Page 208 of The Black Witch

“Are they elemental?”

She smiles and shakes her head. “No. Candela. Color Fae. Vila had an affinity for violet. They could transform themselves into the shade. The Sidhe used them as spies. That’s why purple still isn’t permitted in the Mage Council Hall.”

“It’s amazing they were ever a cohesive group,” I muse as I flip through my text. “They’re all so...different.”

“Mostly cohesive anyway,” Aislinn comments as she picks at another book. “Except for the Solitary Fae.”

“Solitary?”

“Fae that existed independent of Sidhe Court politics. Renegades. Nomads. Like the Dryads. The Lasair Fire Fae.” Aislinn’s finger pauses. “Oh, here’s something. The Lasair Fire Fae had powerful healing magic...” Aislinn’s finger moves again as she skims down the section. “Powerful fire magic, gifted healers, fiercely independent, nomadic.” She shoots me a significant look before continuing. “Bright-green eyes...extremely dangerous...” Aislinn’s mouth quirks into a small smile, her eyes lifting to mine again. “Physically very attractive. I know he’s a Kelt, but...he is a bit attractive, don’t you think?”

I shrug cagily. “A bit,” I allow, not wanting to spark Aislinn’s suspicion about my senseless crush on Yvan Guriel. “We should put that one on the list,” I prod, attempting to sound nonchalant as I grip my mug and Aislinn scratches it down.

Fire Fae. Could Yvan be part Lasair?

“He’s so strong and fast,” I muse, remembering. “Always going off in the woods. I think I told you—for a time I wondered if he was secretly Lupine.”

I regret saying this as soon as the word leaves my lips. At the mention of Lupines, Aislinn’s face becomes instantly strained.

“How are things between you and Jarod?” I venture.

She doesn’t answer for a moment, just sits staring at the book. “I’m speaking to him, if that’s what you mean,” she says, her tone evasive. “Please, let’s not discuss it any further. I’ve made my decision. I can’t abandon my sisters and my mother. So there’s no sense talking about it.”

Troubled, I take in her wan appearance. Aislinn’s been increasingly away, visiting with her family, gone now most weeks’ ends. Partially to keep up appearances, in case anyone notices the grimoire is missing, and partially to avoid her feelings for Jarod.

“Aislinn,” I tell her, “your happiness matters, too. Not just theirs.”

Her expression becomes pained. “And how could I ever be happy, knowing I abandoned my family?”

“But you wouldn’t be abandoning them.”

She shakes her head, her eyes tight with anguish, and I know I can’t sway her right now.

I let out a long sigh. “I miss having you around more. You’re one of the few people I can really be honest with.”

Aislinn knits her brow at this. “I know. I feel the same way. But at least you have Diana...”

I feel a pang of resentful bitterness pass through me at the mention of Diana’s name, remembering something that happened between us a few days ago.

* * *

I was in the North Tower’s washroom, naked after a long bath, faced with the scratched mirror before me.

Gardnerians do not, as a rule, keep mirrors in washrooms. It’s considered unseemly and wrong to view oneself naked. But as I caught a glimpse of my reflection that night, I was struck by the beauty of my glimmering form. Pretending, on a whim, to be Diana, wondering what it would be like to be as comfortable in my own skin as she is in hers, I stretched my arms high up over my head shamelessly, just as Diana always seems to be doing, mimicking her unself-conscious ways.

Just as I was doing this, Diana barged into the small room. Mortified, my hands immediately flew down to cover myself as I reflexively hunched over. I felt a sharp spike of shame, even though Diana, herself, was naked. I glared at her, absolutely hating her inability to knock.

Diana paused, taking stock of the situation. “Ah, good,” she said approvingly. “You are admiring yourself, as you should. Youth and beauty are a gift from Maiya. We should revel in it.”

“Get out!” I cried, wanting to literally throw her out of the room. “You need to knock! I’ve told you this a million times! It’s like you’re deaf!”

“I most certainly am not deaf,” she huffed. “My hearing isvastlysuperior—”

“Get out!”

“But—”

“I said,get out!”

---