Playing with Magic (Elemental Trilogy Book 2) by Ellie Potts Read Free Book Online

always a but, or an and, or something.”
    She pushed away from River. She walked away from them both. “Lately, when I’m alone, mostly in the greenhouse or in the apartment, I feel off. I don’t know why, and sometimes it scares me. I feel like I am unwinding, like I’m not myself.”
    “Why didn’t you tell us?” River asked.
    She shook her head. “I can keep it together, mostly, but with you guys I don’t feel that way. I don’t know why. But this might answer some questions I have about my magic, and maybe I’ll learn about my real parents.”
    “I just can’t say goodbye,” River said.
    “It’s not a real goodbye,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I thought you said you guys were coming back?”
    “We do plan on coming back,” Rowan said.
    “I meant just a short goodbye.” River reached out for her hand, wrapping his fingers with hers. Rowan took her other hand. It fit well in his. He took River’s hand.
    “You guys will protect each other and be safe?”
    “Yeah, but what about you?” Rowan asked, squeezing her hand.
    “I have Anatha, and a brother, and cousin to keep me safe.”
     
    ****
    Bryce stood before Moorgun. “I am ready.”
    She sneered. “Good.” Her face itched. The ointment she was using wasn’t working that well. Her eyes darted to Peardon. He was lying with his face smashed on the ground. “Pyrus will die before I take the elements from her, and she will know it was my doing. And as she dies, she will know that I have finally won.”
     
    ****
    “Binding spell,” Anatha told Envy.
    “Can we watch?” Ivy Lee asked.
    She shook her head. “No.”
    She got the black cord but couldn’t find candles. Anatha turned to Envy and Ivy Lee behind the counter of the Feed and Greet. The name was their idea when they took over the store.
    “Where are the candles?”
    “Autumn didn’t bring any over this month,” Envy said as her daughter started crying behind her in the crib. It woke Ivy Lee’s baby, and they howled together.
    “She did teach you guys to make them, right?”
    Envy held her baby up. “Hello. We are busy.” She jiggled the baby.
    “Stop that Envy,” Anatha said. “I don’t think it’s good to do that to a baby.”
    Envy gave her a look. “I am the mom here. You have no kids. Change that, and then maybe we can talk.”
    Anatha rolled her eyes at her cousin. Not cousin anymore, just her friend? Her and Autumn were real cousins. The world had flipped for not only Autumn, but her as well. She had a twin brother. And already she wondered how she had lived without him for so long. They were exactly alike.
    “Whatever. I want to say good bye before you leave. So don’t just take off.”
    “Sure,” she said with her back turned as she changed her daughter’s diaper.
     
    ****
    “There were no candles,” Anatha announced, walking into the room.
    Autumn sat by Stefan and jumped when he howled. “Hungry!” he writhed on the bed.
    “Shh,” she said in a calm voice. “Soon, Stefan, just hold on.”
    “We can get past the candles by using ourselves. We’re elements,” Aarawn said.
    “Wouldn’t that call Akasha?” Mabon asked.
    He sat down, thinking about it. “I don’t think so. Akasha would have to be called. If we call to ourselves, I think everything will be okay. Autumn?”
    “Akasha, as in the spirit? So are there five of us?” Anatha inquired.
    “No, just us. Akasha can’t be a person; it is chaos, soul, spirit,” Aarawn replied.
    “But    ”
    “We don’t have time for this!” Autumn declared, standing up. “I’m ready.” She picked up her dagger. Mother moon help me , she thought. She pointed the knife to the ground and called her energy. She walked a clockwise circle around the bed.
    Aarawn took his place in the east. “To the east, I invite the powers of Air. To blow out the old and bring in the new on your winds of change.
    Anatha went to the south part of the circle. “To the south, I invite the