Page 74 of The Second Sight
“On one condition,” I stated firmly, turning to face her directly. “I must be present during this ritual. I won’t leave her again, even for some fairy ritual I don’t fully believe in.”
Romeca’s expression tightened. “The ritual is sacred, traditionally witnessed only by female kin.”
“Then consider me an exception to your tradition,” I replied, unmoved. “Where Kasi goes, I go.”
We locked eyes across the room, another silent battle of wills. Finally, Romeca inclined her head slightly. “Very well. Your presence may put her at ease. Your sister Lily has already gathered the necessary ingredients,” Romeca said, watching my reaction carefully.
“Lily?” I repeated, unable to mask my surprise.
“She seemed to understand the urgency,” Romeca replied smoothly. “And she’s quite knowledgeable about fairies for a vampire.”
This unexpected alliance between Lily and Romeca unsettled me.
“I make sure all my vampires are taught about all the supernaturals. We should return to the others,” I said, unwilling to discuss Lily’s motives further with Romeca. “Time is against us, and Brooklyn remains in Desmond’s clutches.”
Romeca nodded, and we moved toward the door, the tension between us not dissolved but transformed. We were allies of necessity, nothing more.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
SEVEN
Istood in the doorway of my bathroom, watching as Kasi lowered herself into the marble bathtub. The bathwater had been infused with special herbs and flower petals that turned it a milky white, obscuring parts of her body beneath the surface.
Candles flickered around the room, casting shadows across the walls and ceiling. I remained silent with one shoulder pressed against the doorframe. I didn’t fully trust fairy magic. Their magic wasn’t strong enough to stop the Bambara Brotherhood from wiping them to near extinction, and that made me skeptical of its actual power and effectiveness.
Romeca knelt beside the tub. She dipped a woven African washcloth into the milky water, then began to bathe Kasi’s back with slow circular movements. Every sweep of the cloth across my mate’s skin made my jaw tighten. I forced myself to remain still. I had to maintain the fragile truce with Romeca for Kasi’s sake.
“Our wings were not always part of us,” Romeca began. “In the beginning, when the gods shaped the different fae peoples, they gave some pointed ears, others cloven feet, and still others the ability to shift forms.” She continued to wash Kasi’sshoulders. “But the yumboe were gifted with wings, delicate yet strong, because our hearts were always drawn to the sky.”
The story continued. I’d heard variations of fairy origin tales over the centuries. Some of my knowledge came from Basirah, who had studied supernatural creatures with scholarly intensity. Each race had their own mythology. I wondered how many were true and how many were merely lies passed down through generations.
The air carried the scent of roses, violets, lilies and herbs I couldn’t identify. I focused on Kasi’s face as Romeca’s stories unfolded. Her eyes widened at certain revelations as she learned the secrets of her mother’s people. There was something painfully beautiful about watching her discover this piece of herself. I’d spent centuries knowing exactly what I was, the monster, the predator, the vampire, while Kasi lived her entire life with half her identity shrouded in mystery.
“The yumboe are deeply connected to nature,” Romeca continued, wringing out the cloth and dipping it into the milky water again. “Our magic flows from the earth, the wind, the water and the fire. We do not command the elements. We ask, we commune, we respect.”
“Is that why the bath is part of the ritual?” Kasi asked. “Because of the connection to water?”
Romeca nodded, pleased by the question. “Water carries memory. It holds intention. When infused with the right herbs and charged under moonlight, it becomes a conduit for awakening dormant fae traits.” She lifted a handful of the milky liquid, letting it trickle down Kasi’s back. “It also represents community. Among the yumboe, bathing is often a common activity. Mothers bathe daughters, sisters bathe sisters, friends bathe friends. It strengthens our bonds.”
I absorbed this information silently, assessing whether it represented knowledge that might help Kasi or merely servedto bind her more to her fairy kin. The yumboe’s emphasis on community contrasted sharply with vampire existence. Vampires formed covens out of necessity and protection, but true intimacy was rare. Only the strongest bonds, like mine and Lily’s, survived the years.
“There is no guarantee this will produce wings,” Romeca said, her tone more serious now. “You’re half-human, and fairy traits manifest differently in mixed blood. Some half-fae develop wings later in life. Others never do. And there are other fae gifts that might awaken, heightened senses, increased connection to natural elements, stronger precognition. The visions you’ve already experienced will likely become more controllable.”
Kasi’s skin glistened under the waning moon that peaked through the open window. I watched a rose petal cling to her collarbone. The uncertainty in her eyes pained me. Whatever came of this ritual, whatever changes manifested in her body or abilities, I knew I would stand beside her.
“In our tradition,” Romeca said, pouring the enchanted water over Kasi’s neck, “wings are seen not as a burden but as freedom. They carry us between realms, above danger, and into the sky.”
Romeca stood up from beside the tub. Her eyes assessed me with scrutiny. “Come,” she said, gesturing me forward. “Take over with the magical bathwater. Don’t worry, the water won’t affect you.”
I hesitated, surprised by the invitation. Fairy rituals were traditionally closed to outsiders, especially other supes, if the texts were true. But the bond between Kasi and me had apparently earned me this strange privilege. Or perhaps Romeca had another motive. I didn’t trust her. Either way, I couldn’t deny the appeal of touching Kasi in such an intimate way.
I pushed away from the doorframe and crossed the bathroom. The candle flames wavered as I passed, respondingto the displacement of air. I knelt where Romeca had been. Kasi turned her head slightly, her golden-brown eyes meeting mine with an expression of trust.
These hands of mine had killed more humans and supernatural beings than I cared to remember. They had torn throats, crushed bones, and wielded weapons with deadly precision. Now they hovered above the enchanted water. I dipped the washcloth into the milky bath and brought it to Kasi’s smooth back with a tenderness I’d forgotten I possessed.
“Keep the cloth moving in circular motions,” Romeca instructed, watching my technique with critical eyes. “The ritual requires continuous contact to maintain the flow of energy.”
