Summer sipped her coffee. “I’ll probably help her when she tries to cast it. Just in case.”
Shivering again Ember asked. “Do you expect that will happen soon?”
She nodded. “She’s only one ingredient short.”
Just then the water stopped and Ember stood. “I’m going to use it next.”
“Stay warm,” Summer said with a smile.
“Thanks.”
Ember kept to her room for the day, swapping texts with her mother. Looking for something to nibble, she came down and found Paige plucking petals from two leafy branches she had no doubt grown using magic. Scattering those over a baking pan, she prepared it to go in the oven.
“This stuff really freaks you out, doesn’t it?” Paige asked.
Ember nodded. “I don’t know why. I mean, it’s just a plant.” She picked up one of the leafy branches to see if she could feel the difference between it and something grown naturally. It didn’t look out of the ordinary, didn’t smell at all, and the leaves were soft, not crispy. She knew it wasn’t normal, but nothing physical could point to that.
“It is.”
Appetite gone, she watched as Paige opened and closed the oven door, making sure nothing burned. “Perfect. Going to come watch?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Ember followed slowly, sitting in one corner while Paige arranged things, including a candle and a medallion with a loop and cross, an ankh. Summer and Gwen joined them before Paige finished setting up. The blond sat near the candle, smiling. Summer, with brown curls, sat opposite, leaving Ember with her back near the door.
“You’re sure this is what she did?”
Paige didn’t answer, holding her medallion in the flame. As soon as she did, heat flared in Ember, like a hot flash. “This doesn’t feel right.”
“I’m sure,” Paige told Summer. “Look, I’m “Look, I’m grateful for your help, but I’ve got this. You and Ember don’t have to stick around.”
“Bye.” She backed out the door and through Geoffrey. “Oh! Sorry!”
“Don’t worry about it. Are you well?” He cocked his head, regarding her.
The heat was gone, not leaving her chill, just gone. She sighed in relief. “Yeah. I’m fine. You aren’t going to watch?”
He shook his translucent head. “No. Like you, I prefer the natural to the supernatural.”
“Yeah. I’m going to my room. Wanna talk?”
“Sure.”
