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this?”
     
    “No. Normally it’s not a visual thing. I would assume it is due to your human upbringing. They are very visual creatures. I suppose that is why your mind needs to go there.” She smiled. “It doesn’t matter how you control your magic, it just matters that you do.” Then, her smile vanished to a determined look. “Try severing the connection now. See if you are capable of that.”
     
    I closed my eyes again and focused back on the window. I grasped the brass handle then pulled straight down.
     
    The window shut instantly. It was much easier than I remembered. That window was always a pain in my backside. I broke up a sweat each time trying to close that damn thing.
     
    “Well done,” Zia praised.
     
    “You cannot get a read on me right now?” I asked, opening my eyes.
     
    She was thoughtful for a moment. “No. Nothing.” She cocked her head. “You?”
     
    I listened carefully, but my mind was my own—thoughtless at the present moment. “Nope. All quiet.”
     
    “Leave the connection open as much as you can. The more you use it the stronger it will be.”
     
    I closed my eyes again, concentrating quickly, then slammed the window open. I probably could have tried to do this now without the window guiding me. Just as with Fire, I was starting to suspect that once I experience the sensation that went along with the power, I could just use that as my guide. But I was too pooped to attempt anything else.
     
    When my eyes fluttered open, I thought to Zia, “Thank you for showing me this, Zia. It is definitely one thing I desperately wanted to learn.”
     
    “I believe I may miss your little rendezvous. Talon sure appreciated the effect they had on me,” she thought back.
     
    I laughed aloud, slightly grossed out at the same time. “Nice to know we entertained you.”
     
    “Entertained might not be a strong enough word.” She leaned in and kissed my cheek. “You did well today. Do you need a boost?”
     
    “Do I ever.” Zia reached out, touching my hand and with it, came the jolt of pure exhilaration. “Thanks!” I said, grateful and mystified all at the same time. Her abilities still astounded me no matter how many times I witnessed them. “Out of curiosity, when will I be learning to do that? The healing stuff—I will be learning that, right?”
     
    Zia nodded. “You have already proved your ability to master to the art of healing.”
     
    She was right about that. Kyden had been my guinea pig. I healed him without even trying.
     
    Zia continued, “I wanted you to get this right first. You need a strong focus to offer such a remedy. We can start soon if you wish.”
     
    “I do. It’ll be nice to be a giant Band-Aid.”
     
    “It does come in handy.” Then, she thought. “I must go. Talon is waiting. Be well.”
     
    “You too, Zia.”
     
    After she left, I laid back to rest beneath my willow, and reached up to run my hands through the leafy vines. Since Zia brought it home here to the Witches Meadow, it seemed to really thrive. The colors were more vibrant and had grown in size. Obviously, it suffered being in Carson City—the wilderness area it was in just wasn’t meant to support a willow.
     
    “Waiting for me, babe?” Ryker’s voice snapped me away from my thoughts.
     
    “Not likely,” I responded.
     
    Ryker chucked deeply and took a seat beside me. “Testy. One with spirit. I like that.”
     
    I sat up and shifted away from his closeness. In an attempt to distract him from his flirting charm, I asked, “Tell me, you worked for a Vamp Mistress. What was that like?”
     
    He shrugged. “Nothing as exciting as assignments, but interesting nonetheless.”
     
    “Interesting how?” I was curious about this. The whole vampire Mistress thing was so bizarre, my mind was full of questions.
     
    “The Mistress I worked for is Thalia,” Ryker answered. “She’s a lovely little thing. Turned when she was only seventeen, her date of birth was sometime