'I'm surprised you followed us into this false land,' I said.
'I'd come too far to turn back now. Not when things were getting interesting.' She grinned. 'I only regret that as a simple fox, I can't appreciate it all.'
I looked to the moon and pondered whether it was genuine or merely a reproduction.
'You didn't answer my question,' said the fox.
'How do you know I want to do either?'
The fox laughed. 'I may only be a beast, but if there are two things we beasts know, it's eating and mating. I've watched the way you look at that man. Sometimes, it's with the desire of a female for a male. Sometimes, it's with the gnawing of an empty stomach. Sometimes, it's both.'
'I didn't think it was that obvious.'
'Everything is obvious when you look for it. So is it mating season for witches? I think he'd father excellent offspring.'
As did I. 'I can't bear children.'
'Neither can I,' she said. 'But when the season rolls around, I seek out a mate anyway. Even if I haven't birthed a litter in three seasons.'
'Too bad,' I said. 'The world could use more clever foxes.'
'The world could use a great many things.'
I descended the short stairs and sat beside the fox. 'I don't know what I'm going to do. I think I might do both.'
She nibbled at an itch in her tail. 'I've never been one to play with my food. Although I do enjoy batting around the occasional field mouse.'
I stroked her between the ears. 'I don't want to kill him.'
'I suppose if you just bit off a few less necessary parts, but that would be more of a snack than a meal.'
My stomach whimpered.
'Can I offer some advice?' said the fox. 'I've never had anything I wanted to both eat and mate, but the logical thing to do would be to mate first, then eat. That way you get both pleasures.'
'I don't want to eat him.'
'Ah, I know the feeling. I once stole an egg that I didn't want to crack because once I ate it, it would be gone. But I knew I couldn't be happy just looking at it.' She settled her head on my lap. 'That's the question you should ask yourself. Can you be happy just having him?'
'I don't know, but I think it's time to find out.'
I invited the fox in for a bite to eat, and she accepted. I introduced her to Newt and Gwurm. Newt was more interested in my unwitchly raiment.
'What are you wearing? You can see . . . all your . . . naughty bits.'
Penelope threw herself between Newt and me. I didn't need her defense and gently nudged her aside.
I grabbed a sharp knife from the table. 'I'm going upstairs. Behave yourselves.' I used the plural, but I looked at Newt.
'Good luck,' said Newt.
'Remember,' added the fox, 'mate first. Eat second.'
'Rip out his throat,' grumbled Newt.
Penelope followed me upstairs. Each footfall seemed heavier than the last. I didn't understand exactly what trepidation gripped me, but as I neared Wyst's room, it grew Ghastly Edna had taught me not to fear failure or horrible death, but she'd never prepared me for this. She'd once said, 'It's easy to defeat life-or-death ordeals. Such tribulations demand success. It's the small tests that require something more from us. When we can turn and walk away is when we find what we're made of.'
I stopped at Wyst's door. I reached for the knob but stopped short. I considered turning back. So long as I didn't open that door, I could always live with not knowing.
Penelope nudged my elbow.
I stood there frozen. I even stopped breathing. I ran it over and over through my mind. Could I really live without knowing? What if he turned me away? What if I killed him? What if he was forced to kill me? There were so many questions, and every answer seemed wrong. I was no closer to making the decision when Penelope finally made it for me.
She rapped on the door twice and floated behind me as it opened. Wyst stood there. He didn't say anything. His face remained blank, save for the soft arch of his eyebrows.
I suddenly felt very self-conscious. I didn't mind being practically nude before anyone. Anyone but this man. I was a creature of flawless, accursed beauty, and he loved me. Knowing didn't seem to make any difference. I wanted my thick, black frock. Maybe a hat. Even a shawl to drape across my shoulders would've been nice.
I kept my hands by my side, resisting the urge to hide my body behind folded arms. I swallowed a lump in my throat.
'May I come in?'
His eyebrows rose another notch. He glanced down the hall, back to his room, and back at me before moving aside. I stepped into his room. Penelope stayed in the hall. I whispered a thank you to my broom as I closed the door.
His room was cozy. I was too distracted to notice anything but the bed and a folded blanket lying on the floor.
'I hope I'm not interrupting anything.'
'I was only meditating.'
The meditation of White Knights must've been a strenuous practice. He was slightly out of breath. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his entire body was tense. Or maybe these were due to my presence. He could only look at me from the corner of his eye.
It was terribly hot in this room. I paced to the window and opened it a crack. Wyst was reflected in the spotless glass. He studied my back, unaware I could see his glance wander up and down my body. I put my fingers to the window and traced the image of his strong, pleasing face.
'Is something wrong, witch?' He spoke softly. The first time I'd ever heard him mumble.
I was woefully inexperienced, but I was a creature made to seduce. I trusted my instincts. I turned slowly, allowing Wyst to enjoy my form from all angles. Then I glided to him, literally floating a hairsbreadth off the floor. My gown billowed upward, revealing my perfect legs. His already tense body tightened. I drew close but didn't touch him.
He turned his face from me. 'What are you doing?'
I put a palm to his cheek and turned his face back. He closed his eyes.
'I can't do this.'
Words could say much, and they said all the more when there were so few. He hadn't said he wouldn't. He'd said he couldn't. Can't is for things you mustn't do, yet you know you will.
He put a hand to my hand as if to pull it away. 'I've taken a vow, a sacred vow.'
I ran my thumb across his soft lips. 'Tell me to leave, and I will.' I did my best to sound as if this wouldn't bother me.
'I need my virtue,' he whispered. 'Without it, I'll be no match for the sorcerer.'
'With it, you are still no match.'
He withdrew half a step. 'I can't let you face him alone. I have to protect you.'
Again, his words said much. His resistance didn't come from his vows of purity. It stemmed from his love, his desire to keep me from harm. I understood more than he knew. We were so much alike, but unlike my burden, his could be put aside.
'You can't protect me from my fate, Wyst. And you won't meet Soulless Gustav tomorrow. That is my battle alone. You've done everything you can for me. There is only one favor I have left to ask of you ...'
I moved as close as I could without touching him. The heat of his body washed over me. The lanterns flared with my rising desire. I wanted to throw him down and force him to love me. But it was his decision to make.
He stared into my eyes and bit his lower lip.
'When I meet my destiny tomorrow, Wyst, I will greet it gladly, without regrets. Save one. Unless you see fit
