Page 20 of My Pleasure

This time she felt the heat in her stomach. She rubbed her abdomen. She didn’t mind being around fire witches in the winter, but it was terrible in the summer.

“Ryuu?” Kendrick asked.

Ryuu inclined his head and with a gesture began to glow blue.

She sighed in relief as a cool wave went down her spine.

Kendrick turned to the twins. “Boys, if you would please, but not very strong.”

She recognized Nigel and Neil from when they lived in Storm Keep. They brought their hands up and when the green glow began, she smiled as she felt a tickle behind her ear.

“This is fascinating,” Kendrick said, staring at her.

“Why?” Hunter asked.

Kendrick pressed his lips together. “I’m not quite sure yet. Kiera, was it? Can I run tests on you?”

Anne cuffed him upside the head. “You can’t just ask someone to run tests on them.”

“Why not?” both Kendrick and Meryn asked at the same time.

Kiera raised her hand. “It’s okay Anne. I’ve been tested so many times by the Academy, I don’t mind anymore. I think my uncle didn’t want to admit there was a dud in the family.”

“Oh, my dear, you are most definitely not a dud,” Kendrick said, shaking his head. “I don’t quite know what you are, but you’re not a dud.” He looked at Hunter. “Will she be staying here?”

Hunter began to nod slowly, then stopped. “Maybe she should stay at my parents’ house.”

Kendrick rolled his eyes. “Gods above save me from well-meaning overprotective bears.”

“Hun, you kinda sound like a mad scientist right now,” Anne chided.

“Kiera knows I won’t hurt her.” He turned to her. “Right?”

Growing up in Storm Keep, she heard Kendrick’s name many times. Most of the rumors she heard revolved around how protective he was of his younger brother, how much he hated the Witches’ Council and people looking for handouts. He was never rumored to be cruel or hurtful.

She pretended to think it over. “Considering I’m neither on the Witches’ Council or a ‘muppet’ looking for a handout, I should be safe.”

Meryn laughed. “I love when he calls them muppets.”

Kendrick actually blushed, causing Anne and the twins to laugh.

Nigel wiped his eyes. “She has you pegged for sure.”

Kendrick cleared his throat. “While you are here, I’d simply like to test your reactions to different magics.”

“That’s it?” she asked.

“For now.”

She shrugged. “Whatever you want.”

Hunter turned her to face him. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “If I can understand my own abilities better, it may help Nicol and Keran when they grow up, especially if they end up like me.”

Kendrick frowned like he was thinking. “Nicol and Keran, the children who hate Hunter?”

Hunter groaned. “They didn’t hate me. They were just scared because they thought I was stalking them.”