Tasmyn. . I miss you. Every day, every minute. I wake up in the morning, and for a minute I’m okay, and then it hits me again. You’re not part of my life anymore. It kills me. I love you, Tasmyn. Call me.
The Brooks’ home had become my favorite place to practice all of my new talents. There was enough land surrounding the huge house that no one noticed a random windstorm or a freak fire, and I had even discovered a small pond on the property where I could play with the water.
But on this particular Saturday, I was sitting closer to the house, under the shade of a group of palm trees. Rafe lay on the grass near me, hands behind his head and eyes closed, but I was only vaguely aware of him as I concentrated on the earth.
I called forth the potential of several seeds and watched the sprouts break through the dirt. It was satisfying in a completely different way than creating fire, stirring the wind or playing with water. All of those were fleeting and temporary, but here within my reach were tangible tender plants. I reached out and stroked a tiny leaf, marveling that it didn’t vanish at my touch.
A soft snore rose from the still figure that was Rafe, and I smiled a little. I still hadn’t found any peace about whatever was between us, but I had to admit it was nice to have someone support my developing powers—someone with whom I could share my excitement as well as my secrets.
Idly I cast deep into the ground near Rafe and found a few more seeds. This would require a little more precision that I’d used so far, but it counted as practice. Focusing, I pictured specific seeds and threw my best loving encouragement to them.
Within a few seconds, Rafe was ringed by thorny weeds. I concentrated a little more and they grew to nearly a foot tall. I giggled, thinking that Rafe looked like a bizarre version of a sleeping prince in a warped fairy ring.
He didn’t stir, and I made a face. My patience these days was almost non-existent, and I got bored so easily...I stared at the weed nearest Rafe’s face, and it moved. A little more of a nudge and one fuzzy leaf tickled his cheek.
His lip twitched, and he frowned. I moved the leaf again so that it trailed down his chin and neck, and now one hand reached up to brush it away. I pushed a surge of power toward the little plant, and a long tendril unwound and wrapped around Rafe’s wrist.
“What the-” He jerked awake and tried to sit up. The vine was strong and kept him tethered to the ground. I laughed at his bewildered expression. I so seldom had Rafe at a disadvantage.
“Cute, Tas. Want to call off your killer plant here?”
I lifted one shoulder. “Maybe. Maybe not. I think I might have you where I want you at last.”
A smile spread across his face. “Baby, if you wanted to tie me down, all you had to do was ask.”
I felt the heat creep down my neck and wished I could come up with a suitable flirtatious reply. Instead I just shook my head.
Rafe sighed and examined his arm. “Can you come here and help me get this off?”
I crawled over, carefully avoiding the thorns on the other weeds. As I reached for the offending plant, Rafe grabbed my hand and pulled me into the circle so that I was half-sprawled over him.
“Rafe...” I protested, casting a gaze around the lawn. “What if your grandparents or Lucie comes out?”
He only grinned down at me. “They’ve seen you on my lap before. And believe it or not, they’re not shocked that I want to be close to my girlfriend.” He skimmed a finger down my neck. “That I can’t help touching you.”
My heart pounded as Rafe leaned down to kiss me softly. As he moved to draw me closer, his arm, still bound by the plant, caught and he swore under his breath.
“Here.” I sat up and took his hand, carefully unwinding the vine and freeing him. “Is that better?”
Rafe rubbed his wrist. “I guess so. What were you doing, anyway?”
“Just practicing. And you were an easy target. Look at the circle I made around you.”
He glanced at the ring of plants. “Very...nice, I guess. It’s different from the other elements, isn’t it? I mean, not so powerful. What could you do with it against someone?”
I raised one eyebrow. “I just imprisoned you in a circle of thorns and tied you down with a vine. Seems pretty powerful to me.”
Rafe snorted skeptically, but he didn’t say anything else as he drew me closer. He kissed me again, this time with more intention. He spread his fingers in my hair, holding my head still with one hand as his other moved along my side, creeping higher.
I broke away abruptly. “Rafe, stop. Please.”
He heaved a breath of frustration. “Tas, we’re alone out here. No one’s going to see us.”
“That’s not the point. I just don’t want...I need you to move slower.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “If we move any slower, we’ll be going backward. Is that what you want?” When I didn’t answer, he added, “It wasn’t like I was going to take you here on the lawn. Give me a little credit.”
I kept my eyes on my clenched hands. “When you’re...involved with me, like this, you don’t block very well. I can hear what you’re thinking pretty clearly. And you weren’t going to stop if I didn’t make you.”
He didn’t deny it, and we were both quiet for a minute before Rafe stood abruptly. “I’m going to get something to drink. Do you want anything?”
I started to struggle to my feet. “Sure, that sounds great.” Anything to change the subject, change the scene.
Rafe pressed down on my shoulder. “No, you stay here. I’ll bring it out. I need a minute.”
I sank back into the grass and watched him stalk across the garden toward the house. I felt his frustration and vague hurt, and it made me feel even guiltier. Preoccupied with my concern over Rafe, I didn’t hear the approaching footsteps until a shadow fell across me.
“Hello, Tasmyn.” William Brooks towered over me, smiling down in his normal benevolent manner. “Are you enjoying this beautiful day?”
I fumbled for a reply. “Yeah—yes, I am. It is. Beautiful.” I was slowly becoming more comfortable with Rafe’s grandmother, but I didn’t see William as much, and consequently, he still intimidated me.
He gazed toward the house. “Did my grandson go inside to cool down?”
I flushed and looked at the ground. “He went to get us drinks.”
“Ah.” William bend to pluck a leaf from one of my newly grown weeds. “I must speak to the gardener. Can’t have these weeds taking up residence here on the lawn.”
I felt my face go an even deeper shade of red. “I’m sorry. That was actually me. I’ll take care of it—I’ll get rid of them.”
He laughed then, a chuckle that reminded me of his grandson. “I know, Tasmyn. I was only teasing you. Don’t worry, they’ll wither and be gone overnight.”
“Really?” I squinted up at him, shading my eyes from the sun. “Is it because my magiks aren’t strong enough to sustain them?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s just the type of plant. Some things, you know, are not meant to last for more than a season. They serve their purpose and then...” He spread his hands in front of him. “Gone.” He held my eyes steadily, and I sensed that he was talking about more than the weeds.
I pulled a blade of grass and studied it. “But some things—some things do last, don’t they?”
He smiled, kindly, and nodded. “Of course. The trick is determining which is which, isn’t it?” He looked out over the lawn again, and the silence between us stretched. I sensed that he wanted to say more and wasn’t sure how to do it.
“How is your practicing going?” I was surprised, expecting him to talk about Rafe.
“Um, I think it’s going well.” I was cautious; I knew Caroline was wary of Marica, and I suspected that her husband shared that sentiment. “I’m working in all four elements now.”
He grinned again. “Fun, isn’t it? I toyed a bit with that when I was younger. Never had your talent for it, though.” He hunkered down so that he was at eyelevel with me and said in a conspiratorial tone, “I used fire casting to catch Caroline’s eye, once upon a time.”
I laughed, charmed. “You Brooks boys really are all the same, aren’t you?”
“You’ve found us out.” William glanced up, and his eyes grew thoughtful. “Here comes that other Brooks boy. I’ll leave him to charm you now.”