There were a lot more Magicals than before gathered on the back porch, down the steps, and under the big leaf maple tree. Belle and the Fae sisters were carrying ice-filled pitchers of drinks when I got to the kitchen.
“We’re really doing this?” I asked, keeping my voice to a whisper.
The three nodded, and into the afternoon light we went.
“Calliope, may we introduce you to our mother, Primevère LaFleur, and our father Vadim. Our other father, Skandar, chose to remain at home, along with our sister, Heli.”
“Someone has to guard the court,” said Primevère before turning her gaze to me. “We know Meribah Flechette and her sister, Adelaide, and we aware of their aspirations. Meribah had hopes her twin sons would make suitable partners for our daughters.” Distaste washed over their faces. “Vadim, Skandar, and I were not willing to promise our girls to anyone, especially as these two were toddlers at the time.”
Vadim hissed and muttered, “Gauche. Utterly, utterly gauche.”
Primevère patted his knee.
“Oh, it gets better,” she continued. “A messenger sent by the Flechette clan notified us two days ago they knew the whereabouts of our daughters and would be willing to enter into negotiations on our behalf in order to free the girls and see them safely back to Court. All they asked was for us to show up at their estate. Without our entourage.” She struggled not to laugh. “And reconsider the offer they’d made—what was it, eighteen years ago? Can you imagine?”
Harper was born eighteen years ago. I shook off the implications.
Vadim leaned forward. “As soon as we received their missive, we reached out to our spies, who could neither confirm nor deny Meribah’s claims, as it seems the entire staff at the Flechette estate was, as one put it, ‘in quite the uproar over ruined statuary.’”
He looked at Primèvere, and together they sent questioning looks to their daughters.
“As they were delivering their reports,” Vadim continued once his daughters confirmed the question in his eyes, “the daughter of one of my brothers informed us she had news of the girls’ true whereabouts. Our niece used our daughters’ code word, the one that would let us know they were safe and unharmed. We were debating our next step when this same cousin let us know Néne and Sil wished to speak with us. Here,” he said, sitting up straight. He took his time surveying the grounds. “In this rather quaint setting. And because Skandar, their mother, and I know these two young women rather well—more than they give us credit for—we await the other shoe’s dropping.”
The tourmaline hues under both girls’ cheeks sped to the rosy side of the spectrum.
It was my turn to steer the conversation in the direction that would ensure their help.
“Primevère, Vadim. My sons, Harper and Thatcher, have been taken by their father, Douglas Flechette. I was married to Doug for fifteen years.” I took a cooling sip of lemonade. “Four days ago, Meribah attempted to trade these two young men, Hyslop and Peasgood Pearmain”—I pointed to the hidden folk—“for my sons. My ex-mother-in-law is extremely interested in acquiring Harper and Thatcher, now that their magic has begun to manifest.” I explained the rest of the details as succinctly as I could. “Our plan is to draw Doug and whoever else is involved in my sons’ kidnapping here, to this orchard.”
“Where do we fit into this plan?” asked Primèvere.
Wes stepped closer and introduced himself. “We would like you to visit with Meribah and accept her help recovering your daughters. When you end up here, there will be many more of us than them.”
We hoped.
Vadim and Primevère headed for the portal. Kaz accompanied them and would provide each with a portal key. The Fae’s dozen guards were tasked with seeing to Néne and Sil’s safety and assisting the rest of us with what I was calling battle prep. We managed to gather everyone in the sitting room.
“There are two places on the property where we could hold an advantage,” Wes said. “The burial mounds because of their proximity to the portal. And the underland. Let’s start with where we are and acquaint our guests with the lay of this land.”
He had taped together lengths of butcher paper and placed them on the floor in the sitting room. The hooked rugs were rolled and stored against a wall. He waved the end of his stick at the hand-drawn map and talked us through the Pearmains’ extensive property.
I fidgeted, made antsy by my growing anticipation for this to be over and to have the boys safely home and unharmed. Vadim and Primèvere’s easy acceptance of our proposal rang true and gave me faith that Fae could love their offspring as much as any other Magical.
And not simply see them as ammunition or bargaining chips. I returned my attention to Wes.
“The farmhouse sits fairly close to the road, but it’s blocked from sight due to the embankment and the invasive plants that have been allowed to flourish. I was questioning Cliff’s choice in an otherwise well-maintained orchard, but I’m beginning to see the wisdom in his negligence. This is the only section of the property that’s been left to its own devices, creating a dense, natural barrier. One not easily passed by humans. And this area follows the L-shaped curve in the road. To this side of the property are the outbuildings that house equipment and livestock—though there are no animals at present. Here we also have the younger fruit trees, including that section dedicated to the tall spindle method I believe Clifford began to experiment with at Hyslop and Peasgood’s urging.”
They nodded.
Wes swept the stick to the right. “Over here are the older trees. The farther from the
