Page 38 of Waltzing With Witches

On cue, the VHS stand rolls across the tiled floor toward me.

“Thank you!” I shout, tucking the VHS tape under my armpit. I grab the player stand and wheel it out of the classroom toward my girls.

When I rejoin them, Wren looks at the player skeptically. “We watching old movies, Mor?”

“You found it, then,” Moira says with a preen of her crown feathers. “The Keeper’s transition video?”

I nod, discomfort niggling in my chest. “Do I want to see this?” My eyes are locked on the bird woman.

She sighs, shaking her head. “It won’t make you happy to see this, Morgan. But I hope it will help you to understand him a little bit more. All of you, really.” She looks around at the group.

“Hey,” Thea barks. “I get the whole being-a-Keeper-zaps-your-empathy thing, kinda, but it doesn’t excuse poor behavior.”

“It doesn’t,” Moira agrees. “But you don’t yet know his full story, and you lack the context about how everything came to be. Let’s go watch the video, and I think you’ll see what I mean.

“Oh God,” I moan. “I don’t know if I want to, now that I have a way to.”

Moira steps closer, reaching around me with one long, elegant wing. “You’re his mate. And I know it sounds trite to say he pushes you away because of his love, but it’s true. I have watched him struggle with this for decades.”

Something angry and ferocious bursts inside me. The idea of him struggling over me feels wrong.

“Ah, there you go,” Moira whispers in a conspiratorial tone. “You’re beginning to see the yin and yang of Keepers and their mates. You don’t want to be mad at him, do you? It feels wrong?”

Silence descends as my sisters and aunt stare at me. I look deep into Moira’s whiskey-brown eyes.

“No,” I admit. “I want to understand. But I’d like him to be forthcoming.”

“Ah,” Moira says, patting me on the lower back. “Once you have this context, I’ll encourage him to share the rest of his story with you.”

“I need breakfast for this shit,” Thea grumbles. “You guys wheel that stuff over to Town Hall. I’m going to the Galloping Green Bean to pick up some French toast and whatever you might want.”

“Let me go,” Lou says quickly. “It’s more important for you three to be together. I’ll grab a bunch of food and be back in a few, okay?”

I pull her in for a quick hug. Her skin is burning up, scorching mine. My magic curls and tumbles in my chest, beating a pattern against the back of my ribcage. I step back, throwing a hand over my heart as I suck in deep lungfuls of air.

“What’s wrong?” Thea barks.

I reach for Lou again, resting the back of my hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up, Lou. When do you see Doc Slade next?”

Her eyes go hooded. “Later today,” she says, rubbing the back of her elbow. “I haven’t been feeling all that well, but he says it could be a side effect of the thralls.” She forces cheer into her tone. “If I was going to become one, it would have happened by now, though, so that’s good!”

We all fall silent. The thought of Lou becoming one of the soulless, depraved monsters is more than I can bear. I yank her back into my arms, wrapping her up tight as my magic twists and snatches inside me.

“I’ll go with you to see Doc Slade later,” I whisper into her hair. “I don’t know shit about my magic, but maybe there’s something I can do to help.”

“Mmkay,” she mumbles from my neck area. “Let go, Mor, you’re suffocating me, woman!”

Reluctantly, I release my hold on her. Lou gives me a soft smile, then turns to leave. She pats both Thea and Wren on the way out.

I clap my hands together. “Okay, kids, let’s do this!”

Moira and my sisters trail me as I push the VHS stand out of the building and across the street. We drag it up over the curb onto the sidewalk, then push and pull it across the grass and up the steps. On a whim, we wheel it all the way to the Keeper’s office. Feels fitting.

A small, still-mad part of me wants the monitoring system to let him know I’m in his office.

Again.

Town Hall helpfully lights the fireplace, casting warmth into the chilly room.

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