Reluctant Adept: Book Three of A Clairvoyant's Complicated Life (52 page)

I sighed. "Not sure about the Kyle part, but I'll think about it."

She smiled broadly, exposing her charming, gap-toothed grin. "Woo, girl! That makes me happier than a tick on a fat dog."

"Oh, jeez. Enough already."

She laughed. "And that Kyle. Give him a chance. He seems like a nice guy and he’s Sven’s cousin for goodness sake. Your dad knows their family, right? That counts for somethin’. It’s not like you met him out barhopping." She raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, he was asking about 'cha, when we were feeding the critters."

I frowned. "He was?"

Joanne beamed. "Sure was. When I mentioned you weren't seein' anybody, he definitely perked up."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Please tell me you weren't playing matchmaker."

She perched a manicured hand against her chest. "Little ol' me? Now, would I go and do somethin' like that?"

"Yes. You would." I sighed and looked heavenward. "I swear. What's next? A billboard?" I extended my hands, as though framing something in the distance. "Samantha Jennings needs to get laid. Call 555-1234 for details."

She laughed. "Well, that’s a fact, but don't go gettin' your panties in a bunch. I wasn't that obvious." She peered at me archly and added, "You hafta admit though, he's worth a second look—or even a long stare or three.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. "Yeah, yeah. Looks aren't everything. Craig's proof positive on that score."

"Good looks don't automatically mean the guy's gonna be a polecat either. All I'm sayin' is you could give him a chance. Maybe he'll surprise you.” She smirked. “And if he doesn’t … hey, we’re in the middle of no-damn-where. Who’s gonna know? Polecats have their benefits."

“Good Lord. Don’t start.” I giggled and rolled my eyes. "Fine. If it makes you happy, I'll think about it. God knows why he’d be remotely interested though.”

She scoffed, but I deliberately changed the subject before she had a chance to give me a pep talk. "Oh, hey. Sven told me he plans to release Jamie. Can you believe it?"

"Wow. Really?"

Her reaction wasn't what I expected. "You don't seem too surprised."

She took a swig from her beer before putting it down to prepare another cracker. "No. I suppose not. Sven told me that he's wonderin' about how attached the two of you are getting."

I pressed my back against the cushion of the deck chair, deflated. "I sure wish he had talked to me about it, instead of going to you. I might have taken a more conservative approach if Sven had told me from the beginning that he planned to release him.” I sighed. “Not like I had much choice. He would have died without the constant intervention. I can't help that I'm the only one who can feed him around here."

"I know. I told him that. I'm sorry, Sammy. He's a pretty special manatee. I'm gonna miss that big galoot."

I sighed and picked up my forgotten wine glass. "At least after he's released, I won't have to worry about what happens to him when I decide to take a vacation, or move on to another job. In the wild, I'm sure he'll be okay, as long as he can stay away from people."

"What's this I hear? You finally thinkin' about taking us back to civilization?"

I took a sip of wine before smiling over the top of my glass. "What? You mean you're not enjoying it here at the ‘ass-end of nowhere?’" I laughed at her disgusted expression and shook my head. "No plans yet. But don't worry. You'll be the first to know."

I looked out at the water. "I worry about Jamie's behavior though. There's something different about him.” I looked back at Joanne. “Don't you think? Have you ever noticed that he really seems to listen to us?"

She examined me, a smirk tugging at her mouth. "Darlin', I reckon' you've been on this island a little too long."

"Oh, stop. What I meant was that it makes me wonder whether Jamie was rescued from the wild. Maybe he was previously held in captivity." I laughed at her continued expression. "Oh, come on. You've been around me long enough to know I haven't gone loopy. I’ve always been this way. It’s part of my charm.” Smiling, I cocked my head. “Anyway, it's not like I hear them talking back."

She giggled. "Thank the Lord for small favors. 'Cuz if that changes, we are leaving this island faster than a hound dog can lift his leg."

You have been reading an excerpt from

THE 7TH TEAR

by Katherine Bayless

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GLOSSARY

1995 Paranormal Rights Act

The landmark civil rights legislation in the United States that outlaws major forms of discrimination against magically inclined or cursed individuals.

Adept

A sidhe who has the ability to create and manage portals between worlds.

Ætheling

Silven (also Anglo-Saxon) term for a prince or heir apparent.

Ámsach

Silven term for an ambassador.

Animtùr

Silven term for an individual capable of reading auras; an aura reader.

Anóen

Silven sobriquet for the prophesied world-straddling adept who will be mated to the ruler responsible for unifying the sidhe's fractured populace. Translated, it means 'the one.'

Arcane Council

Ruling body for all magic users (both witchcraft and sorcery) in the United States.

The Between

The vast inter-dimensional nexus where the essence of every unique life force, from any one of an infinite number of worlds, intersects. Also known as Purgatory.

Bídteine

Sobriquet that means 'little fire' in Silven.

Bráigda

The object which binds, and therefore controls, the soul of each member of the Wuldrífan. In Silven, it means 'perennial collar.'

Brownie

In English vernacular, refers to a diminutive, roughly humanoid race from the Otherworld. Often mistaken for a hobgoblin, they are smaller, less hairy, and do not typically indulge in practical jokes. They have been known to inhabit human homes and perform household tasks in exchange for small gifts of food. Bread (especially brioche) and honey are said to be particular favorites. They work only at night and do not like to be seen. Of all the fae, brownies have been the most eager to reside permanently on Earth.

Búancodail

Silven name for Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

Circle of power

A ritually defined space, usually sealed with blood, used in spellcasting to control the flow of magic (and/or physical access) within its boundaries. See summoner, ward.

Clairvoyant

A mind psychic who can read the memories associated with an object (or person) through direct physical contact.

Clean room

An enclosed space that is completely psi-free, often within the confines of a psychiatric hospital.

The Compact

The ancient peace accord between King Faonaín, the amhaín, and the telepaths of Invisius Verso, which brought an end to the sidhe's civil war. The covenant curtails King Faonaín's efforts to exterminate the human race.

Coterie

An exclusive group of individuals with shared interests or tastes. A witchcraft coven is a type of coterie. The king's part-blood subjects on Earth are organized into coteries, typically one or two for every major urban center throughout his territories.

Coventry Academy

The private elementary, middle, and high school, located in Coventry, WA, dedicated to the education of children capable of spellcasting, possessing a psychic ability, or cursed by magic, including those affected by the strigoi curse (vampirism) and therianthropy.

Coventry Hospital

The hospital, located in Coventry, WA, that specializes in the care of those gifted with psychic or magic powers or individuals suffering from magic related injuries or curses.

Crònathir

Silven name for the River Styx. See Nàsaig.

Cryokinetic

An individual who is capable of siphoning ambient heat from the atmosphere or other physical objects. Also known as an icemaker.

Cúairtine

Silven term for an individual capable of sidestepping between worlds. Translated, it means 'world walker.'

Curse

An enchantment that, by its very nature, imparts both positive and negative affects on an individual, location, or object. When applied to an individual, a curse is often (but not always) hereditary or transmittable via body fluids. Of all curses, therianthropy and the strigoi curse are perhaps the most well-known.

Daoine Sídhe

See sidhe.

Dark Arts

A field of magic dealing with death and darkness. Spellcasters capable of such magic are often mistakenly labeled as evil or in league with the devil.

Department of Paranormal Affairs

United States governmental agency created to oversee all citizens possessing magical abilities. Until it was declared unconstitutional twenty-five years ago, their ID program required the registration, tattooing, and tracking of all psychics, magic users, and cursed individuals from their birth (or manifestation date). The Magic User Registration Bill, if passed, threatens to restore some of these practices.

Dhêala

Silven term for a human possessing the strigoi curse; a vampire.

Divinor

An individual with the gift of precognition, the ability to foresee the future. Also known as oracle, seer, or prophesier.

Djinn

A spirit-like entity that inhabits a world beyond the dimensions of Earth. Also known as jinn, genie, or jinnī. They can be physical or incorporeal in nature and are known shape-shifters. In their dealings with humankind, they are most often neutral, neither good nor bad, typically practicing noninterference in human matters unless bound by blood compact. Other than their ability to transform and hold any physical shape, it is said they have the ability to move between dimensions and travel great distances at extreme speeds. The full extent of their power is unknown.

Domn

Title given to the ruler of the United Convocation of Strigoi (vampires).

Draíocloch

A sidhe magic item that, when used, forges a temporary gateway to the Otherworld.

Elder race

A class of humanoid beings that existed before modern humans.

Elf

In English vernacular, a term that refers to a sidhe, popularized by J. R. R. Tolkien in his high-fantasy books. Because 'elf' has, in the distant past, been used to describe invisible demonic beings and other unsavory (and often fictional) creatures, it isn't a term the sidhe favor.

Emissary

English vernacular title given to King Faonaín's representatives who provide a means of communication between the sidhe ruler and his Earth-bound subjects. An emissary is typically a part-blood (or less commonly a human) who is soulbound to a sidhe within the king's retinue. The emissary and his/her mate communicate telepathically through their joined souls. One remains in the Otherworld and the other on Earth. See liaison.

Enebráig

A sidhe confinement or prison in which the cell or extended area is imbued to disrupt all spellcasting.

Essence

An individual's life-force, their soul.

Fae

In English vernacular, a term that refers to the many unique beings and creatures that inhabit the Otherworld.

Faery

In English vernacular, a term for the Otherworld.

Fairy

In English vernacular, an alternate term for fae that has come to be associated with the fictionalized versions of Otherworld creatures found in European folklore.

Fairyland

In English vernacular, often used as a derogatory term for the Otherworld.

Firestarter

See pyrokinetic.

Flaith

Silven (also Irish) term for a prince.

Flight 208

The plane crash that was caused by a terrorist wielding an object enchanted with an inferno spell.

Gateway

A magical conduit, or portal, large enough to provide physical transport from one place to another, often between dimensions or worlds.

Geas

A magically enforced prohibition (similar to a curse but without the required positive/negative interdependency), which imposes a certain behavior upon its subject. A geas is either compulsory or voluntary. If compulsory, the subject is physically incapable of violating the geas. If the geas is voluntary, violation of the designated stricture may result in dishonor, physical or mental duress, or, in extreme cases, death.

Glamours