Free Witch & Wizard 04 - The Kiss by James Patterson Page A

inspired, watching him. I let my arms rise up and swirl around. Then my head and hips get into the gyration. We’re dancing by ourselves, doing our thing, but our eyes find each other again and again, stoking the spark.
    My hair starts swinging wildly and it whips Heath’s face. He’s laughing. I’m laughing. His arm curls around my waist and pulls me in close.
    But just then the song ends and we pull apart abruptly.
    Heath’s cheeks are flushed with the exercise, and for some reason, even the sight of his sweat makes my heart rate rise.
    “You’re an incredible dancer,” I say breathlessly as someone fumbles with choosing another song.
    “You’re pretty great yourself.”
    I shake my head. “Not like that. And on the foolball field. No one has reflexes like my brother. But you move like magic.”
    “Maybe I’m a wizard, too,” Heath whispers, his breath hot on my neck.
    I pull back, surprised. I see from his expression that there’s no maybe. He’s telling the truth. “You’re not registered,” I answer, confused. I thought I knew all the magicians in the City.
    “If you could go back and keep your power a secret, wouldn’t you?”
    I shake my head instinctively, but then I think of the sanctions Bloom is imposing on magicians. I see what Heath is saying. That kind of information is a dangerous secret these days. And he’s sharing it with me.
    I’m more intrigued by this mysterious boy than ever.
    “Now, do you want to really dance?” he asks, eyebrow raised devilishly, and I know what he’s asking.
    Whit and I have merged our power with other people a few times when we had to. Whit brought me back from near death with the help of a little girl named Pearl, and even Byron and I had a notable moment….
    But Whit and I have never merged with other magicians.
    I look down at Heath’s outstretched hand, then up at those fearless, clear blue eyes. For being one of the most powerful witches in our world, I’m way too intimidated.
    “Don’t follow me. Follow the music,” he says. “Let it inside of you.”
    No more holding back. Time to feel it . Deep inside.
    I take his hand and instantly feel the surge of his power as it builds on mine. I feel my heart beating out a rhythm, faster and faster.
    I do as he says and let in the music. I let in the beat, the rhythm, and the pulse. I let it shake up through my bones and into my muscles. But more than that, I let in Heath’s power .
    It makes my feet feel light, my hips free. It makes me feel like I’m capable of anything and everything. It pulses hotter than fire, lifts me higher than morphed wings, is stronger than mind control. It electrifies me.
    Once again Heath’s arms find my waist and we’re drawn together by an almost magnetic force. Pretty soon it’s like our separate moves just start morphing into one pulsing, swaying animal.
    The crowd instinctively backs up around us, giving us space, and all the other people seem to fade away until it’s just him and me . We’re spinning now, shoulders shuddering, hips popping, then stopping magically at the same moment. Right now, it’s not about us. It’s not about what we want.
    It’s about the music.
    After years living under the New Order, sneaking muffled strums on a guitar and trying to keep my movements measured and meek, this is exactly what I needed. After a while, I don’t even know how long we’ve been dancing, because the hum of our energy makes it feel like forever and mere moments at the same time.
    I just know that I never want to stop.

Chapter 21
    Wisty
    “YOU’RE NOT WELCOME HERE.”
    It’s Byron. I can hardly believe it. I should’ve left him as a weasel.
    Heath just keeps dancing. He doesn’t say anything or even acknowledge that he’s heard Byron. And why would he? It’s a ridiculous statement.
    “Byron…” I start, but thankfully, he’s walking away.
    Or not. He pulls the plug to the amp, and the music dies. Complaints erupt around the room, but Byron ignores