Page 40 of Captivating Magic

“Mm, yes. I expect it’s fitting,” Ebba replied with a warm smile, fighting the desire to hug the child. “I’m Ebba.”

“I know. I’m an Oracle.”

Frowning, Ebba wrinkled her nose. “Not a witch, so I’m afraid I don’t know what that is.”

“I see all future outcomes for everyone and every situation.”

Awash with hope, she met the girl’s knowing gaze. “Even mine?”

“Yes.”

“Can you tell me?—”

“No,” Damian said succinctly, with a meaningful look at his daughter. “She isn’t supposed to be here, and she certainly isn’t supposed to reveal the future. Her interference could alter the course of the Fates’ design.”

“Papa’s right.” Sabrina grimaced and, extending one foot, swung it from side to side, scraping the toe of her shoe along the rug. “The Fates became cross with me and tried to make me disappear.”

“What?!” Outraged, Ebba looked at Damian. “They can do that?”

“In the literal sense of the word, yes. They were thwarted, however.”

“Thank Christ,” she muttered. Although diminutive, the child appeared mature for one as young as her. No kid should be subjected to the whims of fickle deities.

“Actually, it was thanks to a Guardian,” Sabrina said, grinning widely.

“A Guardian?”

“They are almost as powerful as my papa and me, but they aren’t born with their powers like us. Only the Goddess can choose them.”

“I see.”

But she didn’t. The crazy world of the Thorne witches was beyond Ebba’s comprehension, especially when fatigued as she was. She’d expended too much energy in the previous hours and was fading quickly. Soon enough, her strength would wane, and then it would be a literal disappearance.

“I can boost your energy, Ms. James,” Damian said, plucking her concerns from the air.

She frowned.

“Can you read my mind?”she asked him silently, testing her theory.

He winked.

“So, like, before, when I, um…”

Don’t think about it, Ebba! Don’t think about how sexy he is!

“Yes, and thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment,” he replied aloud.

She almost told Laszlo she was ready to cross over—if only to escape the humiliation.

But Damian’s frown made her question what had him perturbed.

“You’re a spirit, Ms. James. You shouldn’t be experiencing deeper emotions.”

“Why did you say that? Is there something I’m missing?” Lo asked. “Is there a private communication between you that we don’t know about?”

“With Damian?” Castor snorted. “Always.”

Ebba waved them off and shifted closer to the Aether. “Will you explain what you mean, please?”

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