Chapter 93

Wes felt useless. There was no need for an outer boundary, so he was basically standing there being a silent cheerleader.

He could feel Ann’s energy through their connection, and she wasn’t even stressed. He glanced to see Leland standing there with his arms crossed over his chest with a big smile on his face.

Mith looked like he was trying to get his steps in for the day. He paced back and forth in a three-foot space.

“All right. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.” Ann said.

Celia dropped to the ground and threw up.

“Nasty.” Kat snorted.

“I’m going to end this—now,” Ann said in a loud but calm way.

“Bingo,” Mitch whispered.

Wes pulled the knife out of his pocket and slid the blade over his palm. It stung, but he didn’t care. Squatting, he pushed his hand deep into the sand and held it there.

When he looked at Ann, his breath caught in his throat; she had dropped down and had both hands in the earth. He didn’t know if it was Teegan’s doing or the power Ann was channeling, but the wind was blowing her hair back. Just hers. She was looking straight ahead, her pale eyes almost glowing in the moonlight.

“From the blood of the three and power within the earth, I beseech you to recall the magic energy from those not connected to us in this circle.”

“Take it wide, Ann,” Leland said.

Ann nodded but didn’t look at anyone. “Before their darkness can spread and infect the innocents, I implore you to clean their family tree. Undo the gifts bestowed upon them that they have used with evil intent. Draw the gifts from all those tied to them in blood, bond, and word. Let them live in powerless normalcy from this moment on. I bind this with the blood of three.”

“Wash away the ties that they carry.” Teegan put her head down, and Wes could see how hard she was focusing.

“John, what do we do?” Celia’s high-pitched cry broke their silence.

“Take what they abused and return it to the earth so it can repair any harm done.” Kat had never sounded this calm in all the time Wes had known her.

He felt the earth under his hand move and relaxed his arm so he could be part of the energy and not cause distraction from the task.

“Celia, make it stop.” Bonnie cried out. “It’s burning.”

“We thank you for your aid.” Teegan’s voice was softer now. “We thank you for your gifts. We will treasure them forever and use them with good of heart and intention.”

“What did they do?” Liset collapsed on the ground.

The air was suddenly charged, causing all the hair on Wes’ arms to rise. A chill moved over him, but it was the purest energy he’d ever felt. A flash of lightning struck the water in front of them, and he swore he saw sparks travel across it. He looked to see Mitch and Leland’s hair standing out from their scalps.

“We’ll cherish what you have given us and promise to teach others how to only do good with it,” Kat said, again very calmly.

“Do something.” Aiysha barked.

“I don’t—I can’t—” John dropped to his knees and looked at his hands. “I can’t feel it anymore.”

That brought a smile to Wes’ face. For generations, they’d tried to be rid of that family.

“I thank the elements for the gifts bestowed on me,” Leland said in a clear voice.

“I will always use the power I have been given for good.” Mitch nodded.

Wes looked at Ann to see that she was watching him. He closed his eyes. “I thank the earth and all that she gives freely to me and vow to never take it for granted.” He opened his eyes and looked at Leland.

“From the three bound to the three—” They said together.

“Teegan Jacobs,” Leland said softly.

“Katalyn McFarlane.” Mitch was smiling.

“Ann Walters.” Wes looked back at her.

“So shall it be,” Ann said and then slowly pulled her hands out of the earth.

A wind blew over them, and even though it was air, he felt cleansed. A mist of water followed, and Wes smiled as he pulled his hand from the dirt and wiped it on his pants.

The moon brightened as if it were a spotlight in his face and then faded back to normal again.

“I thank you for your aid,” Teegan said as she stood slowly. “Cleanse this space and go back from where you came.” She lifted her arms and then lowered them slowly.

Wes watched the ground move, and the circle disappear. Getting to his feet, he looked over to see Celia getting to her feet. She was soaking wet, dripping. The others with her were as well.

Kat chortled. “I guess they need a full-on shower cleanse.”

Brothers Kale and Archer hurried toward them. Their hair was a mess, and they were both grinning like they’d just won the lottery. Wes suspected they’d been a little too close to the action.

“That was—” Brother Kale looked at Mitch’s uncle. “—well, it was.”

Brother Archer nodded. “Let’s help them on their way home, shall we?”

They both hurried toward John and the four women.

“Unbelievable.” Mitch rushed over and picked up Kat, hugging her. “You are so amazing.”

Kat laughed. “We are going to have some supercharged sex tonight.” She grabbed his face and kissed him.

Leland cleared his throat and smiled at Teegan. She smiled and then shrugged. “She’s not wrong.”

Ann was wiping the dirt from her hands. “After that—” She gave Wes a wanton look. “What’s next?”

Brother Archer was guiding Liset away from the water. “All of you need to teach.”

“Yes. Yes.” Brother Kale veered away from Bonnie and toward them. “The power—your intent.” He patted his hand against his chest. “You need to help others find it.” He rushed over to aid Bonnie in going in the right direction. “You may have removed this threat, but we can never assume another won’t arise.” He nodded and then followed the others up the path.

“I don’t know if I can teach this.” Kat went over and dug around in her bag. “It’s just there.”

Teegan nodded. “I don’t know about teaching, but I could help others practice.”

“We all need to do it.” Mitch glanced around. “If we don’t, people like John Norman will continue to change the balance.”

Leland sighed. “He’s not wrong.”

Wes cringed. “Don’t say it out loud.” He smiled at Mitch. “He’ll play on it for years.”

“I’m starting with my family.” Ann put her jacket on and knelt to put her shoes on. “All of us that have had to hide and hope—” She glanced at the others. “I’m starting there.” She stood up and then walked toward Wes. “Right after I have a nice long bath—” She looked at her hands. “Clean these up.”

He hadn’t realized she’d cut both palms. He took her hands and turned them to look at the cuts.

“—And stay in bed for a few days.” She said softly.

A burst of warm magic traveled from her hands to his and went up his arms.

“Oh, yes. Same.” Kat said enthusiastically.

“I could get behind a few days of lounging in bed.” Teegan wrapped her arms around Leland’s waist.

“Who is going to run the company and fill if all the…”

“Who cares.” Leland snorted. “We—” He looked at Teegan. “—the women have just saved the world. I think a few days off is allowed.”

“My family has a house near here. Lots of rooms.” Mitch nodded.

Everyone turned to look at Wes. He smiled. “It’s probably a mansion, not a house.” Nodding, he lifted his hands and let them drop. “It’s time for the assistants to earn their pay for a day or two.” He shrugged. “A few calls a day…”

Ann took his hand. “We have to discuss children. I couldn’t have any before, but now is a different story.” She tugged on his hand. “My internal clock is ticking. I’m older than Teegan and Kat, so I may only have a few years left.”

Wes glanced over his shoulder to see everyone grinning. He looked at her. “You want children now?”

She smiled at him. Mischief shining in her eyes. “Soon. Not now. I just didn’t want to waste time standing there talking about not going to work for a few days.” She stopped and looked at him. “—and you should kiss me.”

“Definitely. I should.” He smiled and pulled her closer.

“Get a room.” Leland nudged his shoulder as they moved by them.

Wes smiled and looked back at Ann. Her eyes were sparkling. In that moment he knew that the only thing that mattered from now on was the future. The past was finally closed, and he could have a life without worrying about what happened three hundred years ago.

The End.