Page 66 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“You talked to him?” he asked.

“Yes. He didn’t know that we were mated.”

“Where are they?”

“Hiding out on the Faroe Islands. He said they were attacked by Beetle’s men and went on the run. He’s too tired and injured to use magic. Your sister was injured.” I placed my hand on his chest to calm his rapidly beating heart. “She was sleeping. My brother is taking care of her.” Then I turned to Lily Joy. “Lily Joy, if a manly version of me and a girly version of Connor show up, it’s Simeon and Madigan. I told them to come here.”

“You don’t think they will?” she asked.

“Well, he couldn’t use magic so they were using cash, but they ran out and tried to get to an ATM but were ambushed. Somehow, they ended up in a cave on the Faroe Islands. I startedto fade, getting drawn back through the door. But I tried a spell. If it worked, then he’ll have money to get them here.”

“I pulled you back through the door when I shook you,” Connor said.

“Seems like it. Please don’t look sad. This is good. My brother and I have met. Your sister is in good hands.”

“It’s not that I’m sad…” He ran a hand over his face, presumably organizing his thoughts. “I’m glad my sister is in good hands. This sounds low in my head, so I know it’ll make me sound like a dick when I say it out loud, but she’s no longer my main concern. She has a mate for that. You, though, Simone, you traveled out of your body thousands of miles away without me there to protect you.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I know that, baby. But you can’t know how I feel. You feel our mated bond—but every part of who I used to be is overwritten by the bondandmy need to protect you.”

“That sounds highly unpleasant,” I said softly. While I’d said it to lighten the moment, I also meant it. Poor Connor. Tears actually rimmed my eyes.

Connor lifted me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me, and he bent in to kiss the side of my head. “It’s not so bad.”

“Maybe—do we think there’s a way to bring Connor with you during your astral projections?” Lily Joy asked and in truth, I’d forgotten she was in the room with us.

“I don’t know. This was the first time it happened.”

“We could practice while you’re here.”

“That’s a great idea, Lily Joy,” Connor agreed and I smiled. He really had the sweetness down when he wanted to use it.

“Since I’m up,” she said, “I’m going to dress and get breakfast going. We’ve got a lot to do and it appears, not much time in which to do it.”

I felt the invisible noose tightening around my neck. I only hoped we were prepared for the fall.

Chapter

Seventeen

After a hearty breakfast of fruit, oatmeal with pecans, and a plant-based sausage, along with copious amounts of coffee, the three of us put our heads together trying to figure out any new powers and getting a good handle on the ones I already had.

That was the plan. Where to start, though?

“What can you do?” Lily Joy asked to get us going.

“I have taser fingers. When I want to shock someone, I press my fingers on them, and an electric current moves through them.”

“Are you kidding?”

“Trust me, she’s not kidding,” Connor said. “I’ve seen her in action. It’s amazing.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling stupidly back at the man.

“You caught me on a good day,” he replied, winking. “She can manifest her desires. That’s so convenient.”

“‘Convenient’?” I asked sarcastically. “You wanted to pull your hair out the first time we figured out that ability.”

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