All That Glitters (Avalon: Web of Magic #2) by Rachel Roberts

pointed back to the computer monitor. “According to this, ‘Banshees foretell dark magic and the fate of those who are touched by evil.’”
    “How do they do that?” Emily asked.
    Adriane read on. “They wash an article of clothing of the one who is tainted.”
    Kara felt the blood rush from her face. “It was washing my sweater. What am I going to do? I’m tainted!” she wailed. “Do I smell bad?”
    “Kara, don’t you think there’s something odd about your jewel?” Emily asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    “What did it look like when you first found it?” Adriane asked Kara.
    “Just like this.” Kara held out the dazzling gem.
    “Ours changed as we used them, as if they became tuned to us.”
    “That would make sense,” Ozzie mused. “Magic jewels are tuned to a specific person. Only they can use it.”
    “Well, mine got here all powerful and ready to go. So what?” Kara clutched the stone close. “Just takes some time to learn to work it right.” But she knew she had none of the control Emily and Adriane had over their magic.
    “Kara, maybe that jewel is not for you,” Emily said slowly.
    “How do you know when a jewel is really for you?” Kara held up the magic stone. Bright facets cast sparkles across her face.
    “You just know, Kara,” Adriane replied. “It’s like they reflect a part of who we are.”
    “Well, those banshees aren’t after your jewel, they’re after . . . mine.” Kara realized what she was saying. Her jewel was different. But how? What part of her did it reflect? Did the banshees know she would be the one to find this jewel? Was she tainted with dark magic?
    “If this sorceress is hunting animals, she may want the jewel to trap an animal,” Balthazar suggested.
    “Oh, no!” Kara’s mouth opened in horror. “Do you think she’s after Lyra?”
    “Kara, this isn’t just your problem,” Emily said.
    “We’re in this together,” Adriane agreed.
    “That’s right, we all are,” Ozzie said, waving a paw to include the other animals.
    “So what do we do?” Kara asked.
    “Whoever is after that jewel will come back for it.” Adriane looked at the others. “We’ll just have to be ready to deal with it.”
    “So I’m supposed to wait around like a sitting quiffle?” Kara complained. “No offense,” she said to Ronif.
    “Those water creatures told you the jewel is a trap, right?” Emily said.
    “Yeah . . . but they were confusing me and I sat on one.”
    “We think they were Fairimentals, like the ones that came to us made of earth and twigs,” Emily explained.
    “Kara,” Ozzie said. “The Fairimentals sent me to find three human mages, a healer, a warrior, and a blazing star.”
    “So?”
    “So . . . we don’t know what a blazing star is . . .”
    “What’s your point?”
    “Maybe you’re not the one . . .” Ozzie said cautiously. “The blazing star.”
    Kara was speechless. How could she not be the blazing star? She found the most fabulous jewel! Had she only found it by accident?
    “But Ozzie,” Emily said. “Kara makes magic stronger when she’s around us.”
    “So do we,” Ronif pointed out.
    “What, so now I’m like a magical animal?” Kara scoffed.
    Ozzie tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Kara obviously conducts magic, like the animals do, so maybe the jewel is a test.”
    “A test? Why are they testing me and not Emily and Adriane?”
    “Maybe they’re being tested in different ways. But this time the Fairimentals came to you. We don’t know what a blazing star is. But three mages are needed to help Aldenmor and the animals.”
    “I want this to be mine so bad!” Kara admitted, holding the crystal tightly. But even if it only attracts bad magic?
    “I’ll ask Storm to watch out for you,” Adriane offered.
    “All the animals are on the lookout for anything unusual,” Ozzie put in.
    “So, are we all agreed?” Emily asked.
    Adriane and the animals nodded.
    “All right,” Emily said. “In the meantime we