Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton

“Yeah, I am.”
    â€œWhy?” he asked.
    I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
    â€œThen should you be raising the dead?”
    â€œI think it will be one of the easier raisings I’ve ever done. There’s so much power.”
    He grabbed my arm. “Do you even know that you’re touching every tombstone as you walk by it?”
    I stood there with his hand on my arm and stared at him. “I’m what?”
    â€œYou’re caressing the tops of the tombstones like you’d stroke a hand through flowers in a field.”
    I looked at the worry in his face and knew that he wasn’t lying, but . . . “Was I?”
    â€œYes,” he said, and his grip on my arm was suddenly almost painful.
    â€œYou’re hurting me,” I said.
    â€œDoes it help?”
    I frowned at him, then realized what he meant. The small pain had pushed back the power. I could think about something other than the dead. My first clear thought was fear. “I don’t know what’s wrong tonight. I really don’t. I knew I was gaining abilitiesfrom the vampires, but I didn’t think it would bleed over to the zombie stuff. I mean, that’s my magic, not Jean-Claude’s, not Richard’s. Mine. Whatever happens metaphysically, it doesn’t usually mess with my basic talent.”
    â€œShould you cancel tonight?” he asked.
    I licked my lips, tasting the fresh lipstick I’d put on after we’d made love. I shook my head, moving into the circle of his arms. I hugged him. “If this is a new power level, then one night won’t make a difference.” I held him, breathing in the warm solidity of him.
    â€œThere’s always a learning curve to new abilities, Anita,” he whispered into my hair. “Even if that ability is only a stronger version of something else. Do we really want the learning curve to be on the FBI’s dime?”
    He had a point, a good one, but . . . “I’ll be able to raise this zombie, Micah.”
    â€œBut what else will you raise?” he asked.
    I drew back enough to see his face. “How did you understand that?”
    â€œIsn’t that what you’re afraid of? Not that you can’t raise the dead, but that you’ll raise more than you were paid for?”
    I nodded. “Yeah.” I shivered and drew away so I could rub my arms. “That’s exactly it.”
    â€œThe protective circle is usually to keep things out,” he said. “Right?”
    I nodded again.
    â€œTonight, I think maybe it will be to keep you in.”
    â€œSo I don’t spread over more of the graves,” I said.
    â€œYes,” he said.
    â€œThey should have chickens waiting for me to slaughter. I know Larry would have told them to bring the livestock.”
    Fox yelled, “Marshal, Callahan, are you coming?”
    â€œWe’ll be there in a minute,” Micah called. He leaned into me, hands on my arms. “Do you really think chicken blood will keep this contained?”
    â€œNot their blood, but their lives, yes,” I said.
    â€œI’m not sure adding fresh death to your magic tonight is a good idea.”
    â€œWhat choice do I have, Micah? I can make a small cut in my arm or hand and use the blood, but I’m not sure what my blood touching the graveyard will do tonight. So much power tonight, it’s intoxicating.”
    â€œThen use my blood,” he said.
    I looked at him. “You’ve never shared blood for a zombie raising.”
    â€œNo, but I let Jean-Claude take blood from me. How much different can it be?”
    There were many answers to that, but I settled for “A lot different. I can’t cloud your mind to make it not hurt.”
    â€œIt’s a little cut, Anita. I’m okay with it.”
    I sighed and hugged him again. A lot of men will date you, and some will sleep with you, and a few are content to play second fiddle