Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (best summer books .txt) 📗

that doesn’t stop Gram from peering over her shoulder out of curiosity for the witches’ brew.

After the battle of convincing Kassy and Liam to leave Oregon two days ago, Aunt Mags offered up her Wicca skills as an extra coat of protection over my friends. She described it as an invisible cloak, which sounded pretty cool to me.

I could really use one of those, too.

I can’t say I’d take it if offered though, and not because of the armpit stench coming off of the brown gunk. I need to be visible so Barron will finally come to me and get his butt kicked.

Liam leans over my right shoulder and takes a whiff of the brew. “Ugh. That’s bad.” He scrunches his nose up right along with Kassy.

Aunt Mags shakes her head and adds water to the bowl. “It’s not that bad, complainers.” She stops mixing and pours the mixture into two mugs of boiling hot water. It dissolves into the water and looks slightly less awful.

“Here.” She sets the mugs on the counter bar in front of Kassy and Liam and lays a hand on the tops of each cup. Her eyes close and some of her dark hair falls in her face as she bows her head. She doesn’t say anything until her eyes fly open again and she smiles wide. “Drink up.”

My friends and I look at eachother and back at Aunt Mags. My eyes are wide at my mom. “Did you just do a magic spell, Aunt Mags?” I’m fascinated by what just happened, even though it seemed like nothing at all.

She nods at me. “I did do a spell. Though not really with words. It’s more like I released some of my magic into the drinks with my mind. Words are unnecessary most of the time.”

I chuckle at her. “Man, I wish you showed me this stuff sooner. It’s amazing.”

Aunt Mags smiles at me over the island and Gram lays a hand on her back. “Oh yeah! I’ve never seen such a thing before. Of course, you’re the only Wicca to ever come into my home.” Gram’s sweet face is friendly toward my mom.

“Ew!” Kassy shouts next to me, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “That was the worst thing I ever tasted!” She turns to Aunt Mags. “No offense, Maggie.” She grimaces.

Liam shrugs next to me after downing his magical drink. “Eh. I don’t think it was that bad.”

Kassy’s mouth falls open. “How is that possible?”

Liam looks to me for advice but gets none. “I’m sorry, but I have to say that green stuff you tried to feed me last month is worse.”

Ooooh.

“It was spinach, Liam! You know, the stuff Popeye eats to get strong!” She’s pissed now and I step away from the counter, clearing the way for her inevitable attack on Liam.

Liam holds up both of his hands in surrender. “Okay! Spinach is the best! I loooove spinach!” He gives in to the adorable woman who is almost half his size.

Gram laughs. “Smart boy,” she mutters and I can’t help the ridiculous laugh that escapes me.

Kassy joins in on my laughter and tears fill my eyes. I wipe my tears away and shake my head. “From laughing to crying in point zero three seconds. Oh boy, I’ve lost it.”

Kass wraps me in a warm hug and her brown hair smothers me with it’s coconutty scent. “I’m going to miss you too, El,” she says next to my ear.

Liam joins in with his freakishly long arms and hugs all the way around us both. “I’ll miss you too, even though you’re always so mean to me.”

Kassy shakes with giggles. “That means she loves you, Liam.”

I nod. “I love you both. And I’ll miss you guys like crazy. Don’t have too much fun without me.”

I pull away from my friends and wipe my wet eyes again. “Now go brush your teeth. You guys smell like witches’ brew!”

They laugh and all I hear from behind me is a “hey!” from Aunt Mags, only inciting more giggles from us rowdy kids.

***

The new morning frost crunches beneath my brown winter boots with each step. My speed is fast today, and the forest trees fly by in brown and green blurs. I jump over a downed tree and find my footing easily on the other side. The wind’s chill is harsh against my bare arms as I continue to fly farther into the thickest part of the woods.

Though I can feel the cold prickle against me, it’s not the same as the winter cold I’ve felt as an undeveloped human. I feel amazing. The cold touches me but doesn’t reach into my bones, instead it just falls off of me.

The sky above me is gray and dark, and there is a smell of rain in the air. I quickly come upon another downed tree and I pull at the cool air around me, hoping I can use it to literally fly over the log, and not land on my face.

I pull with everything that I am, trying to force a sort of pile of air beneath me to help launch me forward. My feet leave the ground and I spin in the air, five feet above the log. I freak out mid-air and start to fall back to the ground, face first.

Yup, I’m done for.

I close my eyes, ready for impact, but something catches me before I kiss the earth. I’m pulled against a warm body and my eyes slowly peel open to stare at an Adam’s apple wobbling from laughter.

I groan against Gavin’s chest and he pulls me tight against him, warming me to my core. His voice reverberates in his deep chest. “You were so close that time, love.”

Oh, I melt when he calls me love! I smile and look up at him. “I was really expecting to taste the dew from the grass with that fall. Thank you for catching me again.”

I have tried the same air floating move four times this morning, and