The Beltane Witch (Cloudburst Colorado) by Siobhan Muir Page A

I’m afraid my small magics aren’t enough to relieve the last of your pain. Perhaps you could help me by augmenting my abilities with your own.”
    “What?”
    “I have a little healing magic, but as you know, most of the Goddess’s strengths are passed through the maternal lines.” He stroked her hair and she resisted the urge to close her eyes again. “I have more ability than my brothers, but in truth, my magical strengths are greatly reduced by my sex. If you could lend me the energy, I could help you heal yourself.”
    Sabrina stared with amazement. “Heal myself? I wouldn’t even know how.”
    “That’s why we must work together.” Again, he stroked her hair. “I know how to direct the healing energy, I just don’t have enough of it.”
    “You want me to give you energy?”
    “Yes.”
    “How?”
    He sat back and took her hands, staring into her eyes. “It’s a simple enough procedure, but it requires honesty and trust between those transferring energy.”
    “And I don’t know you very well.”
    “Precisely.” Darius nodded with a rueful smile. “However, desire can take the place of trust, at least for short bursts.”
    “Desire? As in ‘sexual’ desire?” Oh, please Goddess, don’t let him know I’m remotely interested in him. He’d use it against me.
    His rich laugh flowed over her, warming her as much as his hands. “Much as I’d prefer such desire, this is merely the intention for the transfer to work long enough for your pain to be vanquished.”
    “Oh. So I have to want it to work bad enough to override the trust issue.”
    “Yes.”
    Sabrina mulled the idea over in her mind. “Can I trust you enough not to do damage with the energy I give you, particularly to me?”
    She felt the surge of his anger before it suffused his expression, but it cut off as his logic caught up with his emotions. “Ah, you have no reason to trust me, but I might remind you I’ve helped you heal this head injury for the last few days without your extra energy. And I made the vow to protect you before the Goddess. I don’t wish to hurt you, Lady Foxglove. Far from it.”
    Something about the way he said the last convinced her. More than just the words, her gut told her he meant them with every fiber of his being. Ha, you’re probably just tired and wishing a handsome man like this could truly feel something for you.
    It wouldn’t hurt if he did.
    “All right. Let’s try it so I can get some sleep. What do I need to do?”
    “First, close your eyes and try to mesh your energy with mine. I’ll be looking to receive you.”
    “Oh, something easy, then.” She snorted as she closed her eyes.
    He chuckled. “No more lip, woman. Focus.”
    Pleasure bloomed through Sabrina’s chest at his humor and his energy signature glowed clearly in her mind’s eye. It swirled in warm earthen colors: brown, gold, orange, yellow, crimson, and pulsed to the beat of his heart. Her own energy looked bluish-green to her, almost the same color of Darius’s eyes. With the recognition of the similarity, her energy surged into him, locking on the gold and yellow swirls until they turned a summer green.
    “ Holy Goddess!” Darius’s exclamation surprised her and she opened her eyes, losing the connection.
    “No, no, I’m sorry, Sabrina.” He smiled at her with wonder. “ It was amazing and so well done. Please, try again.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you or anything.”
    “No, you were fine. I simply wasn’t prepared for the strength of your offering.”
    “I’m sorry, Darius. I don’t know how to dial it back.”
    “Fear not, I’m ready for you this time. Try again.” He squeezed her hands with reassurance.
    Sabrina bit her lip, but closed her eyes and reached out with her energy again. This time when the swirls changed color, Darius inhaled sharply but didn’t pull away. She tried to modulate the flow of energy to him, but she had no idea if she’d succeeded in stemming the