WITCHES KNOT

s on Royal where her paintings were on commission and had spent three hundred dollars because a painting had pulled at her. There was something incredibly

dals, she pulled her heavy hair back to the nape of her neck with a silver clip, careful to not catch the amulet that her mother had given her on her tenth birthday. She reached up to trace the stylized circle of three bent sevens wrought from silve

of jasmine off a bush and tucked it into her h

g the color of the night sky deepening and the stars beginnin

sky," she said in apology and look

" he said, his voice smooth and thick, like honey. It rolled over her skin and sang to her very DNA. Everything in her life seemed t

is eyes were chocolate brown, or at least that's what they looked like by the l

things to her. "Uh, Amelia Charvez, Lee. Your name sounds familiar." It tickled the back of her brain until she re

at's me. Your work is at Lenora's gallery too, right? Beautiful. I'm honored you like my work." He could h

." No wonder it had called to her

as more than human, she could feel it. Tentatively, she sent her own power ba

from reaching out to touch a tendril of her hair that had escaped the clip. That little touch sent heat coursing through her body. When she found her voice she was pr

nywhere but the French Quarter. I did a walking tour of

out a bit more, not too far. I can give you a guided tour of the Garden

our a few days ago. I have been in Lafayette for the las

ou live right above me," she said with a smile. She was totally drawn to th

e only met Mrs. Ellis and while she and her yappy dog are

ge door opener. "Shall we th

car, navigating the narrow space between th

up her sister, who cast an interested

my new neighbor and a fellow paint

green eyes that sparked with intelligence and no small amount of curiosity. "Hi

ng to meet us at

a few minutes of concentrating by both women, a spot only a b

u. What a great spot," Aidan said with

d glances at Aidan. Aidan was confused, curious and aroused. The woman beside him was the most alluring he'd ever met. He had no idea how to tell her he'd been dreaming of her for months or that he'd pulled up stakes in Chicago and headed south to New Orleans because his grandmother told him to pursue his dream woman. Half of him hadn't believed her, but there she was, and right underneath his nose.

etween them all, a sort of ease that one only finds in a large family very rarely. They clearly loved and respected each other. He'd been surprised to

eans?" Lee's twin brother, Eric, asked

led her

I've been feeling a need to move, to get out of a rut. My painting can be done anywhere really. My grandmo

ed by women too?" Eric

ndmother really.

ughed. "That is a

owerful. Not that the men aren't, it's just different. All are successful,

men are powerful

ed with hers, and she felt his power. Where hers was cool, his was warm, sultry where hers was crisp. Lee's power smelled clean, earthy, sharp like pine trees and a

he said in

eak with her about it when they were alone. He was relieved to see that she didn't seem frightened or repulsed by what he was

ame. Afterwards, feeling full and satisfied, they all drove over to the Maple Leaf, where things were

pointing at the couples

er off with a flourish and they joine

on with her brothers. They were obviously talking about him as t

taring," Aidan s

led at him. "They're just trying to

o you t

n if you do need to take

? How much do you k

's a bit of everything in New Orleans." She shrugged. "Shifter

hat ar

ouch of clairvoyance. We have vivid dreams, often of future events or of people who are going to come into our lives. We can w

en walking i

ion, barring a threat. It's considered an offensive act,

ought together for some reason. I have been dreaming of y

e something inside of him recognized something inside of her. His hand was on her shoulder and his flesh against hers made her cells zing with life. She nearly felt giddy, being with him was so right, so good.

t to my grandmother over it, I was wondering i

" she said, a bi

touched her cheek with the back of his fingers and th

me too, or that I fo

relaxing. When everyone got up to go home Lee felt their regard for her and their cu

sed. Lee nodded. "Yeah. It's..." She shrugged, unable

ly. You know I can't read you but you both feel right together."

hat I felt it on my own, but it's nice to know that

't tell just what, but he wo

n. Em was a woman of few words, shy, but intensely loyal and intelligent and one of the most empathic witches alive.

*

gates Lee felt it, the sickening sh