Page 24 of Wicked Ends

She shrieks and clamps her mouth shut.

I let go and step back to watch her hover, a faint aura of gold light around her.

Her grin is wild. “I’m flying.”

“Hardly,” I drawl. “You’re hovering. Don’t get cocky.”

She wobbles and drops in a heap.

“Nice,” I say. “Graceful.”

She flips me off.

“You could be the strongest witch in the world, Rose. If you’d stop holding back.”

She straightens, brushing dirt and snow off her jeans. “I’m not holding back.”

“You’re always holding back. You’re terrified of what you could do.”

She stares up, furious. “No, I’m terrified of what you’ll do with me once I’m stronger.”

“That’s fair.” I don’t argue, because she has a point. It was always my intention to take back what was owed to my coven. What was promised to my ancestors all those centuries ago. But now, the Blood Moon Coven is in tatters once again, my life’s work undone at the hands of Helena Wickersly.

She turns away, pretending to study the lights. I know my words upset her.

I sigh. “Fine. If you want to play it safe, we can call it a night.”

She shoots me a look. “You’re the one who wanted to train.”

I nod. “But I want results. Not half-assed party tricks.”

She bristles. “I just grew a fucking field of flowers. On frozen ground.”

I shrug. “A five-year-old could do better.”

She shoves me hard. I let myself stumble, then catch her wrists before she can pull away. “You want to show me what you can do? Stop pretending. Stop being afraid.”

“I’m not afraid of anything, especially you, Ash,” she sneers.

“Are you sure, little witch?” I yank her towards me, our faces a breath apart. Her eyes are wide, and she sneaks a glance at my lips. I smirk and put more space between us.

She wrenches free, glaring. “Fine. You want a show?”

She closes her eyes, fists clenched. The wind picks up, swirling around us in a miniature cyclone. Snow whips sideways, pelting my face, but I widen my stance and stay upright. The trees groan, bending inward. The ground shakes, the flowers flatten. Overhead, the globes of light explode into a shower of sparks, like a multi-colored sudden cloudburst.

She opens her eyes, panting, hair plastered to her forehead. “Happy?”

“Slightly better.”

She shakes her head. “You’re an asshole.”

I step closer. “Jasmine wants you strong. But I don’t yet know why. It doesn’t make sense to let you grow your powers, since you could hurt her if you gain full control over them.”

She picks up a destroyed flower, rubbing the fragrant petals between her fingers. “What happens when I am? Stronger.”

I meet her gaze. “Then you’ll have a choice. And so will I.”

She stares at me, trying to figure out what that means, but I’m already turning away, heading back toward the path.