Covens were considered full when their numbers reached thirteen members. I would have to find someone to ask if the Fae had a similar structure.
“Mom?”
I knew what was coming, and I would not say no to Thatcher’s request.
“If Sallie stays with us, she can go to school here with me and Harper and Leilani.” He looked at his cousin and curled his pinky around hers. “Safety in numbers and all that, right?”
Sallie nodded, her pinky snug in his.
“And Shamaha told us she was a witch, like you, Mom, and that she had a subspecialty in mitigating Fae magic.”
The other witch’s talents were intriguing, as was the thought I too harbored the potential to develop other magical specialties. I said, “Tell me more about what she did yesterday.”
Sallie drained her mug and set it on the tray. She wiped her hands down her thighs and looked at Thatcher. “I think I’m okay to explain this, but if I forget something, just, y’know, speak up.”
Jasper brrrp’d from behind Sallie, wiggled his way in between her and Thatcher, and drooled as both teens petted his fur and rubbed behind his ears.
“Jasper’s like a therapy cat,” said Sallie. Jasper opened one eye and glared at me.
“I am totally getting that he has been assigned to you.” I laughed. “You should see the look he just gave me.”
“First Rowan brought Shamaha in here and waited. It was weird to wake up and see a total stranger in the room. I freaked out. A little. Thatch calmed me down, and Shamaha explained she was there because she wanted to watch me transition from being asleep to being awake. Her explanation was that during times of transition, like the transition to getting my period when I was twelve, unstable Fae—her words, not mine—show their true selves. I don’t remember taking my collar off at your party. I don’t even remember much about what happened.”
“Why do your ears look human?”
“Shama asked me what I wanted to do: go full-Fae, transition gradually, or continue to keep the real Sallie Flechette hidden. Honestly, Aunt Calliope, when she was done explaining, I was afraid to embrace any part of being Fae. I mean, look at the shining examples on my side of the family, shit. I also want to find out who and what I really am. Shamaha has me on a…a…what did she call it, Thatch?”
“Time-release spell,” he said, “which is also why Jasper’s here.”
I had decisions to make. “Let me toss an idea out for you. As a temporary solution for Sallie”—I emphasized the word temporary—“I’m happy to provide shelter here at the house. We can’t offer you your own room, kiddo, but if Thatcher is willing to share his, I’m sure we can do something in here so you each have privacy. And now that you’re both awake, come on downstairs. Sallie, it’s time for your first Jones Family Meeting.”
Chapter 11
I plucked a mishmash of porcelain cups and saucers from one of my harder-to-reach kitchen cupboards and set them on the island, along with a stack of sticky notes and a Sharpie.
“Here’s what I need,” I said to the family and guests answering my call to assemble.
As I spoke, I scribbled a name on a note, tore it off, and affixed it to one of the objects in front of me. I ran out of names before I ran out of cracked and stained saucers.
“And Harper, Leilani, are you two there?” I had asked them to join our family meeting via phone.
“We’re here,” said Leilani.
“I’m here too,” said James.
“Great. I’ll get started.” I added their names to three pieces of paper, took in a big breath, let it out, and began my pep talk. “We’ve gone from being a family of three to an extended…family’s not quite the right word.” I counted and looked up. “There are about two dozen people I now feel the need to keep tabs on. I don’t know much about many of them, or you,” I said, pointing the capped end of the Sharpie at Christoph, “and some of these Magicals I’d rather not have in my inner circle.”
I placed Jessamyne’s saucer to the left and added the six adult Flechettes.
Sallie Flechette’s dainty cup stayed in the cluster in front of me. I made sure she saw me nestle her closer to me and my boys.
“I need everyone’s help and input on creating the strongest magical protections we can provide. There are three eighteen-year-olds in this mix, Thatch is sixteen and a half, and all of them are at the bare beginnings of finding their magic. I don’t think any of them yet know how to use their magic when they’re in trouble.”
“I’m eighteen and a half,” Lei-li piped in. I smiled. She was so soft-spoken, and hearing her use her voice more and more would only help her—and all of us—as we went forward.
“Duly noted, Lei-li.” I kept going. “We have at least four adult Fae on the loose. We know Meribah is powerful, Adelaide too. My ex-husband is now weaponized. I have no idea what his twin brother’s specialty might be, and they made it clear their intention is to bring one, if not both, of my sons into their…what’s a group of Fae called? A coterie?”
“That might be vampires, Mom,” said Thatcher. I could only open my eyes wide and pretend to shudder. I never, ever needed to meet a vampire.
“The term is court,” said James. “Based on her aggressive tactics the other night, I would place Meribah in the Unseelie Court. She has every appearance of being a ringleader. I would not, however, dismiss the idea she is working under the aegis of a higher authority. The Fae courts spend an inordinate amount of time trying to one-up each other.”
Oh boy. “Thank you, James.
“Even knowing that, the old Calliope would have insisted she could do it all by putting this house and everyone in it on lockdown until the Flechettes forgot about us. Between what
