Page 32 of The Tanglewood Witches (The Three Sisters 1)
Chapter Three
“We haven’t burst into flames or been swallowed by the earth. You can relax, Circe.” Medea waded into the pool at the base of the waterfall, the cool water sending heavenly ripples across her hot, tacky skin. She hadn’t mentioned the dragon to her sisters. After all, the beast was on the other side of the gate. Mentioning it would cause her sisters unnecessary worry.
“Thank the gods,” Circe said. “Let’s not tempt fate again anytime soon.”
Isis dove under and broke the surface at the center of the pool. She smoothed her blue-black hair from her forehead. “I’m with Circe on this one. I don’t want to go back there again. I thought I’d never clear that scent from my nose.”
Medea glided her palms over the surface of the water. “Very well, we won’t use the field again. Only I don’t think we should practice magic at home anymore. We’ve already learned the basic spells in the book. Anything we do now will require both space and privacy.”
Circe rolled her eyes as if she thought Medea was daft. “Obviously we won’t practice at home. Why would we now that the book is manageable? We can use the clearing beside the tanglewood tree.”
The tanglewood tree enhanced their power, so much so that the sisters had used branches from its three distinct sections to create their magic wands. As children, when their parents were teaching them basic spells, the clearing beside the tree had served as the perfect place to practice, significantly enriching their experience. But that same reasoning was why the space wouldn’t work for them now.
“It’s not safe. Mother and Father go there frequently. At least once per day.” Medea recalled the blackberry brambles that flourished nearby and drew her mother overmuch.
“The orchard,” Isis said. “We can practice between the trees.”
“Also forbidden,” Medea reminded her.
“Picking the apples is forbidden. Practicing among the trees is not,” Isis said.
“I doubt our parents would see it that way,” Circe pointed out.
“With any luck, they won’t see it at all,” Medea said.
Circe waded toward the shore. “Very well; it’s a better idea than the field.”
Isis swam toward her, the sun sparkling on her darker skin. “We should go before they wonder where we are.” She stepped, dripping, onto the beach and pulled her dress over her head. Circe did the same.
“Go on ahead.” Medea dipped lower in the water. “I want to soak for a few more minutes. I have an ache in my muscles from the magic.”
“You haven’t overexerted yourself? Do you need healing?” Circe raised her wand.
“No, I’ll be fine. Just a moment in the coolness.”
They waved their goodbyes and followed the path away from the lake toward their cottage home. Medea sighed in relief. She’d wanted time alone since they’d performed the spell.Finallyshe could allow herself to think about the dragon. The beast was certainly monstrous with smooth obsidian scales that reminded her of waterworn stone. Although its massive teeth were deadly and prominent, she’d connected with its eyes. Warm golden eyes that sparked with curiosity and intelligence. Her reaction to the Guardian at the Gate was confusing to say the least. Yes, she’d feared the dragon at first. But now that she thought back to her encounter, it hadn’t growled or snapped or charged after her. It wasn’t fear that made her heart pound now but curiosity.
Leaning back, she allowed her body to float to the surface, the cool water licking her sides. She stared at the branches that arched over the pond. The sun shone through the bright green leaves, warming her skin. The waterfall’s rhythmic patter lulled her into pure serenity.
In a blink, two eyes the color of warm honey appeared among the leaves above her, a stranger perched in the branches. A man. Watching her.
A scream tore from her throat. Medea’s body caved, sinking into the water with a splash. She kicked violently, swimming to shore as fast as she could. But by the time she’d sprung onto the sandy beach of the pool, pulled on her dress, and reached for her wand in her sleeve pocket, the man was gone.
“Show yourself!” Was she mad or had she actually seen the stranger? Definitely not a nymph, not with his size or his human complexion. What was the spell to reveal what was hidden? She couldn’t remember it. Couldn’t remember anything.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” a deep voice said from the trees.
She searched the branches, but there was nothing there.
“I want to talk.”
“Show yourself,” she demanded again.
“Lower your wand.”
She did as he asked. The man appeared again in the same tree she’d seen him in before, one second gone, the next there. He simply blinked into existence.
“What manner of creature are you?” she asked. She thought he looked like an oversized cat the way he crouched in the branches, his tunic open at the chest.
