Page 83 of Extra Witchy

Apparently, subtlety wasn’t her strong suit because Ethel shot her a sharp look and rose from the fireside. “I could use a pork pie or some fried honey bread, or…oh hell, why bother making excuses? I’m out.”

“Let’s walk through the ice palace?” Glady suggested.

The older witch was bundled against the cold, almost as wide as she was tall with all the layers. Leanne followed Gladys into one of her favorite features, the garden of ice sculptures. Deer so vivid, they looked like they could leap into motion at any moment in the localized snowfall cascading over this one spot in the festival.

“This should be far enough,” Leanne said.

“What’s on your mind?”

“I have a serious question to ask, and the answer matters to me a lot. Depending on what you say, it could change…well, everything.”

Gladys smiled faintly, her eyes crinkling beneath a fine dusting of snow. “That’s quite a lot to rest on a conversation carried out beside two frolicking penguins.”

Just then, the penguins in question began to move, spinning and sliding on the ice. Leanne never stopped feeling delighted by this display, but she had to focus. “Still applicable. So here’s the question: How do you feel about me proposing the great reveal when I become a council member?”

“I suppose that depends on what you mean.”

“Okay, laying all my cards on the table, I plan to do it anyway, but I want to take your temperature on the idea first. I intend to suggest we change our codicils regarding nonmagical partners and announce ourselves to the world. This is my wheelhouse, so I’ll do my best to control the spin.”

“And how do you foresee it unfolding?”

Leanne began with confidence, “Two stages. First, we ratify the motion to permit witches to tell their nonmagical partners the truth. I think it’s important our loved ones are looped in before we move to the next phase.”

“And then?”

“Next, we reveal ourselves to the general public. If we spin it well, so many pathways will open up.”

“How do you figure?” Gladys asked.

“Well, for instance, we can monetize our work openly. Look at Danica and Clem. They pretend to fix stuff the slow way. Imagine how cool people would find it if they could actually watch them do their repair work? Ethel could sell her charms openly in her online shop, and witches could stop worrying so much about blending in. We’d be able to just…live. As ourselves. And share our lives with whomever we choose. I was thinking that if we start the process, others might come forward as well. We’ve lived in the shadows forever, but I want to believe there’s a place for us, now. That the world has changed enough.”

“You mean other ‘special’ communities?”

Leanne nodded. “Though we’ve lost touch, the archives indicate we’re not alone among humanity. The point is, this needs to happen, andI’mthe person to push it through.”

“You talk like you’re a bulldozer,” Gladys said.

“I’m the witch who just won a seat on the city council.”

The older witch smiled. “I like your confidence. For the record, this is exactly why I chose you. You make big moves, and you follow through. You asked what I think? Do exactly as you’ve said you will. Change the world, Leanne. I believe in you.”

Her chest tightened. “Thank you. Your endorsement means a lot to me.”

“Then I take it we’re done? Because I aim to eat a lot of delicious food tonight.”

Leanne shook her head. “Not quite. I’m telling you up front, I made a protective amulet for my husband, just in case. And I plan to tell him everything as soon as I’m allowed. I don’t want to fight the council, but if anyone even looks at him sideways, we’ll have a problem. You can pass that along to the powers that be, if you’re still holding sessions.”

At that, Gladys threw back her head and laughed. “Look at you, little fire starter. You’re willing to fight the whole council for your man?”

“And then some,” Leanne said grimly.

“We’re on hiatus anyway, so I can’t share your warning, my dear. And then you’ll be online in the new year to get started on that sparkling agenda.” With a faint smile, the older witch headed back toward the bright lights of the Yule revels.

She needed to keep Trev safe for two more weeks…and how the hell could she do that if he was somewhere else? Once she started on the council, it should be less dangerous, and soon after—if her initiative went well—she could tell him everything and see if he could accept her with no secrets in the way. If he could, if—

Well, best not to count on it.But…shehopedwith all her heart.

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