“Yes. I, well, I…” She hesitated, but after the two females merely waited patiently, she finally had enough nerve to add, “I had to run away about six months after my powers manifested because my father wanted to sell my magic to the highest bidder, and I stayed in hiding for about eight years. So, no, I didn’t have any formal training. Stacey, my mentor, taught me as much as she could, but she’d never been a teacher before and claimed my magic was a lot stronger than hers.”
Which was why she hadn’t been able to teach Meadow how to control it well, unfortunately.
Nadia nodded. “Right, well, we’ll start your formal lessons tomorrow. And I promise to be honest with you about how fast or slow we can do things, as long as you’re honest with me, too.”
“What about my secondary ability? Will you help me with that too?”
“Yes. If I have trouble, then Helena will help us. Her secondary power is persuasion as well.”
As she glanced between the two females, who seemed confident they could help her, hope bloomed in her chest and Meadow’s eyes heated. “Thank you.”
“No worries,” Nadia said. “As much as I’m excited to be your teacher, it also benefits every fae witch to have a trained population. We don’t want to give the humans anything to use against us.”
The latter sentence sounded bitter, but before Meadow could ask for details, Helena spoke up. “Not all humans are looking for an excuse to attack or kidnap or report us to the paranormal overseers, though. Rest assured, any that are inside your vampires’ pleasure house will have been vetted thoroughly.”
“They’re not my vampires,” Meadow murmured.
Helena smiled. “If you say so. Although I wish I’d blooded that pair. Handsome, rich, and with hearts of gold? That’s a rare combination to find in one male, let alone two.”
“What do you mean by hearts of gold?”
Helena shrugged. “They’ve done a lot to improve living conditions inside the vampire territory, and they also often help Laurie’s nephew with rescue missions.” She paused, studied Meadow for a few beats, and asked, “How much do you know of Nora’s past?”
“Not a lot, just that it was bad. Like, really bad.”
“It’s not my story to tell, but her son, Ambrose, helps get males and females out of abusive situations, or worse. Nora runs safe havens for females who’ve escaped abusive families, partners, or sexual slavery, and Laurie and Joseph help fund those places. They even hire those willing to work in their business, or just their household section.”
So Laurie and Joseph were not only sexy and caring, but rich and gave to charity?
She rubbed her forehead. They could have anyone, so why had fate given such great catches to her?
Nadia spoke again. “I can sense we’re overwhelming you, and you may need a break soon. However, I need to let you know I left a small trunk with the butler and it should be in your room by now. There are some books and notes to help when you’re ready to learn some more, as well as some blank journals. I want you to write in a journal each day, and make sure to include your feelings and frustrations. I’m the only other person who will see it, and since I’m a truth seeker, I’ll be able to tell if you’re lying, even with your writing. So, please, don’t try to make things appear better than they are. I can’t help you if I don’t know what you’re worrying about, or if you’re struggling more than you show to the world.”
The thought of someone reading about her worries and faults and troubles made her palms sweat. And yet, if she ever wanted a chance to be like other fae witches and not be afraid of her magic, she needed Nadia’s help. “I’ll try my best, although I’ve never kept a journal before. I was always too afraid someone would find it and alert my father to my location.”
Especially once she’d lost contact with Yesenia and River. She might know now that they’d been here in the past, but back then, she’d had no idea.
Nadia replied, “Trying is all I ask for. Unless you have any other pressing questions, I know Helena has a full schedule and you probably want to rest a little before visiting the vampire territory tonight.”
Meadow shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll have tons of questions later, but right now? My head is spinning and I don’t even know where to start. Maybe writing out my thoughts will help me figure out what to ask tomorrow.”
“That sounds fine. Bring your journal tomorrow, and we’ll go from there.”
Helena finished off her little cake before standing, and Nadia did the same. Meadow hurried to her feet too before Helena said,“If there is ever an emergency, and you’re not with your siblings or Nadia, then go to the address on this card.”
She handed over a white card, with an address scribbled in a barely legible hand. Well, apart from the first line, which said, “Fae Witch Council Building.”
Helena gestured toward the card. “Any fae witch in the East End will know where that building is, and I’d recommend someone showing you where it is, too. Those who work inside the council building are trustworthy and won’t try to steal from or assault you. Given what Yesenia has told me, your time is a lot safer, especially for females. And whilst most of the time this part of London is safe, there are still some criminals, like in any big city. But if anyone, I mean anyone, has a French accent, immediately return to one of your siblings’ homes or to the Fae Witch Council building.”
“Wait, so all French people, or paranormals, are being treated as enemies?”
Nadia pressed her lips into a firm line before saying, “I wish it didn’t have to be that way, but too many fae witches have gone missing in recent months. And from what information we’ve learned, bystanders all heard French accents, and most of the kidnappers were vampires. It might be a ruse, it might not. But given our magical powers, Meadow, we especially need to be careful because it could become a powerful tool for an enemy.”
Whatever peace she’d found chatting with the two females evaporated. “So I’ll have to hide here too?”
Nadia shook her head. “No. As long as we’re sensible and don’t take risks, we’ll be fine. My husband or brother-in-law is always with me after dark, and I can’t leave the country any time soon. But it’s better than becoming a prisoner of war.”
“Wait, the British fae witches are at war?”
