Page 33 of Wallflower Witch
“And,” Josh cuts in. “We are all fine, and it doesn’t look like you caused any big issues. The ground didn’t even crack open.”
“Haha,” I deadpan. “Let’s not plant that idea in my head.”
“Just remember you control the magic, not the other way around,” Patrick tells me, walking over to stand next to me. “And Josh is right. The worst damage that happened was some bruises. It was well controlled for someone so new to magic.”
I force a smile before looking at the stuff strewn all over the area we are practicing in. “I appreciate the confidence, but do you think there’s another form of earth I can practice?”
Patrick looks around, cocking his head back and forth as he thinks. “I guess we could try building the earth up.” He shrugs. “It may be useful in knocking the crypts off their foundations if we get stuck.”
“That sounds a little safer.” I nod. “What are the chances that I am going to make a mountain or even a hill? Heck, I’ll be happy with a molehill.” I laugh at my own joke.
“I’m guessing it’s the same thing as before. Focus on what I want and shape the magic to my will. Just ask the earth to form a hill?” I glance at Patrick. He nods. “Well, here goes nothing.”
I close my eyes and reach inside, finding my magic is still tucked away. “Shit.” I pop my eyes open and look around. “Ugh! My magic still isn’t responding.”
“I’m happy to be of service,” Josh offers me with a mocking bow. “I do believe I’m the only one who hasn’t had the pleasure of helping you free your magic.”
I snort but move closer to him. “If you insist,” I answer.
Josh wraps his arms around me, supporting me as he dips me backwards. His mouth lands on mine more tentatively than I would have expected, considering how boldly he grabbed me.
I smile and run my tongue along the seam of his lips. He doesn’t open for me, instead moving his mouth down to my neck, licking and sucking the sensitive spot behind my ear. I shiver as the heat inside me moves lower. I wish I could squeeze my thighs together, but I don’t want to risk falling down.
Moans and gasps fall from my mouth as my arms tighten around his neck. My fingers find the hair at the nape of his neck and pull, forcing his mouth to release me. My eyes blaze with heat as I drag him back to my mouth, attacking him with a fervor I didn’t know I possessed.
The sound of a throat clearing breaks us apart. Josh rights me, and I spin to see Matt has stopped reading and is watching the two of us.
“As entertaining as that was”—he smiles—“I think I’ve found something.”
I hurry over to his side and drop down next to him. Patrick and Josh move to stand behind the log we are leaning on.
“There’s a section here about magic being tied to emotion. The higher the emotion, the more powerful the magic. It also says that your emotions can affect the outcomes of the magic. Negative emotions can cause darker magic, and positive emotions can cause light magic.”
“I should have realized that,” mutters Patrick. “We are taught from before we have magic to never cast out of anger. There are so many horror stories of people causing irreversible harm over small spats because they let their emotions get the best of them.”
I inhale sharply. “Irreversible harm?! And you’re just now mentioning it!”
“I didn’t want to scare you,” Patrick says with a small shrug. “I figured we’d get to that part eventually, but you don’t seem mad, so I figured that could be a problem for another day.”
“I could have hurt one of you?!” My voice rises.
“But you didn’t,” answers Matt. “Not even close.”
I turn and look between the three of them, all in one piece and all offering me encouragement.
“Could fear affect someone’s magic?” Josh asks.
Patrick thinks for a minute before nodding. “I think it could. If there’s enough fear, especially fear of your magic, I could see that causing it to freeze.”
“Like the flight, fight, or freeze when people panic but with magic.” Matt nods.
“Yeah, but how does kissing you help me unlock my magic?” I ask.
“It looks like your mind wanders away from the magic and toward more fun and private activities,” Matt says. My face heats. “Maybe getting your mind to focus more on your body and less on your fear is the key to unlocking your magic.”
“But why would it go away after I cast a spell?”
“You looked terrified when the ground was shaking,” Patrick reminds me. “And it didn’t go away after one spell last time. The small pile was moved quickly and easily. Then you focused on the larger piles, which is where it seemed to move out of your control, and your fear took over.”