Page 40 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

A flash of guilt sparks in me as I realize Caelan might not have wanted me to tell anyone that.

Another drop hits my cheek, then another, and before I can answer, we’re running in the quickening downpour towards Willow’s shop.

Panting, we finally tumble through her door, the musky scent of damp earth and vegetation clinging to the humid air inside.

“Oh, you’re here,” Willow says cheerfully. “I just sent Kieran on his way to avoid the storm.”

A dark-haired woman walks into the front of Willow’s apothecary from the back room, mist curling around her.

Piper snorts, and I stifle a laugh.

“There you are,” Nerissa intones, ignoring Piper’s reaction to her dramatics. “I was starting to wonder if you were going to show up at all.”

“Right,” I say, plunking the box full of pastries down on Willow’s counter, ignoring the clear jar of what appears to be rodent feet next to it in favor of taking another lemon square. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

I launch into my explanation, getting as far as explaining the temporary nature of the binding with Caelan only to see Willow’s scowl growing increasingly dark.

“Couldn’t you just ask him for help?” she finally interrupts. “Doesn’t this seem like a lot of effort when you could just ask?”

“He’s an Unseelie fae,” I say, my gaze darting around to my friends’ faces. “You can’t trust their word.”

Piper tilts her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Willow throws up her hands. “Right. Goddess forbid we treat them like they are capable of a full range of emotions. We’ll just bind them to our will!”

Nerissa smiles. “Exactly, Willow. What must be done must be done.”

“Oh, stop it, Nerissa. We’re all witches. There’s no reason to be pointlessly theatric with us.” Piper crosses her arms in irritation.

“I’m just saying, there’s something more going on here—” Nerissa starts sharply.

“Right, right, and you’re the only one who knows about it, as usual.” Piper rolls her eyes.

“We don’t have all day,” I finally blurt, ready to get this show on the road before my willingness to actually carry out my hasty plan disappears. “Let’s get this binding started.”

“Right.” Nerissa rubs her hands together gleefully. “It’s spellsmith time.”

“I have the spell already,” I tell her, trying not to be annoyed. Trying, and failing. “I don’t need a new spell.”

“I’m just not sure that this is a good idea,” Willow hedges. “They’re powerful, and it might be nicer just to ask Caelan if he wants to help you.”

I swallow the urge to let out a shriek that would make a banshee proud. “Your critique has been noted,” I tell her.

“Willow has a point.” Piper says, not meeting my gaze.

A disappointed whuff of air sails out of me. “Fine. I can do it by myself.”

“Absolutely not,” Nerissa says, her voice thick with power. “We do this together. We do this together and we accept the consequences of the magic.”

Piper covers her face with her hands, clearly unimpressed by Nerissa.

“Isn’t this kind of like a coven thing?” Willow asks, cringing.

“Well, put ‘establish a coven’ on the to-do list, Willow!” I bellow, out of patience.

That’s what I get for waking up early from a brownie invasion and trying to be extroverted all day. An absolutely spent capacity for peopling.

“Oh, I can do that,” Willow says brightly. “I’m so glad we’re going to start a coven.”

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