“You two, stay back,” Lucky warned. “Ye can watch, but I would nae have harm come to either one of ya by what we do.”
“Maybe you should go,” I suggested to Clementine. “You’ve got more lives to protect than just your own.”
My cousin squeezed my hand in hers. “I’m much stronger than I ever thought I could be. I can take whatever’s about to happen and protect the new life growing inside me just fine.” She patted her tummy.
“You’re gonna make a great mama,” I bragged.
Clementine sniffled with a giggle. “And you’ll be an awesome auntie who will teach my little nugget all about love and family.”
My regret for the state of my cousin’s relationship with her mother dissipated. Still, we didn’t need to take chances. Hugging one arm around her shoulders, I shuffled us a little to place myself in front of her. Just in case.
Lucky took charge, holding up his hands wide and bowing his head. Without instructions, the rest of the circle followed his lead. The leprechaun spoke low in a different language. He paced around those holding the still figures in their arms, each time getting louder.
The hair on the back of my arms and neck stood up as a wind kicked up. Energy hummed underneath my bare feet and crawled up my legs like growing tendrils. A soft green glow shimmered over every participant in the circle, and the scent of fresh-cut grass and flowers blooming filled the air.
Lucky touched the foreheads of the pixies and spoke to each one. “Come now, Mug. ’Tis not your time to leave. You, too, Nug. Open those eyes of yours.”
The two little guys stirred and squirmed in David and Sassy’s hold. Their wings flitted as they became more aware. Lucky didn’t stay long by their sides as he approached the small bundle in Gossamer’s hands.
“Now, now, Bug. Your mischief has gotten you into some trouble, has it? That’s no reason for you to fade away.” The leprechaun laid his hands on the pixie’s head and leaned close to whisper something into her ear.
Bug drew in a loud gasp, and her wings fluttered a few times. She coughed a bit before sitting up and gaping at all the attention on her. As if her life hadn’t been on the edge, she sprung out of Gossamer’s hold and into the air. Her other two companions followed suit until all three hovered above the circle.
Lucky chuckled. “I guess that be all, good folks.”
Another gust of wind caressed my hair, and the scent of lilacs and lemons surrounded Clementine and me. The glow of magic faded, and I scrunched my toes into the grass to ground me again.
“Whoa.” My cousin took a step back with her hands on her hips. “I’m gonna have to tell Tucker that everyone in Honeysuckle has no clue about how powerful the fae are. Maybe that will convince him to vote his own conscience rather than support my mother.”
Biting my lip, I debated telling her about what Matt and I overheard backstage before the meeting, but a figure on the far side of the park caught my eye.
I tilted my head to get a better look over Clementine’s shoulders and glimpsed the back of a man hurrying away. No matter how fast he scurried, I recognized his tattooed arms. In a flash, my memories flooded my head, and I held onto my cousin for balance.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.
I took some deep breaths to regain control. Without answering her questions, I broke through the remnants of the circle to find Lucky.
The leprechaun held court with Gossamer and David while keeping a watchful eye on my three guests. With the ritual over, Sassy had disappeared.
“Ah, Charli,” Lucky crowed as I approached. “I hope you’ll help me try to convince your brother that everything was just a huge mistake and that Bug didn’t mean anything by her actions.”
Perhaps Clementine could help out with that request, but I needed the leprechaun for a more pressing matter. “That’ll have to wait, I’m afraid.”
“What has put you in an urgent mood?” he asked with concern.
My news would no doubt stir up already unstable emotions and risk a worse reaction from those around us. Pulling Lucky aside, I spoke low and with absolute confidence.
“I think I know what happened to Fenwen.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Are ye sure?” the leprechaun asked as he hustled beside me to the other side of the park.
I tapped the side of my head. “It’s all coming back. Nick Draven did something to Fenwen and to me.”
We made it to the sidewalk, running into the chaos from before. Matt and the other wardens were further down the street dealing with the unconscious humans. The mob had dispersed, but many still stood around in clumps, the gossip flowing like honey.
“I think we need to find more help than just the two of us.” My fingers found the pendant resting against my skin.
I’d have given anything to have Mason with me. According to Matt, he’d be back sometime tonight, and we couldn’t wait that long to confront the spa owner. Better to gather up the trusted few who’d already been standing up to all the change in town.
I spotted Lady Eveline and Beau talking to other vampires. Catching her eye, I tilted my head to call her over to us.
“You will never believe what has happened. Your crazy aunt has declared a state of emergency and that she is now the official high seat on the council,” the vampire informed us. “My friends and I are debating if Honeysuckle Hollow is still the safest place for us.”
My regret returned to haunt me. Maybe if I hadn’t challenged my aunt, she wouldn’t have made such a bold claim. “Well, she finally got what she wanted, but we’re going to have to deal with that later.”
“What could possibly be more pressing at this critical moment?” Lady Eveline’s fangs jutted past her
