Everwild (The Healer Series, #1) Read Free Page A

and his group
of friends just hooted in laughter, which only increased her
humiliation. Not to mention he called her the nickname she hated.
Willow Tree. Willow Tree? Really? She hated the nickname he dubbed
her even more than she hated his smug grin when he insulted her, so
Willow expertly stomped on his foot and stormed away. He ruined her
whole night, making her question her abilities as a witch. She was
already self-conscious enough as it was about her magic casting
skills.
    Pandora began dropping down as they neared
the city. Pulling off before they were spotted, they made their way
to the forest on the outskirts of town. Willow heard the sounds of
busy life in the city. Cars were honking, and people were talking
loudly on cell phones, while others were yelling at each other. The
repugnant smell of exhaust fumes filled the air like a suffocating
gas chamber. Willow knew of another Coven living within the city,
and she felt sorry for them, having to deal with the insane life of
humans and having to constantly conceal their magic. It wasn’t
where she would want to live, but apparently they liked it if they
still lived there. Witches hated to break tradition, and the Coven
that lived in the city had lived there for centuries. They wouldn’t
change their location even though everything around them had
changed.
    They climbed off the brooms, hiding them in a
hollowed out tree Pandora made several years ago. No one else knew
of its existence, which kept their traveling devices well
protected. They then entered the city. Of course, Willow was the
only one in normal looking clothes, and she smiled when they
received several shocked stares from humans as they passed them by.
Her sisters looked like they just walked right out of the Middle
Ages in their flowing gowns and cloaks. They especially gaped at
Portia-Anna’s bizarre hair color. Willow, however, blended right
in.
    Unfortunately, a Firsts magic was flawed,
almost limited in a way. They couldn’t conjure clothes out of thin
air yet. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have to go
shopping…ever. Willow could make the perfect dress for herself and
be fine. Her sisters could change their clothes at will,
envisioning an outfit that then appeared on their bodies, but they
were still so old school that the gowns they chose to wear were
anything but with the current era. Willow regarded Pandora quietly
as her scarlet dress flowed and hugged her curvaceous figure
perfectly. It must be nice to be a Second.
    They stopped at a small shop that looked
promising. The cashier behind the counter regarded them curiously
as they walked around to look at the clothes. Humans could always
sense something amiss with those who wielded magic. It wasn’t dark
magic, as some witches preferred to use, but there was still an
underlying terror of the unknown that humans could sense within
them. It was the kind where they knew something was different, and
labeled them as “weird” or “wrong” just by first appearances.
Witches were always cordial to humans, but humans never cared for
them, judging them accordingly, and knowing something wasn’t quite
right. Nevertheless, witches never exposed themselves to a human.
Nobody wanted a repeat of the Salem witch trials.
    Portia-Anna picked up two dresses she found
and held them out. One was super short and kinky; the other was
longer with more flow and fabric. “Okay, Willow,” she said holding
them up for her to see and smiling slyly, “Hot slut or tea party
princess? I myself prefer the black one,” she held up the short
dress and twirled. “You’d be stunning in this.”
    “If she were going to a men’s club to flaunt
her body,” Pandora said irritated. “Do you think Hekate would
approve of this for her talisman ceremony, Portia? Do try to use
your intellect.”
    “Well someone woke up on the wrong side of
the cobwebs this morning,” Portia-Anna muttered and put the dresses
back.
    “Oh, you would look simply perfect in