse-tinted glasses. “Let me show you how the map works…”
Ihad to admit that Juke’s construction was pretty impressive. She had built a geo-dome meets Super-dome with a fiber-fed grid and retractable roof. The goats were in a pen with a flat of wheatgrass shorn to the quick. Someone had rigged an umbrella shade and given them a pool of water.
I crouched down, and the mama and baby skittered over to me, their hooves sliding on the asphalt. “Hey, girls. How’s your auntie treating you?” I petted the tops of their heads and was rewarded with a black-tongued lick to the inside of my wrist.
“Where are Ori and Freddie?” I asked Juke.
“They went to get some more grass. Can’t have Liesl’s Kashmir goats starving, right? Besides, I don’t want them going back to the cables.”
“Did we get goat-milking instructions?” I asked Juke, and she pushed her glasses up on top of her head.
“Uh no, figured you had that part nailed, since you used to live on a farm?” She handed me a bucket.
I stared into the bottom of the dull silver. “Yeah, no. Never done it. But guess we can figure it out.”
“I can do it,” Ranth said. I hadn’t realized he was behind me, which wasn’t good. Apparently, I wasn’t back up to full focus.
“You can milk… yeah, you would know how. Awesome. Okay, so it seems like we are ready.”
Juke zipped up her hoodie and looked around. “Where’s Rose?”
“She’ll be here. Ranth heated her buns. She’s cooling off.” I glanced at my phone and decided to text her.
