Magic and a Mate

Chapter 2

Juniper’s POV

“So, is Elliot coming with us too or is he still out of town?” Fern’s voice carries to me through the closed bathroom door. I finish toweling myself off from my much needed hot shower.

“He said he would,” I call back.

“So that means, he will likely cancel with some lame excuse.”

I open the door and enter my bedroom followed by a billow of steam. I have one oversized plush white towel wrapped around my body while another is twisted on my head, barely containing my wild, thick hair.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I throw the question over my shoulder as I walk into the closet to get dressed. I grab my fit and flare, dark washed jeans , cream colored thermal shirt and cream sweater. I had already picked out what I was going to wear tonight, making getting ready much easier.

“It means what it means, I didn’t try to hide my thoughts on the subject.” Her flat, slightly annoyed tone tells me that she is tired of having this same conversation. The one that we have been circling around for months. She doesn’t like Elliot for me, she never has, but as of late, his inability to do and say what he means has been the last straw for her. Maybe if I hadn’t called her whenever he flaked, she wouldn’t be so frustrated with Elliot.

“Come on Fern, you know he is trying to secure that big contract so he can make a good impression on the higher ups. If he can pull this off, he is a shoe in for the promotion to marketing manager. That is a huge step for someone barely twenty four,” I plead with my eyes for her to understand.

“Or he is using work as an excuse to neglect you.” She huffs out, as she crosses her arms and pins me with a look she knows I will not want to challenge.

“And why would he do that?” I try to sound causal knowing that she will never buy it.

“I don’t know, you tell me?”

I pull my cream cable knit chenille sweater with the cheerful, red snowflakes over my head and sit down at my dressing table to do my hair and makeup. “What are you trying to get me to say?”

“I cannot be the only one that thinks he takes you for granted. Know your worth Juni, why do you expect so little of him? I mean seriously he has been ditching you for months.”

“Because he has work and that is what adult relationships look like, you understand when the other one is busier than usual. If anything, I should probably be supporting him more. Bringing him a home cooked meal, helping with the daily tasks so he can focus on his work until he gets the signed contract.” I start to run my brush through my wet hair.

“If you say so, “ she says with a shrug. “I guess I want more from a partner, like what werewolves have with their fated mates. Have you ever seen how they treat each other? Like they are each other’s whole world is how,” she says with stars in her eyes. She is such a sucker for all things romantic, she is practically glued to the hallmark channel this time of year.

“You are such a romantic, you know that right Fern?”

“Maybe, but I would rather be a romantic than get walked all over by someone that is supposed to put me first, but in fact that doesn’t appreciate me. I don’t want a love like that.”

“Hey!” I scold her. “It may be hard right now, but relationships take work and need each of us to be willing to give when needed and take when offered, but not expected. Right now Elliot needs me to give a bit more that’s all.”

“If you say so, I just don’t want you getting taken advantage of and hurt in the end. I don’t want to see you like that again,” sorrow and concern lacing her words. I think my breakdown after my last break up has stayed with her more than me.

I look at her through the reflection in the mirror and give her a reassuring smile. “I know you are just looking out for me and I appreciate that you care, I really do, but can you just trust me on this, please.”

Fern gives me a small nod and changes the subject, which I am grateful for, “do you want me to dry your hair while you do your own makeup? Thanks to your eighty five year long shower, I am all ready to go and you are still a beautiful mess.” She chuckles at her own joke and puckers her full, pink lips in the mirror while fluttering her eyelashes to show me how ready she, seeing as she is all dolled up. I just hand her the blow dryer as an answer and get to work on my face.

It doesn’t take long for my long, wavy chestnut brown hair, to be dry and pulled back in an elaborate, loose braid. Woven back and forth with crystals and evergreen sprigs interspersed with scilla and star flowers all tucked in. I swear, Fern is a master at doing hair.

I have finished my face with light makeup; a bit of powder, mascara to make my deep blue eyes stand out, and lip gloss because winter weather always chaps my lips. No need for blush in this cold weather, I think everyone’s cheeks will be flushed enough from the chill of the night air.

The oven timer sounds, letting us know we were finished getting ready just in time. I pull the rosemary and fennel roasted beef tenderloin out and glaze it one more time with the creamy mustard sauce. Fern has already placed the cranberry, pecan rolls into a basket for transporting out to the gathering in the woods. I cannot wait to see what the others are bringing to share. I am really hopeful that Fern’s mom brings her pomegranate and fennel roasted chicken, it is to die for.

I transfer the beef tenderloin into a clean serving dish with a lid for travel, a beautiful white vessel with a relief pattern of pinecones and evergreen needles, painted lightly with gold to show the details of its intricate design. It is a beautiful dish that I inherited from my mother when my parents down-sized into a smaller house when most of us kids had already moved out.

With my dad gone on business much of the time, that left just my mom and Lily to rattle around in our big six bedroom home. My mom didn’t like how empty the house felt, so finding something smaller and cozier was the best solution.

Once the food was all packed up, we bundled ourselves in our winter coats and made our way to the car. Tucking the food dishes into the blankets in the backseat to help them not spill on our drive.

The drive was quiet, both Fern and I in our own heads, as Christmas music played throughout the car. As always, with events of this magnitude, we both needed a little time to absorb the energy of the moment. During this season we not only put out more energy through our auras, but we also absorb more. In past years it can be quite overwhelming, unfortunately with the recent rise in nonbelievers the impact is much lower. For Magicals, like Fern, with very little magical powers to start with, she needs to be present tonight more than most or she is at risk of losing her magical abilities completely.

She tries to hide how much the idea of losing her magical abilities hurts her, but I see it. The low hum of energy that pulses with melancholy that she sometimes emits or at other times the high frequency of anxiety that almost assaults anyone near Fern. All I can do is send calm, healing energy to her to help ground and center her. Hopefully tonight’s rituals will help us all gain the magical strength and power that we need to make Christmas happen and to continue having our magical powers.