"Do you like me?" I asked. "Do you really like me?"
Imogen nodded. Water gathered at the edges of her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered, in a voice pained enough to crack my heart.
"Then let's...go out, after this," I said. "We'll go on a date. We can figure this out together, and we can take one step at a time. Okay?"
Imogen nodded again. I took her hands in mine. 
Heartwood: Forbidden is the tale of the young, headstrong Ophelia stepping into a world of magic and witches. At first it seems like her greatest challenge will be finding her Familiar or drawing her Implement from a great tree, but then she runs into Imogen, daughter and heir to the Magnolia family, and learns very quickly that romance and magic probably shouldn't be allowed to mix. If Ophelia plays the game well, she might be able to get the girl and still end up on top. But Ophelia has never been good at following the rules... 
Heartwood: Forbidden is created by EOK Gifford-Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Heartwood: Forbidden

Long and surprisingly lightweight, it took me a moment to realize the shape my Implement had taken. It was a bat. A baseball bat.


I practically leapt to my feet in delight.


"You did!" Olezhka let out a triumphant roar.


I gave the bat a few practice swings. It was perfectly balanced, designed to fit my hands and my hands alone. I could feel magic running through it, humming in the soft grain of the wood.


I pointed the bat at the wall. Nothing happened.


I turned to Olezhka. "How do I do magic?" I asked.


The door creaked open. Matriarch Ismene poked her head in. "I hear good things?" she said, smiling when she saw the bat. "And I see them as well! Congratulations, Ophelia."


I beamed at her. "How do I do magic?" I asked again.


Chapter 28: The Implement