Channeler's Choice by Heather McCorkle Read Free Book Online Page B

that surrounded it.
    “ It’s the wrong time of year for birds isn’t it?” she asked.
    “ That’s a snow bird. They’re around through most of the winter,” Aiden said.
    Seeing the creature’s energy made Eren wonder about something she heard last year.
    “ How do our kind control animals?”
    Aiden moved behind her and slid his arms around her waist. The warmth of his body seeped into hers, making her aware of how chilly the air was.
    “ You can feel the bird’s energy, right?” he asked.
    “ Um hmm.” She could, but at that moment the bird’s energy wasn’t what she was focusing on feeling. Having the length of his body pressed against her back was very distracting.
    “ Gently, try to will the bird’s energy toward you,” he said. There was a hint of laugher in his voice, as if he knew the effect he had on her.
    Holding out her hand, Eren envisioned pulling the bird’s energy to her like inhaling a breath. It dove from the branch and flew to her, landing on her outstretched hand. Tiny talons bit at her flesh as it struggled to hold on while fluttering its wings. A moment later it tucked them in and sat shaking so badly that Eren feared it may fall.
    “ Think soothing thoughts and pour a little of your energy on it to calm it down,” Aiden said.
    She did as he instructed and the small bird stopped shaking almost instantly. It perked up and looked at Eren with its head cocked. The soft, smooth appearance of its feathers tempted her to touch it, but she resisted, not wanting to frighten it again.
    “ Do I have to be able to see it to control it?” she asked, wondering about the other birds that sang from the trees around them.
    Giving her his half-crooked smile, Aiden held his arm up. There was a pulling sensation to his power but it wasn’t directed at her. Spruce boughs rustled all around them and feathery wings beat at the air. Close to a dozen of the little black and white birds emerged from the trees and alighted upon Aiden’s arms. Eren laughed and the birds started to sing as if in response. They soon quieted and Aiden’s energy switched from a pulling sensation to a slight pushing. The birds took to the air in an organized flock and disappeared into the trees.
    “ Nope, you just have to be able to feel them,” Aiden said.
    Looking down at the bird still perched on her arm, Eren was surprised to find that it looked content, and not in the least worried about the departure of the others. She released the gentle grip she had on its energy and lifted her arm to help send it on its way into the bright blue sky. Watching it made her wonder.
    “ It would be cool if we could see through their eyes,” she said.
    “ Some Rectors can.”
    Eren’s heart pounded hard against her chest as she grabbed Aiden’s arm. There was no hint of humor or teasing in his eyes, he was serious.
    “ Teach me how.”
    Aiden laughed. “It takes years of practice, they say, and even then you can only see through the eyes of a creature whose energy you have controlled often and have mastered,” he said.
    The excitement drained away and Eren’s heart slowed to its normal rhythm. “Oh.”
    Sparks of energy trailed down her arm as Aiden’s fingers slid along it and took her hand. “Come on, we’d better get home. It’ll be dark soon,” he said.
    Groaning, she let him lead her from the river’s edge and back to the forest path. She grabbed her jacket off the branch where she’d left it, and pulled it on. Shadows were starting to spread their way across the forest and they were bringing a chill with them. They’d spent the afternoon practicing channeling and Eren’s energy was left feeling too depleted to raise her body temperature.
    As if sensing that she was cold, Aiden wrapped his arms around her. The heat pouring from him was more than enough to ward off the chill. How he could have so much energy left after hours of using his power to run then blow big rocks into little ones, Eren had no idea. Then