Page 20 of Dragon's Golden Mate
Kendrick gently touched her elbow. “Let’s get back to Tina’s. I think we need a little time to recover from that.”
“All right.” They walked back through town, mostly in stunned silence. “What are you going to tell your client?” Maeve asked after a bit.
“Definitely not that the building attacked us,” he said with a rumble of a laugh. “She’s supposed to set up another appointment with me.”
“You can’t go back there,” Maeve protested.
“The creatures didn’t attack when I was there with her,” he countered. “Maybe it has something to do with the ownership of the place. I’m not sure. I just know I want to find out more.”
Maeve nodded as they reached The Crystal Cauldron. “Let me know when you do.”
8
“Breathe in deeply.”
Gentle music flowed through the room. The scent of various essential oils reached Maeve’s nostrils as she obeyed her niece, pulling in as much air as she could and then letting it out slowly. She could sense Amanda’s hands hovering just above her body, not touching her and not needing to.
She needed her mind to be clear, but Kendrick loomed large there regardless. That kiss they’d shared the previous day had been far more than a peck on the cheek. The way he’d watched over her as she’d shifted had been quite a statement, and even their shared experience at the church was noteworthy.
But she needed to let it go. Maeve pulled inanother deep breath, imagining her thoughts of Kendrick flowing out along with the air that passed through her lips. He was an incredible man with many desirable traits, but she was only torturing herself by spending time with him.
“You can open your eyes.”
Maeve saw Amanda’s familiar face smiling down at her. She had her mother’s generous features, with high cheekbones, a wide mouth, and doe-like eyes. It was almost the same face that Maeve had grown up sharing a room with, although Lucille was now as old and gray as she was. “Well? What did you find?”
“Not a thing,” Amanda replied as she helped Maeve sit up. The assistance wasn’t really needed, but Amanda treated all her clients with delicacy when they’d just been through a session. “Your chakras are beautifully aligned, and I didn’t find anything blocking your energy flow.”
“I suppose at the very least I come out of your sessions well rested,” Maeve said with a smile, although she was a bit disappointed. Amanda was one of the best energy healers in the area, and Maeve didn’t believe that simply because they were related. If anyone had been able to find something wrong, it would have been Amanda. “I just don’t understand what’s going on with my magic.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help,” Amanda replied sincerely. She pulled the claw clip out of her hair, letting her dark waves cascade over her shoulders. “We can check it again in a few days.”
“I don’t want to keep you from your practice any more than I already have, but thank you. It's not fair for me to cut in at the front of the waiting list.” Maeve slipped off the low couch in her altar room and slowly stood.
Amanda had been putting her supplies away, but now she looked sharply over her shoulder. “Who told you I had a waiting list?”
Maeve realized her mistake. She twisted her fingers in front of her mouth as though she were twisting a key in a lock. “A little bird, that’s all.”
“A bird named Lucille?” Amanda asked. When Maeve didn’t answer, she shook her head. “I told her that in confidence.”
“She’s just proud of you. It’s a mom thing. We can’t help it. When we know our children are doing well, we want to tell everyone.” It was something Maeve had to be careful about, because she didn’t want anyone in the coven thinking that her blood family got preferential treatment.
“I suppose you’re right,” Amanda admitted with a shy bob of her head.
“To be honest, I don’t know why you wouldn’t want anyone to know,” Maeve pointed out. “You’re successful enough in using your natural talents that you’re making a living. You should be proud of that.”
“I am,” she said as she put away the last of her crystals and turned off her speaker. “It’s just that we’re all at slightly different levels here. I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re running behind, nor do I want them to feel theyhaveto go into this kind of business. There’s nothing wrong with having a job that’s more mundane.”
Maeve tipped her head. “This is about your sister, isn’t it?”
“You got me. Jamie hasn’t found her niche, but a lot of the other people in our coven have. She’s talked to me about this a little, how it feels like everyone else has their future staring them right in the face, but she’s sort of lost.” Amanda shrugged. “It makes me feel bad.”
“That’s sweet of you, but don’t use it as an excuse to sell yourself short.” Maeve put her arm around Amanda. “It could actually be more helpful to Jamie if you go ahead and let your inner light shine.”
“I’ll work on that.” Amanda checked her watch. “But it’ll have to wait until later. I’m going to be late for my first appointment.”
As Amanda rushed out of the covenstead, Maeve followed the sound of voices into the kitchen. Several of the other witches were gathered around the big table there.
“It was really freaky,” Jamie was saying. She looked slightly less like her mother and had some of Arthur’s features, but it was still obvious that she and Amanda were sisters.
