Page 81 of Magic and Matrimony

Fitz hums. The corner of her eyes crinkle as she smiles. “That’ll do.”

I wait for her to say something else, but she sinks back into her chair and closes her eyes.

I lean forward to look at her, then peer around the room as if I’m missing some cue. A strike of lightning. A fucking gong. “I’m sorry, what? Do I have her curse now?”

“No, you idiot. You know that’s not how your curses work. Go away.”

I rise to my feet, clutching my fingers into a fist. “What was all of this? Am I going to have to open the door and fight a dragon next?” I keep my tone in check, but I’m frustrated.

“I’d say you already fought the dragon.” She grins at me. “That’s all. Go away. It’s someone else’s turn now.”

Turn for what? A frustrating conversation? I shake my head and stomp out of the room. Stupid fucking challenge. What was the point? Have a coffee chat with Fitz and talk about my feelings?

At least this is the last challenge. I’m ready to be done with this bullshit.

36

AMBROSE

I’m still confused when I’m ushered downstairs into Lucida’s office. It’s a large room with an antique desk in one corner. It was painted blue at one point with flowers on the top, but time has worn away the surface until smooth wood has broken through the color. It's scattered with papers and a collection of herbs and potion bottles. Shadow boxes displaying rare dried flowers hang on the papered walls, the pattern one of bare branches, with an occasional bird that pops up. A large round table takes up most of the space. The scars gouged into the wood tell a story of many meetings being held here.

Piper is sitting next to Odie, and beside her is Hannah. I don’t see my mother, Francesca, or Tucker in sight. The only one left upstairs is Roman.

Things are so damn awkward between me and Piper. Her gaze darts over my face as if she’s inspecting me for damage. I don’t know what she faced in that room of illusions, but she doesn’t seem to have come out worse for the wear. She exhales heavily, as though relieved. I want to go to her and ask her how she’s feeling, but my feet are rooted in place.

A few moments later, Roman walks into the office with Lucida following behind him. I crane my neck to look out in the hall, wondering if the other possible council members are roaming around. Knowing my mother, she’s probably opening up cupboards and checking in drawers to look for secrets.

Instead of waiting for the others to join us, Lucida shuts the door and then leans against it as she eyes each one of us. A smile breaks out on her face.

“Congratulations. This is the new council for the Luminara coven.” Her smile falls slightly. “Assuming you agree to be a part of the council. While the magic chooses the participants in the trials, serving on the council is voluntary.”

“Are we going to have to give up a secret for you to blackmail us, like you did when you joined the coven council?” Roman asks.

When Lucida became part of the council of the Tenebris coven, she was forced to abide by a sort of magical NDA, which meant she could never speak of the ill deeds the old council did. Her hands were tied, or more accurately, her life was tied to her secrecy. If she forces us to do the same, then fuck that. I’m not power hungry like the old council was. I don’t have to be a part of this group.

“Why don’t we all sit down.” Lucida waves us over to the round table. I take a seat next to Piper, and Roman takes the vacant seat on the other side of Hannah.

Lucida stays standing, facing the rest of us. “The whole reason for these trials was to find the right kind of witches to lead our coven. You’re all powerful, but possess compassion, empathy, and the ability to put others' needs above your own.

“Having a coven concerned only with their own well-being isn’t helpful for anyone. I mean to change the way our coven works for this town and the people we support.”

“Then how did the old council members even get selected?” I ask. It’s been bugging me since that night.

Lucida grips the back of a chair. “It was my fault. Part of the spell was to find those who wanted to help their coven.”

Odie cocks her head, her mouth turned down. “And it selected them?”

I’m impressed when Lucida nods. I didn’t realize she knew sign language. “Ironically. The thing is, the spell couldn’t differentiate between altruistic motives and self-serving ones. So while it selected Francesca, for example, because she had the ultimate desire to help her coven, the spell didn’t understand that her plans for doing that involved building herself and others with power up to untouchable reaches, while stomping down those who aren’t naturally as strong.”

Thankfully, the trials showed their true colors.

“I want elections,” Piper says with a rapid rush of words.

“Elections?” Lucida parrots the word.

“I think it’s fine that we were chosen to lead this coven, but I also think that there should be representation that’s not based on a power level. At least one position, maybe two, should be elected. Let the rest of the witches in this coven have a voice.”

I smile, my heart swelling with pride. Piper has grown into her skin in such an incredible way. A few months ago, I couldn’t imagine her speaking out about anything. Now she’s using her voice to help others. It’s beautiful to witness her growth.

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