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“I think you better step back,” Joel suggests with a deadly calm that I’ve only heard him use on a handful of occasions.
Her mask finally shatters, and I see the hurt woman beneath. As she takes a step back, a look of betrayal flashes across her face. Before I can say anything, she turns and stalks away. I’m not sure what causes me to do it, but I glance over my shoulder and catch sight of Kano watching her walk away.
Despite trying to keep a low profile, we’ve attracted a fair bit of attention, especially with Luna stalking off. Honestly, it would have been hard to miss. Groaning, I cover my face with my hands. What a disaster. My mates close in around me, and while it makes me feel better to have them near, it’s not helping defuse the attention we’ve attracted.
They seem to realise this too, and by some unspoken signal, they take a step back and fall into the positions they were in previously, creating a rough circle around me.
“We did the walk thing,” Scott comments, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see the tension in his shoulders. He’s struggling here. “Can we go and get a drink now?”
“Yes, I feel like I need about fifty,” Atlas answers, his smile grim.
On the way here, Atlas and Luna explained that while it was a much less formal event than what we were used to and we wouldn’t be announced on entry, we were still expected to do a circuit of the room, acknowledging those who were in attendance. It was a way for everyone to see the newcomers and for those who just arrived to pay their respects to the queen before enjoying the party. However, I get the impression that these more casual parties don’t happen often.
To my immense surprise, I spotted a bar that’s been set up in the far corner of the ballroom, complete with bartenders mixing drinks. The six of us make our way over and walk through groups of witches gathered nearby. Unsurprisingly, there’s a queue, so we wait patiently for our turn, staying close to each other and silent. At least, that’s what I’m attempting to do and not think about my argument with Luna. Am I a hypocrite? There is certainly nothing wrong with a single female enjoying herself with a single male, so I truly hope that she doesn’t think I was trying to shame her. I simply don’t want her or my brother hurt by them doing anything rash. My mates brush their hands against mine as we wait, something that could look innocent enough, an accident even, but each touch is meaningful, sensing my need for grounding.
Thankfully, we don’t wait long, and before I know it, we’re next in line to be served.
“Um, Lady Laelia?” a timid voice says from behind me.
Surprised, I turn around and half expect them to be looking for someone else, which is stupid, as there are no other Laelias in Haven. However, a group of five witches stands just a few feet away, anxiously waiting for… something. They are all around the same age as me, in their twenties and early thirties, with three females and two males. At the front of the group is a petite dark-haired witch.
“Can I help you?” I ask politely, but I don’t manage to hide my surprise or confusion. I’ve been approached before, but it doesn’t happen often and is usually when the instigator wants something from me. These witches are strangers to me, so I’m not sure why they stepped over to speak to me. Casual conversation isn’t something that seems to happen here.
The female at the front of the group in a glittering purple dress smiles widely, her eyes full of excitement.
“It’s such an honour to speak to you,” she gushes, the group behind her nodding in unison.
“Oh. Thank you?” I don’t mean for it to sound like a question, but I’m completely baffled by this whole conversation. They are acting like I’m a celebrity, and after my day today, I’m still feeling emotionally raw, so I’m struggling with processing this. My mates are close, ready to step in if needed, but I’m not getting any hostile vibes from the young witches, so they are giving me some space. Atlas is still standing just behind me, hovering thanks to the newness of our bond, but he’s at least pretending not to listen.
The female glances around to make sure she’s not overheard by anyone outside of our little group, and a tingle of magic runs over my skin. Suddenly, the noise of the room, the music and chatter of the guests, seems to mute, like I’ve got something in my ears that muffles sounds. Glancing around in confusion, I realise that the magic I sensed was some sort of sound bubble.
“Now we can talk properly. We just wanted to tell you that we fully support you.” She smiles widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief as if confirming that sheisthe one who used the magic. “We’ve been questioning the actions of the queen for the last few years, and now that you’re here, things are finally changing.”
My eyes widen, and I can’t help my instinct to check that we’re not being listened to. Of course, this only makes me look suspicious, so I force myself to take a deep breath and focus on the witch. No one around us seems to have noticed anything different, and given what she’s saying, I now understand why she didn’t want to be overheard.
“She’s stuck in the past and afraid to accept the modern world. The feud with the werewolves dates back centuries, and we don’t want to be locked away anymore because of a stupid fight our ancestors started.”
This is treason. Are they friends with the young witches who approached me before with similar statements? Only, that previous conversation had been much tamer. From what I’m hearing, these witches want change, and they want it now. They also seem to think I’m the one to make it happen. This isn’t to say I don’t agree with them. No one can give me a straight answer about why the witches and werewolves hate each other, everyone having their own theory, and being trapped in Haven and not being able to leave is like a prison sentence, a feeling I know well. I imagine that many of the younger generation have never seen the outside world.
However, getting into a fight with the queen and being seen as the figurehead of the revolution is not something I want. I’m surrounded by enough shit as it is.
Atlas’s hand touches my lower back, and I can feel his wariness. He seems to be the only one of my mates included in the sound bubble, not that the others have noticed, too busy ordering us drinks. I get the impression from my witch mate that he wants me to wrap this up quickly and be cautious. The fact that group sought me out in such a public place and openly spoken about disagreeing with their queen is risky and rash—a dangerous combination.
Taking a deep breath, I school my features and give them a kind but engaged smile, not wanting them to think I’m brushing them off. Diplomacy is needed here. Too harsh, and I could turn them against me, creating a whole new issue for me to contend with. Too accepting, and it might be seen as encouragement and that I’m actively trying to turn the queen’s people against her.
“I don’t want you to go against your queen.” Making sure I’m very clear on this point, I make eye contact with each of them in turn. “A civil war is the very last thing I want to happen here. I’m just here to learn to control my magic and follow the goddess’s wishes. If it turns out that I am part of these prophecies, then I will do my best to bring everyone peace.”
“So wise,” one of the male witches murmurs, and the others nod in unison. At first, I think he’s joking or being sarcastic, but their serious expressions tell me otherwise. It’s a little creepy, and I feel the need to extract myself from this situation as soon as possible.
“Whatever happens, we support you,” the perky witch says, picking up on my discomfort. “There are more of us than you think, and if you need us, all you have to do is call out ‘star catcher,’ and we will hear.”
Frowning, I turn the words over in my head, not understanding how two simple words could do what she’s saying. “Star catcher? I—”
A shiver of magic runs over me, and I see several heads in the ballroom turn to look at me. When they see who I’m with, they return to their previous activities. The hair on my arms stands on end as I realise what just happened. I spoke those words, and in a heartbeat, somehow, several witches knew. We were too far away for them to hear me, yet something alerted them. Not only that, but they knew where I was. They didn’t need to search for me.
“We have a wordsmith among us.”
She says the term as though I should know what that means, but what Idoknow is that magic has to be involved. I’m still amazed by the possibilities and what magic can do. I’ve barely scratched the surface with my lessons.
