Page 85 of Truly Madly Magically

Emerson waves this away. “A book told me I was a Confluence Warrior. A book explained that Rebekah was a Chaos Diviner. Now this book has the only known mention of what a ghost that only you and Zander can see says you are.”

“Those were big, ancient texts, not fairy tales.” I feel like I’m having a panic attack, and I can’t allow that. I make myself laugh. “I’m a Summoner.”

Not a very good one either.

I don’t say that out loud, but Emerson isn’t the only one who shoots me a sharp look. “After everything we’ve been through over the past year, you can’t honestly think any of us are just one thing, can you?”

Emerson can’t understand because there’s a prophecy about her. Because she is special.

I look over at Georgie. She’s ridiculously smart, has been dedicated to her role and her job from the start, and is a full witch, but she’s the closest to my situation in that there isn’t anything extraordinary about her family or her place in this community.

She shrugs at me. “I think Em’s right.”

“Let’s sit down and listen.” Emerson, clearly no longer in discussion mode, says a spell that has the book floating above us. A disembodied voice begins to read, like we’re a kindergarten class being read to by a teacher.

One who’s invisible and doesn’t actually exist.

“Sit down, El,” Zander says in a low voice, and he doesn’t wait for me to ignore him. He wraps his fingers around my wrist and tugs me down to the sofa. Right back into the heat and strength of his arm around me and all of him beside me.

A fate worse than death, Ruth comments dramatically.

I ignore her.

But that means I have nothing to do but concentrate on this story I’ve already read. More than once.

A princess and a dragon are trying to save a community of fairies from a dark curse. A Revelare is trying to unblock her hidden past with the help of a Guardian she keeps trying to escape. In the end, the Revelare finds a sorceress to unblock her and is saved by the Guardian, who then takes her to the princess and dragon so they can all save the fairy world together.

I can feel our baby fluttering around inside me. Zander places his hand over my stomach, like he can feel it too. Like we’re a unit.

As if I need something else to really amp up my panic.

The story concludes, and we’re all silent for a few minutes. As if brooding over what we’ve just heard.

It’s ridiculous. Are there similarities? Sure, but then, all stories have some similarities. Are there odd coincidences? Yes, again—but it’s not what’s actually happening here in St. Cyprian. There’s no Emerson and Rebekah and their prophecy in the story. There’s no grumpy immortal. There’s an army of crows on each side—one fighting for the fairies, led by a crow who could maybe be construed as Emerson-like. Meanwhile another group fights for the dark magic curse.

“She does look like Georgie,” Emerson says, pointing at the picture of the princess on the cover that is now blown up on a screen hovering midair.

“I’m hoping to avoid getting eaten and spit out by a dragon,” Georgie replies, a bit primly.

I can’t help but think that would be interesting, at least. Especially since once the princess is spit out by said dragon, they work together to save the fairies. That has to be more exciting than whatever Sage does for fun around here. In his three-piece suits and bow ties.

I order myself to stop being mean. It’s not like I have to date the guy.

“I don’t understand the good crow leader character,” Emerson says, clearly frustrated that the story doesn’t line up perfectly with us or what we’re doing.

Zander smirks. “Maybe it’s Frost.”

I snort out a laugh, and so does Rebekah. Frost sighs, but I’m beginning to wonder if that’s his version of laughter.

“We must be exhausted if we’re prepared to start reaching like this,” I tell everyone when they all continue to stare at the book like if they do it long enough, it will mean something. Because this is a pointless exercise.

“I don’t know. This Revelare character is a lot like you, El,” Zander says, and he hasn’t drawn his hand back from my belly, like he can’t keep his hands to himself.

I refuse to acknowledge the warmth inside of me at that thought.

I roll my eyes at him instead. “She doesn’t appear to have human blood, a curse, or a pregnancy. So.”

“She’s kind of cursed though,” Rebekah argues, which feels like betrayal. She shrugs when I glare at her. “Her past is blocked, and the dark magic did that. Plus, she’s got herself a Guardian, whether she wants one or not—usually not. I have to say, that sounds a little on point.”

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