Page 12 of Rise of the Witch (Witches of Keating Hollow #17)

But what really stunned her was Briggs. He was sitting on the curb, his entire body glowing with magic.

She slammed the SUV into Park and rushed out of the vehicle toward him. “Briggs?” she asked tentatively as she crouched in front of him. “Give me your hands.”

He stood, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Melissa frowned at him, rose, and reached for him anyway, but he took a step back.

“Do it, man. You told me to call her,” King said. “If you weren’t going to let her help, then why?—”

“I’ve had time to think about it!” he shouted, and more sparks flew.

Magic brushed over Melissa’s skin, pushing her back a few feet. She let out a small surprised gasp, but she wasn’t afraid. His magic hadn’t hurt her. She didn’t think Briggs had it in himself to hurt anyone. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t destroy more property if pushed hard enough.

“See! I just did it again. This magic… I can’t…” He shook his head, frustration rolling off him in waves. “I think I might flare out.”

Without a word, Melissa walked back to him and wrapped her arms around him.

He stiffened, standing stock still, his magic still casting a glow around him.

“It’s okay, Briggs,” she whispered into his ear. “You’ve got this. I know you do.” She pulled back, looked him in the eye, and said, “Let it go.”

The magic spread, encompassing them both in the soft glow, and then it just vanished, leaving them there on the darkened sidewalk with just the soft halos from the gaslights lining the streets.

Briggs let out a heavy sigh of relief and then crushed her to him in a tight hug. “Thank you.”

“Thank the goddess,” Sadie said softly from behind them.

Melissa held onto Briggs, feeling a little shaky.

She’d done what was necessary in the moment, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been nervous as hell.

Melissa had felt like she was flying blind, although knowing she’d been able to pull him out of his magic before had given her confidence.

Was Melissa his kryptonite? And if she tried to interfere with anyone else, would the same thing happen, or was there just something special about Briggs?

That remained to be seen, but for now she was grateful she’d been able to help.

A car swung into the parking space right next to Melissa’s Audi.

Yvette Townsend-Burton jumped out of her vehicle and then stood on the sidewalk, staring at the shattered glass. “What happened?”

Briggs released Melissa but then slipped his hand into hers as he said, “I’m so sorry, Yvette. I lost control of my magic, and it shattered your window. I’ll pay for the replacement. And if you need any help cleaning up, I’ll do that, too.”

Melissa’s heart went out to him. That was two businesses in one week that he’d severely damaged. If he kept this up, she was afraid that the business owners were going to ban him from their establishments.

“Do you have it under control now?” Yvette asked, looking more concerned than upset.

“I think so,” he said as he squeezed Melissa’s hand.

“Good. Magic can be so unpredictable sometimes,” she said kindly. “Maybe go see Healer Whipple when you get a chance. She might be able to help.”

He nodded, but Melissa didn’t think he would take that advice to heart. Not after his last experience with a healer.

“All right. Let’s get this cleaned up,” Yvette said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Noel? Yeah, I need your help with a shattered window at the bookstore. I’d get Jacob down here, but he’s watching the kids.

Great, see you in a few.” She ended the call.

“My sister is an air witch. She’ll have this fixed up in no time. ”

“Can I do anything to help?” Briggs asked.

“Do you have air magic?” she asked.

“I do but…” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Since I’m the one who made this happen, I’m not sure I should be tapping into that again.”

Yvette patted him on the shoulder. “When Noel gets here, we’ll decide if you’re needed.”

Melissa stayed by Briggs’s side until Noel arrived wearing sweats and a T-shirt arrived. She walked over to Yvette, studied the destruction, and said, “That’s a lot of glass to repair.”

“Briggs has air magic if you want his help,” Yvette told Noel. “But he’s a little nervous since his magic caused this.”

Noel studied Briggs for a moment. Then she said, “You broke it. You need to help fix it. Come over here.”

Briggs glanced at Melissa, his expression panicked.

“I’ll be right here beside you,” Melissa said, tugging him over to Noel.

“I’m sorry,” Briggs said. “I just don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

“The best way to master magic is to practice control,” Noel said, sounding very much like the mom she was. “You just lend me your power, and I’ll do all the wielding. That way you can feel me controlling it, understand?”

Briggs visibly relaxed and said, “Yeah, okay. But if things go haywire again, Melissa is here to act as an interceptor.”

“You can do that?” Noel asked.

“For Briggs, I can. I’m not sure if it works on other people.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’m not even sure if I’m the one doing it or if I just calm Briggs enough that he can start controlling his magic again.”

“That’s super interesting,” Noel said as she studied her. “You should do some experiments to see. But right now, let’s fix this window.” She turned to Briggs. “Ready?”

He nodded.

Noel took his hand and said, “Call up your magic.”

Briggs closed his eyes, and a moment later, the soft glow of magic covered his hands.

“Perfect.” Noel raised her free hand, pointed at the broken glass lying on the ground, and then swirled her finger in the air before she aimed right at the shop where the window used to be.

Magic burst from her finger and spun in a spiral, forming a small tornado.

The glass was sucked up into her magical funnel one piece at a time.

As the funnel grew larger and larger, the magic covering her and Briggs’s hands became brighter and brighter.

Sweat started to form on Noel’s brow, and Briggs started to shake with the exertion it took to produce that much magic.

Melissa bit down on her bottom lip, praying that Noel knew what she was doing.

“You can do this, Noel!” Yvette called over the wind.

Noel nodded once, looked at Briggs, and then shouted, “Restore!”

The glass flew from the funnel into the window opening, and just like that, the window was back in place without a crack to be found.

Though the painted window decoration that had depicted a black bear reading Winnie-the-Pooh was now just a hodgepodge of color that looked like a Rorschach ink blot test instead of a drawing.

Yvette clapped and then let out a chuckle. “I guess we’re gonna need to clean that and get a new illustration on there.”

“At least let me pay for the artwork,” Briggs said.

“Nah,” Yvette said. “It was due to be changed soon anyway. Don’t worry about it.” The woman wrapped an arm around Noel’s shoulders and said, “Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”

The two sisters chatted for a minute or two, and then they both got into their cars and left.

King turned to Briggs. “I don’t think you should be around Kassie tonight.”

“What am I going to do? Kick her out?” he asked, looking troubled. “That’s what I want to do.”

“Yeah, that’s what a sane person would do, but we both know that would only make things worse. With the way she documents everything, the next thing you know, you’d be the villain in her social media saga,” King said.

“Come home with me,” Melissa said, agreeing that the last thing Briggs needed was to be anywhere near Kassie Kinny.

“And just leave her at my house? Alone?” Briggs asked. “I’m not comfortable with that either. With as much trouble as she’s been causing, I wouldn’t be surprised to get home and find hidden cameras or something.”

King let out a grunt of agreement but then said, “I’ll go stay there tonight. Tomorrow we’ll work on a new arrangement.” He turned to Sadie, who silently nodded her agreement.

“There isn’t anywhere for her to stay in town,” Briggs said. “Melissa already checked.”

“Just go home with Melissa and let me work on it,” King insisted.

When Briggs tried to protest again, King held his hand up.

“You’ve been there for me through all of my drama.

I’m going to be there for you now. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her ruin the good life you have here in Keating Hollow.

Of all people, you’re one of the most deserving. Understand?”

Briggs hesitated, but as he met King’s gaze he nodded. “Okay. Thanks, brother.”

Melissa looked at Briggs. “Ready?”

He nodded. “Can you drop me at my truck? It’s at the studio.”

“Sure.” They said their goodbyes to Sadie and King and then got into her Audi. Melissa didn’t say anything, she just held his hand as she drove him to his truck.