Page 23 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)

“What am I supposed to do again?” Chedworth asked while sitting on the ground facing the altar with the crystals that Samantha had placed earlier.

“I will walk you through this,” Samantha’s brother sighed.

“And do not mess it up since it is my sister he is marrying,” Antonia’s brother warned.

“Everyone, now pay attention,” Samantha’s brother insisted as he lit the candles. Cassian sat quietly and observed but he was not paying attention to anything that was being said because he was thinking about Samantha.

He intentionally put himself near her and participated in the same tasks. Part of it was because he was trying to decide if her mood had anything to do with his near kiss early this morning.

The other reason was because his nightmare still lingered.

It stayed with him all day, just as it was right now.

She was lost and nobody could find her, which he knew was a result of Iza telling Samantha not to wander and the fact that he could not keep her for himself no matter how much he wanted to.

She was lost to him forever and he needed to come to terms with that fact.

If only she would have been born to a common family, or even a servant, then she might be content to live in the cottage with him, but Samantha came from wealth and deserved a man who could give her anything she needed or wanted and beyond. Sadly, that was not him. He had only a heart to offer.

He glanced across the altar and wondered if Chedworth had fallen asleep.

His head was down, chin practically on his chest, eyes closed, as were others in the circle.

He thought only Chedworth was supposed to meditate and let go of the old and embrace the new, which was Antonia, but everyone else seemed to be doing the same.

Cassian feared that he would drift off if he attempted to meditate.

Cassian glanced up at the moon to track the lunar eclipse. A good portion of the moon was shaded and he waited and watched as it grew bigger again, his mind on Samantha and wished things were different.

When the shadows were gone, he announced it to the others and by the way a few startled when nudged, several had fallen asleep while waiting. But not Chedworth. Instead, when he looked up there was a peaceful serenity about him. Calmness that Cassian had not seen in a very long time.

“I am ready to wed.” He came to his feet and held his hand out to Samantha’s father. “Thank you, Lord Saye. I never truly realized the benefits of meditation and mindfulness.”

“I did not snore, did I?” Ajax whispered to Ares.

“How would I know?”

“Neither of you did,” Cassian informed them then turned to walk with the others to the stacks of wood piled high.

As they gathered around, Malcolm formed fire balls and tossed them onto the dry wood, which immediately caught and blazed.

Only then was the brandy, wine and ale brought out of the baskets.

Cassian drank and enjoyed the camaraderie and celebration, and good-natured teasing of soon-to-be-wed Chedworth.

Stories were shared of the difficulties one may encounter when married to a witch, though nothing dire or dangerous, unless being transported to the middle of a lake was considered such.

When Chedworth reminded them that Antonia saw auras, which was hardly dangerous, he was reminded that she could talk to animals and that if he didn’t want his horse to unseat him that he should take great care of his wife.

It was all in good fun because none of the men who were gathered would dare harm the woman they loved. Yes, there might be bickering as there was in any marriage, but Cassian could not imagine that any of the witches would need to take drastic steps to punish a husband.

He also did not get deep in his cups like the others because Cassian simply was not in the mood to indulge all night.

At any other time, he would have enjoyed the celebration as much as the others but discontentment filled his soul, which would make it difficult to stand by and watch as Chedworth pledged his heart to Antonia on the morrow.

“You are quieter than usual tonight,” Simon noted as he joined Cassian where he stood away from the others.

“Perhaps I am doing my own meditation.”

“Or you are thinking about Lady Samantha.”

Cassian was not in the mood for Simon’s harassment tonight but then he turned and he noted that his friend was serious.

“Perhaps I am,” Cassian admitted quietly.

“Then why not court her?”

“I have nothing to offer.”

Simon frowned and started to speak. Cassian held up his hand. “Tonight is not the time for this conversation. Perhaps later.” He then turned and walked away and it was likely that nobody else even noticed that he left, nor did he come back.

Heavyhearted, he made his way up the path and to the Sacred Grove, but he stopped when he reached the circle of wildflowers. What if the women were dancing naked? Earlier he had dismissed the possibility but if they were drinking as heavily as the men, almost anything was possible.

“Cassian, why are you here and why do you hesitate?” Basilia, the oldest of the Dryads who lived in the Sacred Grove asked as he approached.

He then explained that he would like to return home and why he hesitated.

Basilia laughed. “I promise that no woman is naked, though they are enjoying the wine with an enthusiasm I had not thought possible.”

Which meant he may be the only person at Nightshade Manor tomorrow morning without a headache or upset stomach.

“I will stay in the shadows and slip past them so that they do not see me,” he promised. “I do not want to dull their celebration.”

“I am certain they will not mind. You are welcome to the Sacred Grove and some men were invited to join in the festivities in ancient times.”

While it might be humorous to see the women drunk, Cassian was not certain it was something he should witness either.

“Come, they will not mind.” Basilia grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. She was also remarkably strong, and kind of frightened him so Cassian followed. It was only when he reached the Temple that they stopped.

“Cassian was on his way home. I insisted that he join us.”

“Yes, he must,” Gretchen cried. “He is my favorite brother.”

But he wasn’t a brother at all. He had simply been raised with them.

“You are more intelligent and kinder than the ones I share blood with and why you will always be my favorite,” she announced and raised her glass before drinking deeply.

While her words warmed his heart, he knew how easy it was to utter words of love and devotion when drunk and she would likely not remember tomorrow. But he would because even when someone was inebriated there was often truth in the statement.

“Yes, well, I do not wish to intrude,” he said as his face began to burn when he noted Samantha sitting at the edge of the Temple, her skirts drawn up to her thighs while her legs dangled in the water.

He needed to go. “Good night.”

Cassian could not get out of there quickly enough.

It was bad enough that he longed for Samantha.

It was his heart that beckoned, but now a deeper desire was layered in.

He should have never seen her legs, nor should he have noticed how her gown was scooped rather low, or the buttons had been loosened.

It wasn’t so very hot out, unless they had been dancing.

Had she been dancing naked and had already dressed and was that why her buttons were undone?

It was an image he tried to push from his mind.

He could not think about Samantha dancing naked or he would never sleep.

* * *

“Did Cassian’s face just turn red?” Petra asked with a laugh.

“It is because he saw Samantha’s legs,” Maia teased.

Now Samantha’s face burned. Had she known that there was a chance that any man, especially Cassian, would be in the Sacred Grove tonight, she certainly would not have pulled up her skirts to cool her legs in the lake.

She should have realized that he would have to go home at some point but assumed that he would be with the men until the early morning hours just as the women were going to feast all night.

“Well, that is enough revelry for me,” Lady St. Alban announced. “I am not as young as I used to be and require my own bed.” Her sister, sister-in-law, Antonia’s mother as well as Samantha’s all stood murmuring their agreements.

“Do not forget that tomorrow evening is also important. Make certain you are also well rested and try not to over-indulge.”

Only then did they leave the younger women in the temple.

“Have you watched the sunrise with Cassian recently?” Antonia teased.

“We have,” Samantha answered noncommittedly.

Petra leaned in, her eyes bright with curiosity. “How often?”

Samantha shrugged. “I cannot remember.” She knew exactly how often.

Maia slid a look at Petra from the corner of her eyes. Neither believed her.

“You need more wine,” Nina announced as she poured some into their glasses, though little was left by the time she got to Samantha’s.

Nina was married to Orion but Samantha did not know her all that well. She was quieter than most and maybe that was because she had married into the family.

“How much wine have you already had?” Petra laughed with her question.

“None!” She announced and looked up at the sky. “It is beautiful here, is it not?”

“Yes.” Samantha sighed. “The music is wonderful too.”

“What music do you hear?” Nina asked excitedly. “What lives in the Sacred Grove that you can hear?”

“Is this a test?” Maia asked with a chuckle.

“No, not at all,” Nina responded. “I find it fascinating that she can hear what nobody else can. Music in a tone, is that correct?”

“Yes,” Samantha answered.

“So, what can you hear?”

Samantha sat in silence and concentrated on hearing all that was around her except for the women celebrating Haloa. And then, she heard the faint laughter. “Fairies.” She smiled. “They are enjoying the celebration too and there is mischief in their music.”

“Aren’t fairies always full of mischief?” Maia asked.