Chapter 156: Pure Energy

WE WERE STILL A FEW miles off the main road where pines and redwoods began to blend in with a variety of other types of trees like eucalyptus, cypress, and scrubs. Fortunately, the traffic was almost non-existent in the middle of the day. The last thing we needed was a good Samaritan pulling over to see if we needed help.

I squeezed out of the vehicle and Wynona and Phoebe piled out of the front seat so I could climb in next to Luke. But Wynona still hovered over my shoulder, way too close for comfort. I gave her a frosty look but she ignored it. I sighed and attempted to block out the seven sets of eyes watching me with expressions ranging from suspicion to wonder and pride. Closing my own eyes, I visualized a yoga meditation pose. Not that I did yoga, but hey, I'd peeked in on that class a few times. It was always so peaceful. I could use some of that right now.

I needed to center my thoughts on something tangible. I breathed in the sharp, almost minty smell of the eucalyptus tre