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Nox grimaces. “Well, yes.”
Marcus shrugs. “It’s called being a parent. We all worry about that.” He goes to stand from his seat to refill his drink and glances at Aysel, who’s trying to coax a beetle into the fire. “Though, I would make an extra attempt to socialize her with other children if I were you.”
Nox’s shoulders deflate slightly, but then he takes a deep breath and goes to his daughter, smiling gently and whispering something in her ear. She groans, looking forlorn at being forced to abandon her attempt at beetle extermination, but she does as her father says, scampering off to play with the other children.
Cecilia quickly welcomes her. “Oh good!” she exclaims, her black ringlets bobbing underneath the cone of paper she’s turned into a princess hat atop her head. “You can be the villain!”
Aysel’s eyes glitter with delight.
Nox sinks into the couch, tipping his head back in exaggerated despair. “I give up,” he says.
Marcus, having returned with his drink, slaps Nox on the shoulder. “Well, if it’s any consolation, she does make a pretty adorable villain.”
The Old Magic could not agree more, though he’d be loath to admit it.
He returns his attention to Asha, who has been silently chuckling as she also eavesdrops on the conversation happening across from her.
You shouldn’t laugh, the Old Magic scolds. That child might very well be the death of us one day. Growing up with my wicked sister knitted to her soul.
Asha internally flares her nostrils. A fragment of your sister, she reminds him. Besides, it’s not really the dark urges someone has that make them good or evil. It’s which has control over the other.
The Old Magic is about to retort that it’s much easier to be good if you don’t have evil urges whispering in your ear, but then his gaze fixes on little Aysel. “No,” she whispers to herself, shaking her head vehemently. “Cecilia is my friend. Friends don’t steal friends’ princess hats.”
Asha smiles. See?
The Old Magic is forced to admit that he does.
Asha has that way about her, being able to see the best in people, sometimes even when the Old Magic is convinced it’s not truly there.
Like Blaise, for example. Over the years, Asha has come to forgive her for her betrayal, despite the Old Magic’s constant skepticism and warnings.
Oh, well. He supposes that is in Asha’s nature.
Though he hasn’t said a negative thing about Blaise since he got suspicious that perhaps she had been the one to kill Azrael.
That boy needed to die.
Still, Blaise and Asha keep their distance from one another, even at these gatherings. The Old Magic knows that Asha suspects Blaise of the same.
It’s not that Asha blames Blaise for ending the life of the man who tortured Asha and held her captive, for keeping Kiran from being the one to do it.
In fact, part of her is grateful, but when she approaches Blaise, she sometimes feels she can smell Az’s blood on her, and it makes Asha sick.
As for why Blaise keeps her distance, the Old Magic suspects it’s more to do with a fear of him and his curses than it is for Asha.
The Old Magic finds satisfaction in knowing Blaise is afraid of him, though it’s a tad unwarranted. He might have cursed away Nox’s feelings for Blaise once upon a time, but again—Az needed to die.
And if Blaise was the only one willing to get his blood on her hands, the Old Magic could respect that.
Blaise sits in the corner, speaking with Piper. They’ve kept in touch over the years, and from what the Old Magic can tell, Blaise looks to Piper like a slightly older sister.
Asha swivels her head, searching for Fin and Dinah, but neither are anywhere to be found. At least not in the vicinity.
“You know, I always expect you to try to set them up at these things,” says Kiran, taking his place on the loveseat with his wife. Asha smiles and tucks herself into her husband’s chest.
Normally, the way Asha’s heart flutters in Kiran’s presence disgusts the Old Magic, but even he is not immune to Winter Solstice cheer.
“It’s just such a romantic time of year,” Asha says. “Especially when we’re somewhere cold like Othian. I guess I keep hoping they’ll find themselves chilly and in need of one another to warm them up.”
