Page 13 of Marcus-stiltskin

I steal the piece of potato Wendy has in her hand and she giggles. “That was a long time ago.”

“So, you’re okay with him being your neighbor?”

“Well, it’s a little late to ask her now, if he’s already bought the place,” Jacqueline says and I smile.

Lugh sighs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…it’s just that when David read your diary–”

“David read your diary?” Jacqueline’s eyes grow wide with horror.

“Out loud to my entire platoon,” Lugh explains.

I hold up my hand. “Nope, not talking about it. If you want to tell Jacqueline all the gory details after the babies are in bed, you’re more than welcome to, but I’m not a fan of reliving that particular day.”

“It wasn’t that bad. Give yourself a break. You were just a kid. I don’t think it’s on his mind at all. You know what is on his mind? You. You’re all he’s talked about since he walked in. I totally wouldn’t be opposed to you and Marcus actually becoming a thing–”

The fall candle Jacqueline keeps at the table’s center ignites dramatically with a flame that shoots a good six inches in the air above the wick then flickers as if it was in the middle of a draftycastle and not the weatherproof house built by the Dvergar. Jacqueline’s and Lugh’s eyes go to it immediately.

“Did you see that?” Jacqueline asks him in a hushed voice.

Lugh nods. “Do we have a ghost?”

I sigh.

“Wendy’s a little young to be churning up poltergeists.”

“What if it’s your pregnancy hormones?” he says.

“What if it’s your giant hormones?” she retorts.

“You don’t have ghosts,” I interrupt. “It was me. Darla thinks I’m a fire witch.”

“Darla thinks you’re a witch?” Jacqueline repeats. “Way to bury the lead, girl.”

“What happened?” Lugh asks.

“There was this guy at the Wild Hare the other night and he got a little handsy. It took the bouncers a little longer than normal to help me. I felt all of this anger and rage building up inside and before I knew it, he was screaming on the floor. Apparently, I accidentally cast a fire spell on him.”

No one says anything for a long moment except for Jack, who keeps up his deluge of spit bubbles.

“So…” Jacqueline finally starts.

“I start little fires every time my emotions are high–anger, excitement, and, I guess, embarrassment, too.”

“Is there a way to control it?” Lugh asks.

“I start my apprenticeship with Darla on Monday.”

Lugh and Jacqueline both look visibly relieved. “Oh, good,” Jacqueline says, as if that solves everything.

We don’t get to talk much more because Marcus returns to the table with a smile. He sits down and picks up his knife and fork. Wendy reaches out a hand toward him and he takes it in his. “Marcus, Marcus, guess what?”

“What, pretty lady?”

“TiTi is a witch!”

Lugh closes his eyes and shakes his head. Jacqueline looks horrified.

“Is that so?” Marcus asks her, politely ignoring everyone’s dismay.

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