Page 58 of Seas the Reckoning

“I don’t know, Leena. I’m always so sure of myself, but this? I don’t know how to square with this. It’s like I don’t know myself anymore.”

I sit, taking her hands in mine.

“Yes, you do. You’re Starla. The fiercest and best witch I know, because of who you are, not because of some flashy magic. You’re independent and loving and fun. You’re a better person than anyone on your family tree.”

“Except perhaps Grammy,” she muses, giving a small smile.

“Perhaps. Maybe it’s a tie. But don’t tell Grammy Pearl I said that. She’d likely want top spot. After all, she was the one who sent us here and orchestrated this whole thing.”

Starla frowns again.

“Do you think she knew? About my dad’s side of the family, or his involvement in everything, or any of the rest of it?”

This time I really do give it some deep, silent thought for a few minutes.

“In the end, I’m not sure it matters. If she didn’t tell us directly, then we were meant to find out this way. I trust Grammy Pearl. She knows more about the future than you or I will ever hope to learn. It’s possible that telling us, regardless of how many details she did or didn’t know, would have altered the outcome.”

Starla sighs.

“True. I can’t be mad at her. But I wish the magic would have allowed her to give us more of a heads-up.”

“We both know the truth now. Our families have a connection, albeit a negative one. But you and I can make something different. We already have.”

Starla shakes her head.

“There’s more. It’s not just that we know my family cursed yours. It’s that one of us has to be the one to break it.”

“I … what?”

“Let me paint you a picture.”

Starla puts her hands on her knees, then pushes herself to her feet.

23

IN ANY WEATHER

Starla begins to pace.

“Picture this. I’m in the office with my father. I’ve convinced him that I do want to marry one of his silly friends. He’s undoubtedly suspicious, but he’s proud. He’s calming down. His weekend is in shambles after the fire, but his office appears undisturbed; his daughter is falling in line. He’ll send people he pays to look into things while he salvages what he can.”

“And he decides it’s a good moment to blurt out that your family cursed mine?”

Starla laughs—but then coughs as she chokes down tears. She sniffles, wiping a hand across her face, but manages to keep going.

“I got greedy. I felt like if I was giving in to a marriage, even a fake one, I wanted as much information as possible in exchange. I told him that my only reservation in getting married was you. Wanting to make sure that you stayed as well, and asking him if he was serious in finding you a match.”

My breath catches.

“And?”

“He must still have been overwhelmed by everything happening this evening. Suspicious of my motives for marriage, the fire, and all that, but less guarded with other things. He blurted out that even if you didn’t end up matched to someone like Arloc—which he sees as a likely proposal—I’d still be able to force your hand. Someone like my father, it doesn’t occur to him that forced friendship is not real.”

“Force me? How?”

Starla stops pacing, grabbing me by the shoulders.

“That’s how the truth ended up coming out about our families. He told me, ‘Starla, that naiad is as good as yours, if you really think it’s that important to keep her. She has to do what you say.’ Now, naturally I asked what he meant. And he responds with ‘You can control her, if you want, because our family is the only way she can keep that song of hers. She can’t break the curse to use it without you, and I’m betting you can demand just about anything you want in return.’”