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“Huh, that’s odd,” said Madison. “Lantern is an old witch’s word for ‘home.’”
“How strange,” replied Fletcher, staring intently out of the window. “Look, there’s an eagle,” he said, pointing to a tree in the distance. “Do you see him sitting on the branch of that huge oak over there?”
Madison looked out of the window, but as hard as she searched, she couldn’t see the bird where he was pointing. Her sight was nearly as sharp as a shifter’s, so it was frustrating when the car went around the corner, and the tree went out of sight.
The going was slower along this smaller, twisting road. They would often follow a contour all the way into a valley, only to cross a stream at its head, and then they would double back on themselves.
The car carried on. Soon, they entered the village of Lantern Grove. It was a small place, and the road appeared to end at the village. There could not have been more than twenty houses clustered around the village green, which formed a perfect circle.
On the green was a sight she was completely familiar with. Men and women had gathered and were placing their spring contributions on the altar that stood at the center of the round field.
“This is a witch's village,” she breathed. “Oh, Fletcher, you’ve brought me to a witch's village.”
“It’s the new moon celebration,” he said, watching her with a smile on his face.
“It’s the flower moon,” she said excitedly. “It’s one of my favorite moon rituals. This is amazing. Thank you, Fletcher, it is the perfect surprise.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him.
“Well, I figured if I’m mating with a witch, I should get more involved with the coven in my kingdom. They invited you along today to join the ceremony.”
Madison smiled to herself as the car drove around the village green. She had thought she would have to give up this side of being a witch. It had stung hard when she’d left Autumhart. And now here she was, at the best new moon festival of spring with Fletcher by her side.
EIGHT
FLETCHER
Fletcher loved seeing the wild light in Madison’s eyes as they drove into the parking lot. He had hoped his guess was right and that this would please her. He could tell he was right just from her reaction.
They were greeted by Tanith, the coven leader, a slim woman with long dark hair held back in a braid. She wore a dark blue flowing dress and a cloak over the top fastened with a silver clasp in the shape of a crescent moon. “Hello, Your Majesties,” she said, inclining her head graciously.
“Please, nothing so formal,” Fletcher insisted … he hated all the royal pomp. “Fletcher and Madison will suffice.” Tanith smiled warmly at the congeniality.
“Blessed be,” Madison said, using the formal witch's greeting.
“Blessed be, Madison,” came the reply. “I’m Tanith, the leader of the witches here. Fletcher said you have witch blood and were probably missing working in a coven.”
Madison smiled up at Fletcher. “He would be right,” she said. “Although he kept it as a surprise for me all the way here, so I’m afraid I haven’t brought an offering.”
“Not to worry, I’m sure we can find something in my garden,” Tanith said reassuringly.
Two more coven members came over to greet them. “Anton and Stacey, please meet Fletcher and Madison,” said Tanith.
Anton was tall and wiry with a receding hairline, and Stacey was a petite blond with a winning smile and sparkling eyes.
“Would you mind explaining to Fletcher what’s going on while I take Madison to my house to prepare?” asked Tanith.
Fletcher started panicking right away. He did not want to be separated from Madison in this unknown place. He didn’t know the local witches too well and wasn’t sure he could trust them.
His wolf grew uneasy and restless immediately, threatening to growl a resounding, rumbling “No!”
Madison must have picked up on his unease because she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry. This is all perfectly normal. I’ll be fine,” she whispered into his ear.
He relaxed a little and forced a smile onto his lips that he hoped didn’t look too much like a snarl. “Sure,” he said. “You go ahead.” But he carefully watched which house she was led to.
“As you can see, we are conducting our new moon ceremony,” said Anton, seemingly oblivious to Fletcher’s discomfort. “I’m sure you know that the new moon is the daylight moon. Tradition says the Sun and the Moon become lovers, and every day until the Moon is full, you can see her belly grow with the Sun’s baby.”
In fact, Fletcher didn’t know any of that and wondered why the ceremony for the moon was being held in daylight. “I heard this is the flower moon; is that correct?” Fletcher asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” Stacey said. “That’s why we have laid out a flower mandala on the altar. Would you like to come and look?”
