Page 84 of Akarnae

“These are the gifts you came searching for,” Lady Mystique said. “Will that be all?”

Alex looked through the glass casing on the counter and—not entirely sure why—she asked, “Can I please have that as well?” She pointed to a delicate charm bracelet made out of the same glowing metal as the dagger and the brooch. The charms on the bracelet were miniscule prancing horses, all frozen in different stages of movement. The light reflecting in and around them made it seem like they were actually moving, circling the bracelet. It was beautiful, entrancing even.

“A lovely trinket,” said the old woman. “Who, may I ask, is it for?”

“My roommate,” Alex said, surprising herself. At first she had wanted the bracelet for herself, but when asked the question her answer had been natural. Obvious, even. “She doesn’t like me very much, but she loves horses. I think.” D.C. was graded Epsilon with Alex for Equestrian Skills, so it made sense.

“I’m certain Delucia will love this,” Lady Mystique agreed, pulling it out and placing it in a box.

Delucia? Was that D.C.’s real name? How strange.

She watched while Lady Mystique gift-wrapped the items and it was only when the old woman placed them into a bag that Alex realised she had yet to pay.

“How much do I owe you?” she asked, pulling out her money pouch. Looking at all the gifts—they were perfectly wrapped in shiny paper with bowsandnametags—Alex hoped she had enough from her allowance.

Lady Mystique just handed her the bag and patted her gently on the hand. “It is I who will owe you, Alexandra Jennings.”

What didthatmean?

“Um—but how much for the gifts?” Alex asked again, not at all comfortable with how the other woman was looking at her. Admiration. Hope. Sorrow. Those ancient eyes showed a myriad of emotions that Alex wanted to run away from.

It felt like a lifetime before Lady Mystique looked away from her and said, “There’s no charge for you.”

“No,” Alex protested. “That’s very kind, but you have to let me pay for them. Otherwise they’re not really my gifts to give.”

“A gift given is a gift received,” said the woman, her voice hinting at a depth of wisdom Alex couldn’t even begin to comprehend. “And a gift received can become a gift given. We’ll meet again, Alexandra Jennings.”

Alex had to blink a few times before she accepted the fact that Lady Mystique had literally disappeared before her eyes. She’d faded out like a mist, dissolving into nothing.

“I’ll just let myself out, then?” Alex called into the empty store, and only a quiet wheezing laugh answered her as she headed to the door.

It was a testament to how much Alex had learned to accept odd events since arriving in Medora that she didn’t run screaming down the street. Instead, she walked calmly back to the Ronnigans’ house, replaying the woman’s parting words over and over in her mind.

A gift given is a gift received. And a gift received can become a gift given.

Twenty-Seven

Alex was still deep inthought when she reached the Ronnigans’ house, but the moment she walked in the front door she knew something was different. There were loud voices—newvoices—coming from the dining room, which meant that Bear’s older brothers must have arrived.

Curious to finally meet them, Alex raced upstairs to hide her presents before hurrying back down again. In her excitement, she failed to pay attention to her surroundings, and at the entrance to the dining room she tripped over one of Evie’s dolls, tumbled forwards, and landed face-first on the solid floor with a loud, “Oomph!”

Alex rolled onto her back, completely dazed, and groaned with humiliation. Her timid voice echoed in the now silent room as she asked, “I don’t suppose we can act like that didn’t just happen?”

Her question broke the gaping silence, and suddenly everyone was laughing.

Alex flushed brightly as William walked over and offered his hand, pulling her to her feet. “That’s one way to enter a room,” he said. At least he was trying to be polite—Jordan and Bear were both hunched over, laughing so hard they were crying. Great friends, those two.

“Yeah,” Alex said, pressing her fingers to the side of her face that had taken the brunt of the fall. “I’ve always maintained that if you’re going to do something, do it well.”

William chuckled in agreement and led her towards the table where the others were sitting. Dorothy was in the middle of scolding her daughter for leaving toys lying around, and Evie quickly got up to give Alex a hug and a watery apology, to which Alex hurried to reassure the younger girl that she wasn’t hurt.

“Just my pride,” she mumbled to herself as Evie went back to her mother.

Alex then turned to face the new family members sitting at the table. “Hi,” she said awkwardly. “I’m Alex.”

To their credit, they didn’t laugh at her again. But their eyes were still shining with mirth.

“We’ve heard a lot about you, Alex,” said the elder of the two young men, standing up to shake her hand. “I’m so pleased to see it’s all true, if that spectacular entrance is anything to judge by. I’m Johnny, by the way, and this is Blake.”

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