“It’s a question we knew would need addressing come her eighteenth birthday,” added James. “Given she’s nearing eighteen-and-a-half and with the recent revelations happening under your roof, we need to begin her magical studies as soon as possible.”
While we were chatting, Harper and Leilani wandered over to another section of the yard, and Tanner had made his way over to me.
“You’ve met Tanner Marechal?” I asked, slipping my arm around his waist.
“We have, and earlier today we were reviewing his material for the mentorship program. I suspect Leilani will be enrolling for this September. We would like to make ourselves available in some capacity as well,” said James.
“I would be honored to have both of you as mentors, and as it happens, we’re low on male witches,” said Tanner.
“Malvyn, I wonder if I might turn our conversation to a different topic?” I asked.
“Certainly.” He redid the button that would hide his collar. “Would you mind if we chatted while James and I filled our plates? I came over straight from the ferry, and I’m famished.”
“I was told you work in the financial sector,” I began. He nodded and distributed plates to the four of us. I kept going. “Would you happen to know anything about the Flechette Realty and Development Group?”
“I know quite a lot about the Flechette Group,” he said, filling his plate with savory puff pastries and assorted tapas. “Very little of which I can share with you.”
“Then let me ask you this—is there anything you can tell me about their current property acquisition plan?”
“I can only share with you that which is already in the public domain, which is the founders, two sisters and a brother who worked their way west from Toronto, were known to have snapped up parcels of land that should not have been for sale in the first place, and they essentially built their empire on a foundation of stolen goods. I will also add—and you may not quote me on this—that same ethos appears to be guiding the current Board of Directors.”
“Can you tell me what their magic is?”
Malvyn stared at me a good bit longer than was comfortable. “Fae,” he answered, “and not the hidden folk-type you’ll find in pockets here and there throughout the Gulf Islands. Fae from the Old Countries, with the ability to hide their true visages and weapons using glamour. As an officer on the Province’s Board of Magical Governance—and as a new friend—I would advise you to tread very carefully around any organization bearing the Flechette name.”
The bite of spinach and feta pastry heading toward my mouth went back to my plate. “Douglas Flechette is my ex-husband and Harper and Thatcher’s father. I’m afraid he’s been the cause of some of the challenges we’ve had this past week.”
James spoke up. “Leilani mentioned there was tension between Harper and his dad, but we didn’t put all the pieces together. I’m feeling rather guilty at the moment. My research has had me practically sleeping in my greenhouses, and Mal’s had to spend a lot of time in Vancouver.” His shaking hands underscored his concern. “I don’t want to go so far as forbidding our daughter from seeing your son, but…”
“James and I have not had to call on our magic for much of Leilani’s life,” interjected Malvyn. “But if a storm is gathering in the Magical realm, we would appreciate being brought up to speed.”
“For a celebration, this party is starting off on a low note. At least for me.” I pulled Tanner aside after we parted ways with Mal and James, who had offered to host a gathering the following night at their house for us and any other druids and witches we saw fit to invite. “Although I’m dying to see what a sorcerer’s home looks like.”
“Probably much bigger than yours,” said Tanner, “with a tower or a widow’s walk and at least one room dedicated to his collection of objects and one to his books. They’re the crows of the magical world, with an innate pull to acquire shiny things.
“Shiny, magical things,” he added.
I scanned the crowd. More people had arrived while I was speaking with Leilani’s fathers, most of them witches I remembered from the full moon ritual and from the Blood Ceremony.
“I’m going in,” I informed Tanner, patting at the sides of my dress and straightening my spine.
I stopped at the drinks table, picked up an alcohol-free mojito, and made my way to Rose, hoping to pay homage and dispense with my rising case of performance anxiety-related nerves. Rose was standing with L’Runa, not far from where River was sitting and chatting with Abigail and Cliff.
“Rose, L’Runa,” I began, “thank you so much for coming by tonight.”
L’Runa ran her hands down my free arm and took my hand in hers. “Calliope, what a powerful ceremony that was last night. For all of us. How are you feeling now?”
“Honestly, I feel different,” I said, laughing lightly, “which I’m sure everyone says, but also like I’m slightly…off center.”
She kissed my forehead and tightened her grip on my hand. “Entering the Mother Tree and taking the journey with Her is a profound experience of being out of body and out of time. Give yourself at least another twenty-four hours for your missing pieces to find their way home.” L’Runa’s smile was genuine and kind.
And I was still in awe of her palpable essence, some of which was circling its way around my left arm and over my shoulder, a snaking sleeve of invisible protection.
Rose nodded at her friend, tucked her hands behind her back, and lowered her voice. “Calliope, your Blood Ceremony did not follow the sequence most others do. You had uninvited…” She paused mid-sentence as L’Runa elbowed her gently and spoke into her ear. “Let me rephrase that,” she said. “You
