“Gris-gris witch,” Aeric mumbled.
“What?” Echo asked.
“Nothing, nothing,” Aeric said, shaking his head. “I did not know of your mother.”
Echo lost her patience.
“It doesn’t matter. Go back to what you were saying before, about life mates.”
“Yes,” Aeric said with a nod. “Witches are like… lightning rods, maybe. They attract power from the world around them, but they attract it in large, quick draws. The life mate helps the witch balance, store the energy. Keeps the witch from blowing out her…”
Aeric paused, obviously trying to find the right word.
“Fuses?” Echo suggested.
“Fuses, yes.”
“How does the life mate do that and not get… you know, struck by lightning?” Echo asked, letting her lashes fall over her eyes. She desperately wished she was having this conversation with anyone oth
