AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Aurora and Elvira were being real brave, considering what they’d been through. I wanted to hug Aurora for having the guts to stand up to her stepmother, but figured it wouldn’t be too tactful, given Titania was, after all, Elvira’s mom.
I’d always gotten along with Aurora, but now I looked at her with new eyes, and I was glad to see that Benedict had joined them, and that the three of them were talking together in an easy fashion, like real family. It was good for Benedict to have his half-sister and stepsister around him. His own mom might want nothing to do with him, but at least he had those two on his side.
Sirius was restless. I knew he was longing to be in that study with Lowen, Hector, and Emrick.
‘Why don’t you just go in there and ask if you can join them?’ I asked, sensing his anxiety was growing.
‘How can I? They’ve made it perfectly clear that they call all the shots,’ he said bitterly. ‘Does anyone even know how that happened? I don’t recall us ever voting on it. I mean, Hector I can understand. Naturally we all defer to him. But Emrick? And why Lowen? He hasn’t even got any magic.’
‘But he’ll one day be the Great Guardian,’ I reminded him. I sipped the wine someone had given me. ‘If you ask me, the day’s fast approaching when he’ll reclaim that magic. Things are moving. I can feel it, can’t you?’
He turned to me, his expression grave. ‘And where does that leave you?’
I frowned. ‘Meaning what?’
‘Well, when Lowen reclaims his magic, will you do the same?’
I couldn’t deny I’d thought about it. It hardly seemed real, but I knew I had the opportunity to reclaim both my witchcraft and my fae magic. I couldn’t begin to imagine what that would feel like. It made me nervous, but I can’t deny it gave me a tingle of excitement too.
‘I guess…’ I said, not sure how he’d feel about that. ‘Thing is, once I get it back there’s nothing to stop us trying for a baby, is there? Sweeney said all those pregnancies failed because any fae blood in my body was suppressed. Since our babies would have been part fae they never stood a chance.’ My voice cracked with emotion, thinking of all the lives we’d lost. It was hard to accept that, if I’d only known who I really was, none of that need ever have happened.
I saw the doubt on Sirius’s face and realised we hadn’t really talked about resuming our plans to start a family. I’d just assumed it was a given, but his expression was making me think that, just maybe, I’d assumed wrong. ‘You do still want to start a family, don’t you?’
He rubbed his forehead. ‘Of course. One day.’
‘But not now?’
‘Look at us all, Trinity!’ He waved his hands around, encompassing the entire room. ‘This is such a mess. Who knows what’s coming? Do you really think now’s the time to bring a baby into the world? Besides, you being pregnant would make you more vulnerable. I’d be terrified every moment. And then there’s the other problem.’
He didn’t have to say it out loud. It was in the back of my mind the whole time. If I reclaimed my magic the Pendragons would sense it. I’d be a target.
‘Maybe they already know,’ I said quietly, knowing he’d guess who I meant. ‘If I was the one they were coming for when they got Zephyr instead…’ It still choked me up, thinking that Zephyr might have lost his life because of me. It should have been me being mourned today, not the leader of the High Council of Witches.
‘We don’t know that,’ he said hastily. ‘And I’m not prepared to take that risk. I don’t want you to reclaim your powers.’
‘But Sirius…’ I paused, not wanting to hurt him, but unable to leave it at that. ‘It’s not your decision to make.’
He stared at me. ‘I see.’
‘I know you’re used to taking care of me and that your powers have always given you the edge on me—’
‘What do you mean by that? Have I ever tried to make you feel inferior in any way?’ he demanded.
‘Of course not, honey. That’s not what I meant. I just meant that, with you being a St Clair witch, naturally you’ve been the defender, the protector. But now I know who I am, and if I reclaimed my magic I could fight my own battles. I have magical heritage, too, right? I’m a Pendragon for goodness’ sake! And look who my birth mother was! And my real mom, too,’ I added wistfully. ‘It doesn’t get much better than that. Look, I’ve told my clients that I’m done with editing, and I’ve recommended new editors to them. That part of my life is over. Maybe it’s time I took my place alongside you all. Whatever’s coming—why shouldn’t I be a part of it? It’s my fight, too. The Pendragons killed my parents, remember?’
He seemed about to speak but clearly thought better of it. Instead he just sighed and took a sip of wine. ‘I don’t know where this is going,’ he admitted. ‘I want to keep you safe, that’s all.’
‘I know you do. But I want to keep you safe, too. I want to help. Maybe if I reclaim my powers I can be an asset to you, instead of a hindrance.’
He smiled. ‘You’re never a hindrance, my darling. I promise you that.’
There was a sudden call for silence, and I realised Jethro was tapping a spoon on the side of his glass.
That wasn’t like Jethro at all, so we all paid attention. I noticed Hector, Emrick, and Lowen were back in the room, and were in a huddle with Celeste. They all looked up and stared expectantly at Jethro, too.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said formally, and Sky rolled her eyes.
‘For heaven’s sake, Jethro, don’t be so formal,’ she told him.
