Page 38 of The Darkest Night

They freshened up and went downstairs. Ryu and her mother were laying breakfast out in the kitchen. Ye-Seul was watching the TV on the counter.

“I didn’t hear your friends arrive this morning,” Yoo-Mi told Mae half-accusingly.

Ryu had evidently sold her the story they’d cooked up last night to explain Violet and Miles’s presence at the house.

“They were as quiet as mice,” Mae lied.

She introduced Violet and Miles. Yoo-Mi greeted them graciously, oblivious to the familiars wandering curiously around her kitchen. Ye-Seul had told Mae the magic in their bloodline often skipped a generation. Violet and Miles had confirmed this was the same for the rest of the magic world. Not every child born to a witch or a sorcerer inherited their powers.

Breakfast was a lively affair. Violet could tell how close-knit Mae’s family was from their easy banter. It reminded her of her own household back in Chicago and the coven she and Miles belonged to. Another family came to her mind, this one as unorthodox as they came and full of fantastical beings and creatures straight out of mythology.

A soft smile tugged at Violet’s lips.

It’s been a while since we visited those idiots.

Miles made a face.

“What?” Violet said.

“You’re smiling.”

“Yeah. So?”

“Stop.” Miles shuddered. “It’s creeping me out.”

Violet scowled.

They surreptitiously fed the familiars under the table while Mae and Ryu kept Yoo-Mi distracted.

“What time is the funeral?” Mae’s mother asked as she started clearing the table.

“One o’clock.”

The mood in the kitchen grew somber. It didn’t get any better after Mae went upstairs and changed into a black pant suit and scarf.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to come?” Yoo-Mi asked anxiously as they prepared to leave a while later. “We should pay our respects.”

Mae grimaced. “I’ll break down completely if you guys are there.”

Yoo-Mi sniffed. “Okay. Do give Rose’s family my condolences.”

“You could have at least let me drive you there,” Ryu murmured.

Their cab had just pulled up to the curb.

“I need to go somewhere with Violet and Miles afterward.”

Mae hadn’t seemed too surprised when Violet had told her Bryony Cross wanted to meet her. Considering everything that had happened in the last week, Violet knew the Witch Queen had a lot of questions she wanted answers to.

“By the way, do you guys have a car?” Mae asked Violet and Miles as they got in the cab.

“No,” Violet replied. “It’s too much of a bother in this city.”

“How do you get around?” Mae asked curiously.

Miles cleared his throat. “You know—”

He glanced at the cab driver and flapped his elbows.

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