Read Online Water Witch by Amelia Bishop - Free Book Online

you have, you were born with it. You must simply trust yourself. Tell me the vision that troubles you, and how you felt while in it, and I will guide you.”
    “Uh…” This was not the way I’d hoped this would go. At all. But what did I have to lose really? I told him about my Journeying, and what I’d seen there. “…and the tree was way smaller, thinner but still healthy. The roots, all my life paths, were changed. I mean, a few were still intact, but a lot were gone, just soil where they used to be.”
    He raised his brows in an “and?” kind of expression.
    “I felt sad. Really sad and scared, like my entire foundation was gone, and I had no support. It was too much change.” I looked away, embarrassed to have admitted those feelings to him.
    “But the tree was healthy, and there was soil there to support new growth?”
    “Yes.”
    “If this was someone else’s vision, what would you think it meant?”
    I closed my eyes, tried to be objective. “A life change, a big one. Death in the family, loss of a home or career, a major accident, something like that.” I blew out a breath to calm myself. I didn’t want to go through any of those things. He reached his hand out to clasp mine, and I allowed it, needing the comfort.
    The feeling of his hand filled my awareness, the smooth skin, the long fingers, the ridges of his knuckles. I realized I was caressing his skin but couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop, wanted more in fact. But he pulled his hand away, and shuddered out a shaky breath. He feels it, too .
    “I think you are correct. Your life is headed for major change, love. I will assist you as best I can.” His mouth thinned into a firm line, and a whisper of dread crept through me. I wanted just then to hold him, to lose myself in his touch.
    I focused on slowing my racing heart and keeping my hands to myself. “How about telling me where my grandfather’s journal is?”
    He laughed and clasped his hands in his lap. Was he trying just as hard not to touch me? “I cannot tell you that. As we have already discussed.” He let out a deep sigh. His light eyes flicked to me, sad in the moonlight. “I should go.” He rose, but didn’t seem in any rush to leave.
    “Why? What’s wrong?” I stood as well and faced him, realizing we were almost exactly the same height. He had maybe an inch on me.
    “What is wrong is I cannot control myself near you. I want only to hold you in my arms, keep you safe from all harm, and whisper the answers to all of your questions into your ear. And though it would please me greatly to do so, it would not serve you.” His shoulders jerked, like he wanted to move but stopped himself. “Practice your divination. Have visions about small things, trust your insight, and work your way up to more complex subjects.” He turned to leave.
    Seeing his back, I took a step toward him. “Wait!” He turned at my voice, and we were too close, almost touching.
    “Don’t leave.” I whispered. Goddess, I wanted him to do the things he’d mentioned, to hold me and protect me. Or just touch me, and distract me from whatever disaster was looming in my visions. I placed my hands on his biceps, surprised by the firm muscle I found beneath the thin cotton of his tunic.
    “My witch.” He pulled me into a hug that was too rough and yet perfect. His strength shocked me. I’d seen him shirtless, and he wasn’t any more muscular than me, but his embrace held the power of a larger man. His whole body felt tight and hard.
    Damn, it was nice in his arms. I took a deep breath, my nose buried in his neck. He smelled of rainwater and moss, with a tiny wisp of woodsmoke. Where did he live? Why had I never asked him? All my questions were always so self-centered. I forced my head up. “Where do you live?”
    He pulled himself away from me, with obvious effort, and smiled. “I am a fairy. I live in the forest.” With a hand on each of my arms, as if to prevent another embrace, he kissed