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‘This is all my fault,’ Blaise said miserably. ‘I’ve caused all this. If I hadn’t dabbled in time travel we wouldn’t be in this mess now. Yet here I am, unable to be of any use to you.’
‘But you’ll be here for us, supporting us,’ Romy said firmly. She turned to face us. ‘Blaise and I discussed all this last night, and I’ve already made my decision. I’m going to take back my magic.’
I felt the pressure of Keely’s leg as she pushed it against mine. Evidently she wasn’t too sure about this turn of events, and I could understand why. Blaise had no magic of his own, but what if he used Romy’s somehow? What if he manipulated her into using it in a harmful way? Was it even possible that she could restore his magic for him? It hadn’t, after all, been drained like hers had. It had been removed by a Guardian. Did that mean only a Guardian could return it? I had so much to learn.
‘Are you sure about this, Romy?’ Harley asked anxiously. ‘It’s an awfully big step.’
‘Ah, she’ll be grand,’ Killian assured her, liberally spreading jam on yet another slice of toast. ‘We’ll all be there to watch her back. Let her have a bit of fun.’
‘It’s not about having fun,’ Harley reminded him frostily. ‘This is serious stuff.’
‘Sure, I know that! Did I say it wasn’t? I’m just saying, magic can be fun, too, and why shouldn’t she reclaim it? She’s been deprived of it nearly all her life.’ He winked at Romy. ‘When your fae blood stirs you’ll be a new woman, Romy! You wait and see.’
‘Do you ever take anything seriously?’ Harley asked him.
Killian sighed. ‘Oh, I do, believe me. But only when I absolutely, one hundred per cent must. If I can get away with it then why wouldn’t I?’
‘Er, because of responsibilities,’ she said.
‘Now, darlin’, you know me and responsibilities,’ he said, giving her a peck on the cheek. ‘We’re strangers to each other, and long may it stay that way.’
She didn’t reply but picked up a cup of coffee and sipped from it, no humour in her eyes. It seemed Killian’s attempt to lighten the mood hadn’t gone down too well with his new wife.
‘So,’ I said hastily, turning to Romy, ‘you’re sure? You’ve made your decision? You realise that if you do this you won’t be able to leave the island for the foreseeable future? What about your plans to go to Castle Clair?’
‘I’ll return to Castle Clair alone,’ Blaise said. ‘Not for long, but for long enough to familiarise myself with the place again and help “bed in” those memories which are still slightly foggy. I’ve heard that great changes have occurred there since I was last in the town, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the family has restored Bevil’s reputation. I’ll stay a few weeks and then I’ll return to support Romy.’
‘Romy, that’s what you want?’ I asked.
‘Absolutely.’ There was no hesitation in her voice at all. I half envied her that much certainty. It seemed she wasn’t as beset with doubts as I was.
‘And you’re really all right with this?’ Trinity asked Blaise curiously. ‘Romy becoming a magical being?’
Romy took hold of Blaise’s hand. ‘We made our decision. Together.’
‘I wouldn’t want my magic back,’ Blaise explained. ‘Not for anything. Although I wish I could help you all in some way. But as for Romy… She’s been deprived of it through no fault of her own, and that’s not fair. If she wants to experience who she really is, who am I to stop her?’
‘I’m just…’ Keely gestured helplessly as she tried to formulate the words. ‘I’m worried, Romy. It’s so different to the life you’ve been used to. You’re such a gentle person. I’m not sure you’re cut out for this.’
‘But it’s who I really am,’ Romy pleaded. ‘Can’t you see that? Have you any idea how hard it was for me to grow up alongside you and Harley? My little sisters, who had so much power between them, and thought nothing of casting spells every day, even though Mum had expressly forbidden you to.’
Harley and Keely shifted uncomfortably.
‘Sorry, Mum.’
‘Sorry, Mum.’
Ewella sighed. ‘I think we’re a bit beyond that now.’
‘The point is,’ Romy said, ‘you have no idea how much I longed to be like you. It was a physical ache inside me. It wasn’t jealousy. It was so much deeper than that. It was like a part of me was grieving for something I could never have. Maybe, in some way, it was a memory of a kind, of something I used to have and had lost. I don’t know, but it hurt. It hurt so much. And now I have the chance to be that person again. I have the chance to explore that world and find out who I really am. Please don’t try to talk me out of this or tell me I’m wrong. Please, just be happy for me.’
‘I think,’ I said slowly, seeing that Keely was struggling, ‘it’s a wonderful thing that we have the chance to be the people we were born to be. I support you fully, Romy.’
‘And so do I,’ Trinity said, ‘because I’ve decided that I’m going to reclaim my magic, too. Finally, I’ll get to take part in this incredible, amazing, magical life I married into, instead of just being an observer. When I think about my mom—our Aunt Keresen—and all the things she sacrificed for me, I know she wouldn’t want me hiding away on here, unable to defend myself. She’d tell me to be brave, like she was brave. She went halfway round the world to keep me safe. I owe her this, and I’m not going to let her down. Besides,’ she added, ‘we all owe it to the memory of our parents. Havok Pendragon killed Laragh and Ashen, and he killed Rodor St Clair. He’s not gonna get away with that any longer.’
‘You’re right,’ Harley said, her eyes gleaming with tears. ‘He’s not.’
‘Then I guess that, tomorrow night, all three of you are reclaiming your magic,’ Emrick said, smiling.
