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“I think that’s a marvelous idea,” Rue said.
“Can I text Hugh so he can come?” Tyren asked.
“Of course. Tell him to invite Lucille too.” I picked up my phone and texted Lavinia, Thea, and Almae. They answered right away. Lavinia promised to arrange for the food, Almae said she would help her, and Thea would bring Aurora out.
We were going to have one great day outside.
A few minutes later, Aurora ran from the back door, her dark curls bouncing. When Minsi saw her, she perked up.
“Want to play?” Aurora asked, offering her hand to Minsi.
Minsi nodded, taking the younger girl’s hand. They ran toward the rosebushes a few feet to the side and I smiled. Finally, Minsi had a friend.
“They seem to like each other,” Thea said from behind us. She had a basket in one arm and red and white checkered fabric folded over the other. “I heard someone wanted a picnic.”
I helped her open the big picnic blanket on the lawn, and we opened the basket, which was full of plates, utensils, glasses, and napkins.
We sat down on the blanket and watched as Aurora spelled the roses to dance while they ran around them.
“She’s so powerful,” I said, watching the girls.
Thea nodded. “Sometimes I worry that her powers are too much for her.” Her words had an echo of sorrow to them. She frowned. “How are you?”
I looked around. Tyren was a few feet away, along the path that led to the maze, messing with his phone, and the girls were entertained. Hopefully, no one would listen to me.
“Right now, I’m fine, but I can feel the dragon’s magic moving inside me. I think, if we’re going to stay out here for a while, I might need to drink elixir sooner. Just this time. After this, I promise to confine myself to my room.”
“Why confine yourself?” Rue asked.
I took a deep breath and told her the truth. Her eyes misted as my story went on.
“Right now, I’m worried about the kids,” I confessed. “Minsi more than Tyren. Shane told me how hard it was for her when they thought I was dead, how she had frequent panic attacks and it was hard to deal with.”
Rue nodded. “I learned most of the techniques you used with her, I tried them, and it worked to some degree, but it was not the same. I’m not you. No one is.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Having me die for a second time might break her. Or she would be hanging on to the idea that I would come back somehow, and she would go crazy that way.
“I can talk to Almae and Lavinia,” Thea said. “I’m sure we can make a mild elixir that will calm her down a little, just enough to bring her back when she’s losing herself to a full panic attack.”
“That would be great,” I said with a small smile. “Thank you.”
Aurora disappeared inside the castle with her vampire speed.
“What happened?” Thea asked, glancing from Minsi to the castle.
Minsi shrugged.
A few seconds later, Aurora ran back out and halted right in front of Thea and me. She offered me a stuffed yellow bunny. “Here.”
I frowned. “That’s a pretty bunny.”
She kept holding it. “It’s for Minsi.”
Slowly, I took the bunny from her. “Oh, that’s nice of you, but—”
“It’s enchanted,” the girl said. “I just spelled it. Whenever Minsi starts panicking, ask the others to give her the bunny. It’ll calm her down.”
I stared at Aurora, amazed. I had heard so much about this half-witch, half-vampire who was supposed to be the next Queen of All Witches, but words didn’t do justice to how it was to be in her presence and talk to her, and interact with her. She was seven, but there were times that she behaved like she was seventeen. Hell, like she was twenty-seven! She spoke in such a wise, no nonsense manner, and the look in her eyes seemed so experienced and unflinching.
