Page 24 of Magic in the Music (Magic and Mysteries #4)

“I do not think so,” Nina frowned. “However, despite having lived here most of my life, I have never seen one.”

Samantha frowned. “You lived here most of your life?”

“Yes.”

“In the grove?” Except Cassian lived here.

“Nina is Cassian’s younger sister, Samantha,” Petra explained.

How could she have not known? But why had Nina lived here and not with the Cardwells as Cassian had?

“That I am.” Nina grinned. “And this bottle is empty.” She practically skipped away twirling the empty bottle.

Nina had one of the happiest souls she had ever heard and just below her joy was a newer music sprinkled with magic. Except, Cassian did not come from a magical family.

Then she realized why Nina had magical music, but she would tell no one.

Movement from the corner of her eye caught Samantha’s attention and she turned just in time to see a beautiful, auburn-haired fairy dressed in light delicate fabric of pinks, golds and greens pour a fairy-sized bucket of liquid into her wine.

Samantha smiled at her. How delightful! She knew about fairies and heard their music but this was the first time that she had ever seen one.

She leaned closer. “What is your name?” she whispered.

The fairy simply held a finger to her pink lips, then danced away.

Oh, she would have loved to have talked with her but suspected that the fairy had also not intended to be seen.

With a shrug, Samantha straightened and drank her wine.

There was no change in the taste, then again, so little had been added to her glass that it was unlikely she would notice a difference.

“What are you doing and who are you talking to?” Petra asked.

“I saw a fairy,” she answered and drank again.

“Guard your drink,” Maia warned.

“Why?” Samantha laughed at the question and lifted her wine to her lips. Even if there had been something in that little bucket, it was hardly enough to affect a full-grown person such as herself, so she drank again.

“Their wine is not meant for humans. It is far more potent than we have ever had and they say a thimbleful is all you need to become fully intoxicated,” Maia explained.

Samantha frowned down into her glass of wine. It was nearly gone. Had she drank all of what the fairy poured in?

She must have but she certainly did not feel any different.

She blew out a sigh and finished the wine and set it aside.

Such stories were likely folklore and possibly invented by a male to explain to a wife or mother why they were so drunk.

Samantha could envision her brother standing before their mother, deep in his cups and barely able to stand.

“It was the fairy’s fault, I swear. I had but a sip. ”

“They say if one needs courage, to drink from a fairy’s cup.” Petra laughed.

“Maybe that is what Samantha needs,” Antonia suggested. “Courage to approach Cassian.”

She blinked at her friend. “I never would.”

“But you would like to,” Maia teased.

“I…” Oh, she did not have it in her to lie. “He does not care for me in that manner.”

“I am not so certain,” Petra offered. “We have all seen the way he looks at you when nobody is watching, then when you were caught with him under the mistletoe…”

“That is just it!” Samantha nearly cried. “He has had several opportunities to kiss me but has not.”

“But you want him to,” Antonia clarified.

“Of course.” Samantha’s eyes widened as she placed a hand over her mouth. She should have never admitted such in front of her friends. Now they would tease her endlessly. “Please, do not say anything. It will only make him uncomfortable.”

“I think he wants to kiss you,” Antonia insisted as Petra and Maia agreed.

“And I think that you should ask him why he has not kissed you,” Petra insisted.

“Oh, no, I could not.”

“Yes, you can,” Maia stood and pulled Samantha to her feet. “Go now and ask him. You know that he is home.”

“I cannot call on a bachelor in the middle of the night. It is not done.”

“Normally, no,” Petra agreed. “But this is Cassian, the most honorable man I know. He will answer your question, maybe even kiss you, then send you back to us.”

“Go and tell him that you are in love with him,” Antonia insisted.

“I have not even confessed such to you.”

Antonia leaned in. “Your aura has confessed for you,” she whispered.

“Quit reading it. It’s quite intrusive.”

“As is your hearing music of a soul.”

“Yes, well, even if we have no control that does not mean we should speak out of turn,” Samantha warned.

“Ah ha, so you are in love.”

“I did not say that.” Goodness, no more wine. She needed to keep her thoughts straight or she would give too much away.

“Nina, come here.”

Cassian’s sister turned and skipped over to them.

“Please, do not say anything,” she quietly begged Maia.

“Samantha thinks Cassian is attractive,” Petra announced.

“She may even be smitten,” Maia giggled.

Nina frowned, wrinkling her brow. “Really? Cassian?”

“I have claimed no such thing.”

“That does not mean it is any less true,” Antonia insisted.

“We are trying to convince Samantha to go ask Cassian why he has not kissed her. A woman should have the right to know, especially when she wants to be kissed and that it’s obvious to everyone else that Cassian wants to do the kissing.”

“I agree that you should!” Nina announced.

“Come on then, Samantha,” Maia pulled her from the temple.

“I do not even know where he lives,” she argued.

“Just wander down that path and you will come to the cottage,” Nina directed her.

“It is too dark to see,” she offered as an excuse.

“If I recall, your fireballs are excellent for lighting the way.” Petra gave her a little shove. “Now go.”

Samantha hesitantly walked to the path and stopped. Did she dare?