Free The Wicked by Stacey Kennedy Page B

of strength within me.
     
    “Then search deeper. The coldness is the source of the Air Element. It will be there within you…somewhere.”
     
    The heat that raced through me was so powerful, but when I focused on it, I did notice that behind that heat sat a lingering coldness. I asked it to come forward—push its way through the warmth that seemed to live constantly in me now.
     
    “I think I feel something.” It was similar to a cold fall day. Instantly, I wanted to go home, have a hot bath, put on some comfies, and curl up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a chick-flick.
     
    “It’s about damn time,” Zennah snapped.
     
    “What should I do next?” I asked, opening my eyes. This bitch was pissing me off. But there was no way in hell I’d do something stupid with Zia standing next to me. I was in enough trouble as it is.
     
    “I don’t know what you have to do,” Zennah replied. “Just do something, use it however you want to.”
     
    I glanced around, my gaze landing on my cat, Willow. She was due a little payback and definitely needed a good lesson in just who was boss in this relationship. So, with the coolness filling my body I sent a little wisp of air straight for her.
     
    “What on earth…you,” Willow growled as she flew up and down in the air.
     
    Zia and I burst out laughing. Even Zennah chuckled a little beside me.
     
    I left Willow to dance through the air for a while. What can I say, she’d been a royal pain in my ass.
     
    “Put me down. Right now,” Willow demanded.
     
    “Next time you get saucy with me you’ll get worse,” I said, but did feel a tinge bad for treating my kitty in such a way. When she was close to the ground, I released my magic.
     
    Willow landed, shook her fur which appeared even fluffier. “I will be giving you the silent treatment. That is what you deserve.” Then, she sauntered away.
     
    “Willow said I’ll be getting the silent treatment.” I smiled at Zia. “How long do you think that’ll last?”
     
    “An hour tops,” Zia replied, wiping tears from her eyes.
     
    “There, are we done now? She seems fine,” Zennah ground out, then she turned away and whispered, “Dim-witted, but fine.”
     
    That was it—the icing on the cake.
     
    I didn’t care who this bitch was or how much she was helping me. No one—and I mean no one—calls me dim-witted.
     
    “Nexi…no,” Zia shouted, just as I sent Zennah flying across the Meadow on a blast of air.
     
    “You stupid bitch! You think you’re stronger than me?” Zennah yelled, and threw her air at me, sending me sky high.
     
    When I finally landed, I glared at her. “Get over it. Kyden dumped you. He used you for the slut you are and threw you to the curb like sluts deserve.”
     
    If she hated me before, those words changed that to utter loathing. Air began whipping around her so fast. Fear grew inside me. She looked scary—damn scary. Okay, I’m brave and all, but I ain’t superwoman, and this witch was about to blast me straight to the moon.
     
    “Stop it,” Zia shouted.
     
    Zennah ignored her order and sent her magic spiraling toward me. A big gust of wind, moving with impeccable speed, came directly at me.
     
    My eyes shut on their own accord as I prayed that she wasn’t about to kill me. It did get windy, that was for damn sure, but shockingly seconds later that was it. I never went to visit the clouds. Confused, I opened my eyes
     
    Zennah and Zia looked completely stunned.
     
    My expression mirrored theirs instantly. Zennah’s wind was whipping around my body, but not touching me. Apparently, there was a shield surrounding me. When the wind hit it, it deflected away.
     
    Zennah suddenly backed away, her magic disengaging. “What was that?” she gasped.
     
    I glanced to Zia. “Er…I have no idea.”
     
    Zia approached me quickly. “I have never seen anything like that. How did you do that?”
     
    I shrugged. “How the hell should I know? I never know