The Curse of Dark Root: Part Two (Daughters of Dark Root Book 4) by April Aasheim Page A

through her nose. “I could never really hurt anyone, though.”
    “What if someone tried to hurt June Bug?”
    Her hands reformed into fists. “Harming someone is never good karma, Maggie, but if someone tried to hurt June Bug...” Her eyes flickered red.
    Suddenly I was afraid to be on Merry's bad side. “You wouldn't have to compromise your beliefs. If anyone harms June Bug, I'll take care of them myself.”
    Her face softened and her fists relaxed. “I know you would.”
    “Ooh!” Montana cooed.
    His head warbled as he reached one hand out, balancing on the other. A dazzling rainbow arched in the distance above the trees.
    “Your first rainbow!” I exclaimed. Merry and I stared ahead, viewing the phenomenon through his eyes. By doing this, it was new to us again, too.
    “It's the first rainbow I've seen in a long time.” Merry scratched her head. “And there hasn't been rain in over a week.”
    The arc faded, leaving only the blue sky in its wake. Once gone, Montana's head hit the blanket and he fell asleep.
    “For a moment, I think I actually found my inner peace,” I said.
    Merry smiled. “Let's capitalize on the feeling. Join me.”
    She sat cross-legged at the edge of the blanket and I sat opposite her, our knees nearly touching. She closed her eyes and rested her hands on her knees, palms up, curling her thumbs to her middle fingers. Her breathing slowed, her chest rising and falling in deliberate waves. A halo of light surrounded her.
    I breathed too, mirroring my sister. After several minutes, calmness took hold. I became aware of the smells first––wet summer grass, tree sap, and lemons. Then, the physical sensations––the warm sun, the cool air, the ground beneath me.
    The world was alive and so was I. We were part of the same chain.
    When I looked again, I spied a white butterfly. It hovered beside Merry before landing gently on her shoulder. Its wings opened and closed with each of her breaths.
    “Merry,” I dared whisper. “There's a butterfly on your shoulder.”
    “Hmmm?” She opened her eyes with a smile. She lifted her finger and the butterfly fluttered on to it. “Did Ruth Anne ever tell you the legend of the rainbow?”
    “No.”
    “Some cultures believe that when a rainbow dissolves, it breaks into a million pieces, and the pieces become colorful butterflies that float away.” She lifted her hand slowly to gaze at her new friend. “White butterflies are among the rarest. When one finds you, it brings peace and protection. A good sign, I think. Make a wish Maggie.”
    “What?”
    “The legend says that if you make a wish on a rainbow butterfly, it will carry your hopes with it on the winds.”
    I pressed my lips together. “I wish for strength,” I said. I was embarrassed by my confession, but if it made even the smallest difference in keeping me and my son safe, it was worth it. Once spoken, the butterfly sailed off into the meadow before disappearing altogether.
    “Oh, Lion, you've always had the strength.” Merry cocked her head, grinning.
    I tucked my wild mane behind my ears and smiled back sheepishly. “I want to call butterflies, too,” I admitted. A renewed strength budded within me, a strength that I realized only came through stillness. “Please, show me what to do.”
    “You're already doing it,” Merry said.
    “But I need more instruction. Why did you curl your hands like that?”
    “To center. It's all about letting everything go and breathing. It's that simple.”
    I did as she instructed, trying to shut out my thoughts, but my mind refused to quiet. Instead, it called up images of my father beckoning to me from a fiery door, of Juliana clutching her neck, and of Shane's truck going over the edge. I kept breathing. The next image was of me hunched over the bathroom sink, splashing water on my fevered face. “I can't.”
    “Imagine a sphere of white light around you,” Merry said. “The light is warm and wraps you in a bubble.”
    I kept