Free Relentless by Scott Prussing Page B

for five minutes or so before the rain slowed to a mere downpour and she was able to see clearly once more.
    Finally, they reached the spot where the road came closest to the practice place Leesa had selected, and she directed Cali to pull off the roadway once more and park. The rain was still falling at a steady rate, but nowhere near as furiously as it had a few moments before. Both girls got out of the car. Leesa spun another air shield while Cali opened her multi-colored umbrella.
    They set off into the woods, picking their way between the tall trees. The foliage provided partial cover above them, slowing the downpour at least a little. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, creating a surface that was slick but not muddy. Leesa stepped carefully, while Cali stomped alongside in her heavy boots.
    Rave arrived at the secluded clearing only a few minutes after Leesa and Cali. He set Leesa’s rock down carefully on the wet ground to avoid splashing any water or debris up onto the girls. When he stood back up, Leesa locked her arms around behind his waist.
    “Time for your reward for carrying that,” she said before giving him a long kiss on the lips.
    “Oh, geesh,” Cali complained. “Again?” Her smile showed she didn’t mean it.
    When Leesa finished her kiss, she turned to Cali and grinned. “Don’t be so jealous. It doesn’t become you.”
    “Shouldn’t I get a reward for driving you here?” As soon as Cali finished asking, she looked at Rave flirtatiously, clearly showing what she wanted for her reward—another kiss from him.
    Leesa stepped closer to Cali. “Yeah, I think you do deserve something for your trouble.” She leaned over and planted a big wet kiss on Cali’s cheek. “How’s that?”
    Cali doubled over with laughter. “Not quite what I had in mind,” she said when she straightened up. “But at least I’ve collected a wizard’s kiss now. I have to say, Lees, you’ve got a ways to go before it measures up to a volkaane kiss or a vampire kiss, that’s for sure.” She glanced at Rave. “No offense, Rave. I’m sure you enjoy Leesa’s kisses just fine.”
    Rave reached out and took Leesa’s hand. “That I do. More than just fine.”
    Leesa squeezed his hand. “Good answer, sweetheart. Now stand back you two, it’s time for me to get to work.”
    Leesa let go of Rave’s hand and turned her attention to the dark stone in the center of the soaked clearing. In a few minutes, she would attempt to make it grow, but first she needed to warm up with her magic. All this time, she had effortlessly been maintaining a shield over her head to protect her from the rain, but now she would need to combine spells if she was to stay dry. She remembered Cali’s earlier suggestion and thought that might be a good place to start.
    She held out her hands and called forth a yellow illumination globe above her left palm and a blue one above her right. When both were glowing brightly in the gloom, she sent them floating up toward her invisible shield. When they struck the barrier, she concentrated hard on mixing the different magics, infusing the hues into the shield. Half of it suddenly shone yellow and the other have glowed blue.
    “That’s what I’m talking about!” Cali cheered. “Add some color to that thing, so we can see it! It’s pretty, too.”
    Leesa smiled proudly. She wasn’t done yet, though. Continuing to visualize the colors filling the shield, she broke them into six different blue and yellow rows, alternating them in sections similar to the segments in Cali’s umbrella. Where the colors met, thin strips of green appeared. The green light made Leesa think of the child inside her belly, and a warm glow filled her. When she was confident she had the colors locked firmly into place, she turned to Cali.
    “How about now?” she asked.
    Cali’s eyes were fastened on the yellow and blue barrier above Leesa’s head. “Even better. Way cool. Not as cool as hot pink, mind you, but