Page 14 of Marcus-stiltskin

“She makes fires!” Of all the things Wendy could have repeated from our quick conversation, it’s honestly the least embarrassing.

“That’s pretty useful, Titi,” Marcus says with a smile and a wink in my direction. “You’ll never be without a heat source or hot water.”

“Unfortunately, it’s pretty new. I’m crap at controlling it.”

A look of amusement comes over his face. “Like hay-burning new?”

My face heats as the fall candle flickers. “Yeah.”

He laughs. “Well, we’ll just keep a few buckets of water on hand when you come to help out.”

“Help out?” Jacqueline asks.

“Yeah, I’m volunteering on my days off.”

“What about your horse phobia?” she says, taking a bite of potato.

“I don’t have a horse phobia.”

The flame flickers and Lugh laughs. “You aren’t exactly a fan of the horses.”

I sigh. “I’m not a fan ofyourhorses. We can’t blame all horses for yours being jackasses.”

Jacqueline chuckles as she catches Marcus’s eye. “Can we go see her first day at the sanctuary?”

Lugh laughs, “I was just going to ask the same thing.”

“I think Sarah will surprise you.” Marcus says with a nod in my direction. “She’s already made friends with Willow, the donkey.”

I’m tired of this conversation and tired of my emotions being on display. I’d blow the candle out if I could. Instead, I do the only thing I can and try to change the subject. “I don’t know whateveryone’s talking about. I’m great with animals. See, this one loves me,” I tickle Wendy, and she giggles.

“I’m not an animal, Titi!” Her little laugh is enough to draw attention away from me for the moment.

Marcus starts asking Jacqueline some hyper specific question about caring for the hooves of Ramona, the horse. Eventually the flame on the candle goes out and everyone seems to forget about witches and embarrassing teenage crushes, at least, for now.

Chapter Six

In Which We Pause for the Obligatory Choracle Reading

Idon’t call ahead of time or really even give Darla any kind of warning before showing up at her trailer the next day. I can’t be around an incredibly flirty Marcus if I can’t control my emotions. Something has to be done now.

I’ve never been to Darla’s trailer, but the directions Shania gives me are pretty straight-forward, and even if they weren’t, plants and cats are everywhere. I can totally see why Darla’s witchiness was obvious to everyone else. Tails and vines snake this way and that in every single possible nook and cranny of the front yard.

It’s in the backyard that I find Darla when no one answers the door. She’s sitting at a picnic table, reading aloud from a book titledCappily Ever Afterwith a confusing cover that has both a shirtless man and a capybara on it. A piglet runs in circles while the two older pigs sit at her feet, watching her. Strangely enough, they actually look like they’re paying attention.

“Darla?” I call out, hoping not to startle her. She holds a finger up and continues reading until she gets to the bottom of thepage. She turns to the page and places a bookmark in the book. The darker pig grunts and she shakes her head.

“I’ll read some more later, Chad. Sarah needs help.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” I say as I move slowly around the pigs and come to the other side of the table, directly across from Darla. She looks up at me with a smile. “No worries. How’s your ass?”

I huff a laugh. “Better. What do I owe you for the bath salts?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. That’s not how magic works, at least among witches. We can charge others outside the art, but charging another witch would be wrong.”

I stand there, not sure what to say. The large pink pig grunts a few times and Darla turns back to her for a moment, before turning her gaze back on me.

“I think Porshetta wants you to sit. You’re making her nervous.”

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