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yelled, and stepped out of the tub to grab a towel. “Poor thing, geesh. You’d think you’ve never seen a cat before.”
     
    Kyden looked appalled. “Whose is that?”
     
    “Mine.”
     
    His brow arched. “Yours? As in you’re keeping it?”
     
    “Stop being so mean! Of course I’m keeping her.” I picked Willow up and dried her off. “Actually, I don’t think I have much of a choice in the matter. Zia took me to Briar’s tonight and the kitty became…well…mine.”
     
    His arched brow rose higher.
     
    “Don’t ask. I don’t know how it works. Briar said that she had chosen me. Even if I didn’t want her, she’d come and find me anyway. I’ve named her Willow. Isn’t she so cute?”
     
    “Willow—I like the name. Not sure about the cat.” He reached his hand out to touch Willow’s head and she hissed as if he was a ravenous dog about to eat her. Kyden quickly pulled his hand back.
     
    “I think the feeling might be mutual there. Can’t say I really blame her after that first impression.” I gave Willow a stern look. “This is Kyden. He lives here too.” Which, he did. He moved in the night after our near death experiences. “So, you two are going to have to get along.”
     
    Willow jumped out of my arms, and I swear she snorted at me.
     
    “Fluffball isn’t going anywhere near our bed,” Kyden demanded.
     
    Willow raised her head and swung her tail at him as she sauntered out of the bathroom. I followed her with my eyes and burst out laughing when I saw what she did next.
     
    “Ahh…I’m not sure you have much of a choice in the matter.”
     
    Kyden slammed the door open. “Get off there,” he roared, lunging forward to stop Willow, with her damp fur, rolling around on his pillow.
     

 

     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    A wretched hour had passed with me failing miserably at blocking Zia from my mind. She chose the Witches Meadow to conduct my training the following night. A beautiful night it was, which was the norm for the Otherworld. Magical lands aren’t built upon thundershowers and snow storms. But they’re also not built upon sunny days. Around here, night is the day. The reason, vampires are the biggest concern for the Council—which means, sticking to their clock is important.
     
    The meadow was stunning as always. The rolling hills, lush green grass, pretty wild flowers and hundreds of sacred trees were pleasant as always. But the true beauty was my weeping willow that made the place spectacular. It was the place where this crazy new life of mine all began. She probably thought my willow would comfort me enough to help control my powers. It wasn’t working. “This is so frustrating,” I snapped. “Why can’t I control this? What am I doing wrong?”
     
    “Stop chastising yourself. You are doing well. You have the ability there. I believe you just doubt yourself.”
     
    “Doubting myself?” I snorted loudly. “Going back to that, am I?”
     
    Kyden had the same problem while training me. His answer to that was to anger me. Thankfully, Zia wouldn’t resort to such measures.
     
    I took a deep, settling breath, “I just need to focus on putting a wall up, right?”
     
    Zia laughed. “I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but if you need to visualize that to gain control of your powers, then do so.”
     
    I closed my eyes. My powers…
     
    Who even knew what that meant? I sure didn’t. The Fire Element was the only one I had any control over and even that took time. I’d seen some witches work magic quicker than I could blink. Me, it took a couple minutes to even burn up a tree. Pathetic!
     
    “Nexi,” Zia chided.
     
    I opened my eyes to see a tree a few feet away burning fiercely. “Sorry…er…I didn’t mean to do that.”
     
    “I honestly fear for everyone around you if you cannot get a handle on yourself. You cannot imagine such things without having consequences.” She flung water out to the tree, instantly smothering the