Free Witches' Waves by Teresa Noelle Roberts Page A

unless they were dealing with a violent lightning storm at sea or a tsunami—or, he supposed, a toaster that had fallen into a bathtub due to an earthquake. “What do you expect me to do?” He realized he was one eye-roll away from coming off like an exasperated teenager and tried, belatedly, to smile and sound less sullen.
    She shot him a blue-eyed look that was half glare and half approbation, the kind of look only an Irish grandmother could pull off properly. “Meaghan has water powers as well as precognition, but the water magic’s locked down with a sorcerous spell. Right now, you’re the only water witch available, and she’ll need you to ease her through having that magic awakened after so long.”
    Had his grandmother lost her mind? And Jan was nodding like she thought it was a great idea. “Are you sure…”
    His grandmother couldn’t read thoughts—thankfully—but from the look she gave him, she didn’t need magic to know what he was about to say. “Don’t start arguing with me, lad. The only other grown water witch at home right now is Portia. I’m not putting her in a circle with an unshielded seer with repressed memories. It has to be you.”
    No, no and no. The lightning power behaved so unpredictably when other magic was bouncing around. He mostly knew what to do when the lightning collided with familiar Donovan magic, but Meaghan had nasty sorcerous spells on her. What if the power decided it wanted to play and he couldn’t stop it? “Heather can work circles around me.”
    â€œDispelling dark sorcery is no task for a witch of thirteen, even one as competent as Heather,” his grandmother said.
    Did he have to spell it out? He’d rather not be so blunt with Kyle listening—not to mention poor Meaghan, who had to be scared enough without knowing one of her would-be saviors wasn’t up for the job. But he was not going to risk a magical clusterfuck if there was any way to avoid it. “I don’t trust my control around sorcery. Meaghan has enough problems without being struck by lightning indoors.”
    Roslyn sighed heavily. “Get over your fears and step up. It pays to be cautious with wilder magic like yours, but you’ve never hurt another person and I doubt you’ll start now. You’re not getting out of being a Donovan this time. And you might as well get used to working with the lass. Someone needs to teach her to use that water magic once she gets it back.”
    â€œOh shit,” Deck mouthed at Kyle as the relatives led him away.

Chapter Seven
    Meaghan heard them all leaving the room, all those new people. Felt them leave. She was alone, away from the wearying, well-meaning strangers.
    That should have felt good. One thing she’d always yearned for back at the hospital was the chance to be truly alone, not observed at all hours.
    But alone in a strange place, in the middle of a room she’d never been in before, was a little alarming. Where were the walls, the furniture? Should she just stand here so she didn’t trip or break something? It had been only a few seconds, but she had to fight back a wave of panic.
    Then she realized she wasn’t alone. She didn’t hear anything, didn’t sense the buzzing in her head she felt around Becky or some of the doctors, but a hint of warm, pleasant energy told her Kyle was nearby, but being still. More still, she thought, than most people could be. He moved a few steps, but she knew it more from a subtle shift of the air than by a sound.
    Then she felt a by now familiar hand on her arm. “The couch is over here.” Kyle’s voice was warm and sleek like fur, a caress on her skin. “Come with me. Sorry for not saying something right away, but my brain was retreating from the combined force of all those Donovan personalities. I understand why Deck says he needs to get away sometimes and play.”
    â€œI like