“Any idea how we’re going to turn you back?” I say instead. “I’m not saying my magic is ‘cute but worthless,’ but I’m not sure it’s going to be that helpful either.”
“I believe it can be done, but I haven’t figured out how to go about it yet. I’m afraid we’re going to have to poke around the library’s back room.”
“Back room?”
“The magic section. For obvious reasons, they must keep it hidden from humans.”
“Will they allow an owl inside?”
“Probably not. I don’t suppose you can cast a cloak?”
“I’m a pixie—I can’t cast anything.”
“That is the problem,” he grumbles.
“Do you still have your magic?” I ask. “Can you feel it?”
“Yes, but I can’t access it withouthands.”
“Oh, that’s right.Mages have to use wands.”
“Why does that sound like an epiphany?”
“Don’t scoff, but I think you’re the first mage I’ve met. I don’t really know how your magic works. No offense, but my parents kept me away from your kind.” I peer into the tea cupboard, overwhelmed by the options. “What do you want?”
“A Ceylon would be fine,” Rowan answers, sounding a touch uncomfortable—knowing exactly why my parents would make that decision.
I rummage through the tins. “Ceylon…Ceylon…I don’t see it.”
“Look for something labeled orange pekoe.”
“Here it is.” I pull out the tin. “If it’s called orange pekoe, why didn’t you tell me that in the first place?”
“It’s not called orange pekoe—that’s its grade. Ceylon is often an orange pekoe tea.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a quality score.”
I open the tin and sniff the tea. “It doesn’t smell like oranges.”
“No kidding.”
“So, there are no oranges involved either?”
“None.”
“How bizarre. Is it good?”
“It’s a basic, medium-bodied tea with honey notes.”
“That sounds nice. I’m going to try it.” I spoon the tea into the infusers and then place them into the mugs. “You’re obviously a gifted mage if you were able to turn yourself into an owl, but didn’t you realize you’d be stuck in this form if it worked? Or did the no-hands thing only occur to you once you had feathers?”
“I was trying to replicate shifter magic. Once in animal form, my magic should have responded like theirs.”
“But it didn’t.”
“Obviously.”
