Page 153 of Claimed

“Hm,” she responds. “Like Erica with the blue.”

I continue, “Always had the ability to persuade people, but when we got here yesterday, I made a clammed-up shithead shifter admit his lies. Felt all sorts of heat behind my eyes when I told him to tell me the truth and he started spewing.”

“Ah. Could be your telekinesis.”

“Used it again last night questioning the men here. But I realized after I spoke up when you got here how every single Silver Hills pack member took your elixir that maybe I was tapping into it without realizing it. Did I persuade them?”

“Probably, since we had a hundred percent consumption rate.”

I wince.

She pats my arm affectionately. “Don’t feel bad. It won’t hurt them. On the contrary, it’ll help. You might be able to learn how to suppress it for when you don’t want to influence people.”

“It’s probably my mindset. I’m in a determined mood today,” I say.

She smiles brightly. “It’s obvious. I can see how intense your energy is. That’s my primary gift besides leveraging what grows for healing. Reading energy. Healing it. Wielding it to do the opposite at times. And using your persuasion gift might have brought it to the surface where you no longer need to work too hard to tap into it. But again you can likely learn how to manage the volume switch on your strengths. Though, maybe not. Ronnie can’t turn off her gifts so sometimes she makes sure not to touch someone or something.”

“Got a lot to learn. Not happy about being a late bloomer, Dani.”

She gives me an understanding smile. “You’re coming into your magic preciselywhenandhowyou’re supposed to. Don’t fret about it. I brought you some reading material and a starter apothecary.” She opens the trunk of her car and gestures. “That box is yours. This should get you started and help with any emergencies if Stacy’s brother shows up.”

I lift the banker’s box out and it has weight to it.

She lifts out a large tote bag and loops the straps over her shoulder. “In that box you’ll also find photocopies of somepages of key grimoires, some basic spells, some ledgers to look over. Some meditation guidelines and here’s a…” She reaches into another box in her trunk and hands me a vial with a clear liquid in it… “dose of something that’ll help open you up to the knowledge of the ancestors who have bestowed their magic upon you. We would all love to be there for that if you can wait. Then we can do our little thing where we present you with your wand and cauldron. Sounds corny but we’ve done it for all of us and you’re one of us, so…”

“Sounds nice,” I tell her.

“If you need the ampule sooner because of any emergencies, you can go ahead and take it. But review that material first. When all this is resolved, please try to make time to come, with Stacy, and spend a few weeks with us for more training and we’ll bestow your implements and have a little party.”

“Sounds good, cuz. And obviously I’ll make sure it all stays secure.” I gesture to the box. “Thanks for all this, Dani. It means a lot.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “To anyone without witch blood, the documents won’t make much sense. But this is important: you’ll want to take that ampule in a protected circle. It’ll feel like time is standing still, but it won’t be. Just go with it. Best if you can with more of your coven members present, but if you can’t, it’s okay. We’ve planned for contingencies.” She lifts a box of salt out of her trunk and tosses it into mine. “Never leave home without it.”

I grin. “Thanks. So, Vivi have any idea what’s coming to wrap this up with my mate’s brother?” I transfer the box to the trunk of my car.

“She hasn’t said.”

“Any way she can use magic to nudge to find out?”

She gives me a slightly condescending smile and gets on her tiptoes to pat the top of my head.

“Baby witch, don’t be too overzealous,” she muses and then laughs.

I frown.

“That’s what Aunt Lyrica would say to us when we were newbies if any of us tried to command magic and twist it to our agenda instead of letting magic wield us the way it needs to.”

“Right,” I mutter.

She pats my arm with affection. “She would have loved you. I wish you could’ve met her.”

“Me, too.”

“Read the material. It’ll get you started. You’re getting shortcuts, believe me, because of Aunt Mimi’s link. There may be things you suddenly just tap into or just know how to do. Like your persuasion gift, the telekinesis – you used that the first time at Erica’s party, right?”

“Right with the knife getting pulled from Meadows. Never happened before. I’ve always had the power of persuasion but now it feels stronger.”

“A base education on our coven’s history, on our guidelines, and on some basic dos and don’ts will help you immensely. You’ve got a leg up on the rest of us, Greyson… we were all enrolled in the tortoise-speed witchcraft school. You get to do the self-paced version.”

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