“Well,” I chuckle, shaking my head. “I learn something new every day. I had no idea this was a public garden. Don’t worry, Grace. I’ll handle the others if anything comes up.”
“Okay,” she says softly. “Thank you for that. I really don’t have the best time dealing with them.”
“Why is that?” I ask, curious.
“Well,” she answers, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I was a shiftless wolf as a teenager, and it made me a bit of an outcast. Then, as my witch powers developed, I had to keep them hidden because I might have been fully banished if they knew.”
“Why didn’t you leave?” Alisha asks.
Grace sighs and looks away, letting her eyes travel across the rows of plants, right over to the sunlight spilling through the door and perhaps even the horizon itself.
“I’d rather not talk about that,” she mutters. “The important thing is, Azarian ran the town with an iron fist. He made sure there was a distinct class divide, and I might have been in real danger if anyone found out I was a witch. As a shiftless wolf, I was just an embarrassment that could be swept under the rug, so I stayed here in the garden out of the way. Witches are often feared—and Vanessa most certainly would have seen me as a threat.”
“Who is that?” Alisha asks.
“That’s a long story,” I reply. “Probably a bit long for right now, but she was presumed to be the mate of the previous alpha. She was a powerful sorceress, and both of them died before I came. It’s part of the reason I was brought here in the first place.”
Alisha’s eyes widen, and I can tell she has a million questions, but I’m determined to divert her, at least for now.
I didn’t want her to know about the snake before, because I’m just trying to protect her…but how scared would she be if she knew there was a powerful magical spirit in this town, especially now that she has magic?
“The important thing, Grace,” I say, taking control of the conversation, “is that I’m building a new town, an open and accepting community for everyone. You won’t have to hide anymore.”
“I wouldn’t exactly sing it to the sky that you’re a witch,” Grace warns Alisha. “After Azarian and Vanessa…well, Brad, you know.”
I feel a flicker of uncertainty in my guts. The ritual on the stone needs an alpha and a witch to call forth the spirit.
She’s right. It could be very damaging to the community, and they might not trust me.
“Okay, Grace,” I say. “I see your point. I am working on the council, though, and younger people like Gen are helping to bring the town together.”
“Have you spoken to…the families?” Grace asks. The look she gives me leaves no doubt as to which families she’s talking about.
“Not yet,” I reply, thinking of the recent meeting and Gen’s promise. “But I will.”
“It feels like you two have started speaking a different language,” Alisha says, looking back and forth at each of us. “Someone better explain this to me.”
“I will,” I promise. “It’s just very involved. The last alpha wasn’t a nice guy, and the pack has been in a bit of a mess sincehe died. The important thing is that we’re here to build a better world, for all of us.”
“Why don’t you show me if you can bring a rose to bloom?” Grace asks Alisha, linking an arm through hers and turning to walk towards a far corner. She catches my eye, and I give her a small nod of thanks before I follow them.
Now is not the time to explain everything to Alisha. Even the council members don’t know the full details about the snake. This stuff has to be kept under wraps.
We pause by the rose bushes, and after several tries, Alisha brings a soft pink flower to bloom. Watching the petals curl slowly under her fingers puts me into a state of pure awe.
“You okay?” Grace asks, jostling my elbow.
“Yeah,” I mutter, watching Alisha gently stroke the flower. “I’m amazed.”
“She’s a natural,” Grace remarks. “And extremely powerful.”
I look over at her abruptly, wondering what I’m supposed to take away from that last statement. Grace just smiles and nods, and I know she’s thinking about the attitudes in town, and the fact that Alisha will most likely have to hide her powers, not celebrate them.
I’d like to reassure her again, but I know bringing it up will only lead me back into Vanessa and Azarian’s treachery and explanations about the snake spirit.
That story is hard enough to tell on its own, let alone accompanied by my confession of being a secret agent.
Alisha steps away from the rose bushes and stumbles a little. I rush forward to hold her up.
