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Grainne's eyes were glowing. A bright green magic—the sort only the druids wielded. But Grainne wasn't a druid. She was another creature entirely, a dryad, she'd said. Grainne took the girls' stiff body in her hands and Anand's entire frame went limp. Grainne waved her hand over Anand's body, and Anand began shaking and foaming from the mouth.

Anand gasped

As Grainne raised her hand over Anand's body she pulled some kind of black shadowy figure from Anand's chest. Whatever it was released a loud shriek—one so high-pitched Babd couldn't help but cover her ears. With a wave of the hand, Grainne cast the dark presence back into the Oxter bag. The puppy Anand had pulled from the bag disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Miss Grainne?" Macha said, her voice trembling, her brow scrunched. "How did you... I mean... what are you..."

"She's a dryad," Babd butted in.

Grainne pressed her lips together. "What I am matters little. Never mind any of that, girls." Grainne reached and brushed a stray curl away from Anand's sweaty brow. "You all might know what I am," Grainne said. "But I'll make you girls a deal. If you keep my secret, I'll keep yours."

"You won't tell Father that we were playing with his Oxter bag?" Anand said, still trying to catch her breath.

"We?" Macha protest. "You mean thatyouwere playing with it?"

"Whatever," Babd said. "If Dad really trusted you, as you seem to think, he'll blame you for what happened, if he ever finds out, as much as he blames Anand."

Macha sighed and looked at Grainne. "You really won't tell Dad?"

Grainne smiled. She had a kind smile. Everything about her seemed to exude a kindness, a peacefulness. It was unique. Not many humans, except perhaps some of the druids, experienced such serenity. "I won't say a word to your Father."

Macha nodded. "I think I speak for all of us. If you don't tell Father then you can trust us. No one will know what you can do."