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“That’s a good point,” Willow agreed.
“Great,” Sunny commented, somewhat forlornly. “So if he turns up today, he knows his way around better than I do.” She turned her attention to Eben and Aveline. “Do me a favor—if he arrives and I appear to go with him willingly, don’t intervene. I’ll signal if I want you to step in.”
Aveline nodded. “Just feel it, and we’ll know.”
“Why don’t you want their help?” Celeste asked warily. She had the feeling Sunny might hive off on her own. That wasn’t good.
“I do, but I made this deal and it’s my responsibility to sort it out, or...see it through.”
“Our magic is stronger when we work together,” Willow offered.
“Willow’s right,” Celeste agreed, “we need to stick together.”
“No.” Sunny sat back in her chair and shook her head. “It won’t be enough.”
Celeste frowned. “But if we all—”
“I’ll be ready,” Sunny interrupted. “He knows you’ll all be ready too. The only thing he doesn’t know is I’ll be ready, really ready.” She meshed her fingers together anxiously. “I felt my grandmother’s presence these last few days. And I feel stronger for it.”
Celeste noticed Sunny kept her eyelids lowered. She wasn’t telling them everything. “I’m glad she’s with you, but you must draw on our group strength.”
“You’ve taught me everything you know,” Sunny said, in what was obviously a well rehearsed speech, “and Aveline has uncovered a lot about my heritage, but it comes down to tactics. I need to ambush him. I need to do something he’s not expecting.”
Eben pointed at Sunny. “This is why you didn’t bring Cullen.”
“Yes. I don’t want him to know what I’m planning to do.”
Celeste tried not to panic. “Which is?”
Sunny met her gaze. “I don’t want you to know, either.”
They exchanged glances.
Celeste nodded.
“Don’t worry, I’m not totally stupid,” Sunny continued. “I know I’ll still need you. I’m going to make him think I want to learn from him. Cullen might not be able to accept that, and... and he has to believe it, in order to convince Fox too.”
Reluctantly, Celeste agreed. “It would certainly flatter his ego. You think you can pull it off?”
“It’s going to take some major acting out.” Fretfully, she rubbed her face with her hand. “I’ll give it my best try.”
Celeste took a deep breath. She really was Hanna’s grandchild. “In that case, the least
I can do is arm you by telling you some of his, erm...foibles.”
“Foibles?”
“Things he can’t resist in a woman.”
Unsurprisingly, all faces around the table turned to her.
Celeste steeled herself. This wasn’t going to be easy. She’d need to reveal intimate facts about her relationship with Fox, and they’d all been gagging to know the details for decades.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Cullen checked the dagger at his belt.
He’d vowed to keep at least two weapons about his person at all times, now the thirtieth day had arrived. He would’ve preferred to have his sword at hand, but apparently it wasn’t allowed during this future age, a fact he couldn’t quite comprehend. Nevertheless, Sunny forbade him to carry it around outside the cottage, so he settled on two daggers, together with a stealthily concealed garrote wire in his back pocket.
