Page 64 of Wicching Hour

His eyelids droop, as though he’s having a hard time staying awake. “Your hurt is tedious. Is it my fault I grew bored almost immediately of being little better than a servant? You never wanted a partner. You want adoration by your side and in your bed. Speaking of which, how is that lapdog guard of yours? I’m sure he worships you the way you enjoy.”

“You started flaunting other women—no. We’re not doing that.” She stopped and took a breath. “Can’t you hate me in peace from far away? Must you recruit my own people to plot the destruction of Faerie and everyone in it?”

He scoffed. “Yourpeople. Is everything yours then? The entire realm is yours and we’re only here because you allow us to be? Don’t you think it more likely that this realm is filled with a magic that birthed us all and that you, a delusional megalomaniac, have decided that you are our queen? How marvelous for you.”

He rolls his eyes. “You don’t suppose that it’s because you are the oldest of us and have absorbed the most magic from this realm? You honestly believe this world would cease to exist without you?” He shakes his head. “You’re exhausting. Have you noticed that when you visit other realms, nothing bad happens here? It’s almost as if we don’t need you.”

“I created this realm,” she shouts, angry sparks ricocheting around the cell.

“And yet you can’t destroy me,” he says with a smirk. “What does that tell you?”

The queen dropped my hands and stepped back. I blinked through the disorientation that comes from moving from a marital fight in a dungeon to a well-appointed undersea cavern.

“Impressive,” she said, but I wasn’t sure if she meant it. She sounded irritated. Perhaps, though, her anger in the memory was bleeding over to the present.

She shook her head. “I’m not irritated withyou, child. That wasn’t what I’d intended to share with you—assuming you were able to see anything.”

Dad’s hand landed possessively on my shoulder. “She meant no disrespect, my lady.”

Her chin went up. The colors swirling in her eyes intensified. After a charged moment, she blinked and they were the sparkling lavender of the elf’s. “Relax, Manannán mac Lir. Your child is safe with me.” A piece of paper appeared in her hand. “My scout found two locations he believes are possibly the home of your sorcerer.” She handed me the slip of paper.

Turning back to my father, she said, “I expect updates on her progress.” Her gaze fell on me again. Reaching out, she picked up one of my long curls. Her mouth tipped up. “Such a rare and wonderful gift is a child.” Her eyes flicked down. “She has your hair and the shape of your eyes. Send her back the easy way so that note in her hand doesn’t get wet.”

And she was gone.

Trembling, I opened the note she’d given me. It was a tiny, near perfect map of the Monterey Bay with two dots in red along the coastline. This was gold.

Dad looked over my shoulder.

It’s a double-edged sword.Dad’s voice was in my head.When the queen takes an interest in you, incredible things can happen. Unfortunately, horrendous things can as well. Were it up to me, she’d never know of your existence. I don’t want you caught between the queen and king, losing your life because they can’t kill one another.

A chill ran down my spine.

“I know we offered you refreshments,” he said out loud, “but it’s getting late, and you need your sleep.”If I learn anything more that can help your sorcerer problem, I’ll let you know.“I’ll visit in a few days, and we can begin our lessons.”

“Tha—”

He put a finger over my mouth and shook his head. “Never thank the fae.” Leaning down, he kissed my forehead. My vision went dark, my stomach dropped, and I was standing back on my deck. After a long moment, I felt steady enough to go in. My jacket and phone were on my worktable. I checked the time. It was after midnight.

Mom and Dad were right. I needed sleep, and though I was exhausted, my brain was racing and I was starving. I heated up a French bread pizza and ate it standing over the sink, my mind on the world down below. When I finished, I headed to my supply closets for a canvas. I needed to paint.

As I pulled out a large canvas, though, I stopped. Declan had once mentioned my painting the raccoon siblings and I’d had the idea of someday making ink drawings incorporating watercolors as a nursery collection. It had been a maybe-someday idea but tonight it felt right.

Ideas raced through my brain. I’d do a set of four tonight. Using watercolor paper, I began filling the white with blues, greens, and indigos as a background base. Once I was done with the fourth, the first was dry enough to begin the line drawings.

I had a set of gorgeous ink pens, the tips more like delicate brushes than hard nibs. As I worked on the first one—the blue whale and her calf—I remembered how much I loved this medium. Lost in the memories of my adventure, I worked far later than I’d intended.

The sun was rising when I stumbled to the couch and fell face-first into sleep.

Auntie Abigail walks around nasty Aunt Sybil’s sunroom, checking on the cousins’ progress with glamour spells. Colin is the best at it, so far, though my stupid sister Serena is good too. I guess. Pearl is embarrassing, as always. She can’t even change her eye color. Colin can make himself look like a movie star.

“You’re doing really well, Calliope,” Aunt Abigail says, rubbing my shoulder. She crouches down, staring into my eyes, and whispers, “You’re the best. Others might have mastered one skill, but you’re good at many skills. You just need the right training to find your power.”

“Really?” I whisper back. No one has ever told me I was good at magic. My stupid mother always says I’ll grow into it soon.

Aunt Abigail nods. “I have a friend I study with, and he told me to pay close attention to you. He thinks you can be one of the best.”

“Who is it?” I ask in awe. Finally! Someone else sees it too. I just know I’m destined to rule the Corey Council. And won’t they be sorry for all the pats on the head and the laughs at my mistakes. I’ll make sure they’re sorry. I hope she’s not talking about Daddy, though. He’s a healer and he already checked. I have no healing skills.

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