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Calliope
They reached the edge of the Beauvielle lands by mid-morning, but it wasn’t soon enough for Calliope. She was ready for this journey to be over, to rescue Aaron’s brother and be on her way back to her farm. Life in her cottage might be monotonous and lonely at times, but at least she was spared this tumult of emotion.
Every time she looked at Aaron or caught him looking at her, she felt as if she would break in two. She felt outside herself, but at the same time more miserable in her skin than she could ever remember being—even when her mother’s abuse had been at its zenith.
That’s what comes of lying.
“I didn’t lie,” Calliope muttered, lest Aaron hear her from where he rode ahead. “I simply didn’t tell the entire truth.”
A lie of omission is still a lie, and now you’ll pay the price.
How it will cut your heart to hear of his marriage, for he will be married soon, no doubt about that. A king his age can’t remain unmarried for long.
Perhaps he’ll see the young Rosamund, be captivated by her beauty, and propose on the spot.
Calliope frowned. “She’s much too young for him. And he wouldn’t marry anyone who didn’t touch his heart.”
As if you know anything of his heart. His affection for you was a product of the affliction, a lie only a fool would believe.
“I am not a fool, I was under the spell as well.”
Only a fool is caught in her own magical web.
Besides…you’re not under a spell now. Are you? Yet still, you love him.
“Oh, shut up!” Calliope shouted.
“Are you all right?” Aaron shifted in his saddle to cast a concerned look over his shoulder. “We can rest before we approach the castle.”
“No, I’m fine, just practicing a few spells,” Calliope fibbed, grateful when he nodded and turned back around.
Another lie. You’re getting so adept at them. Perhaps you should—
“I am finished with you,” Calliope whispered, shutting out the sound of the “other” voice with no small degree of effort.
Despite the herbs, the voice of criticism had returned this morning. She remembered the healer at the castle saying stress would make the voices worse and she was nothing if not stressed.
Another reason for her to hurry back to her farm, where there was no Aaron to sweet-talk her into using her magic or to make love to her into the wee hours as if he still cared. There had been no whispered words of love, but every stroke of his hand, every movement of his body inside hers had been as beautiful as ever.
“But he doesn’t feel the same way.” Calliope squeezed her eyes shut against the pain the words caused.
She was no longer under her own spell—the haze had left her eyes the moment it had left Aaron’s—but she couldn’t lie to herself. She still loved him. She still ached to be in his arms, to have him smile just for her, to know the warmth of his kindness and even the harsh prick of his temper.
She wanted to be a part of his life, someone who mattered to him beyond what magic she would work to save his brother.
What magic you will work! Goddess protect the man and his brother.
“The spell last night went off as planned,” Calliope said, satisfied to be able to point that out to her mother.
“But darling, that isn’t really your mother.” Another familiar voice, one she didn’t hear nearly as often as she would like, vibrated through the air around her. “It is a cruel thing with no body of its own. But I am real. And I’m here to help you, though I know I don’t get the chance to speak as—”
Get out of my daughter’s head, Melinda. She’ll never be the fairy that I was or even you were. Best if she goes back to her farm and shovels manure.
“Heliotrope, you always were more witch than Fae.” Her fairy godmother’s ghost was as tough and opinionated as the woman herself had been in life. “I should have stolen Calliope away from you on her christening day and never looked back.”
“Please, Melinda, I appreciate your help,” Calliope said, grateful to hear from Melinda after months of silence. “But I need to have my wits about me. The fewer voices at the moment, the better.”
“Of course, dear,” Melinda said. “But know that I believe in you. The magic has always been strong within you. Believe in your power, the way you did last night. Aaron will help. His love for you is strong.”
