Page 32

Lucan

Practical Magic

“These witches… Are they the real deal?” Riley stayed close as we walked the worn path up the hill to where the burnt sage and salt circle marked the magic gathering.

Her dose of fear was healthy and justified.

Witches scared the hell out of me, too.

I’d come across more than I cared to admit on various battlefields. Supernaturals from different species and ethnicities fought alongside their local populace where they saw fit.

I still had a bone to pick with one particular sorcerer in the Helmand Province.

The cheating coward hid behind those kids.

“They’re very real.” I held Riley’s hand as we approached the bonfire, walking behind Kieran and Ember with Willow bringing up the rear while the path widened.

The glow of the full moon shone down on the thirteen women, all dressed in flowing skirts of various colors and all barefoot on the dewy grass. The youngest looked maybe sixteen.

The oldest?

Don’t even try to guess.

She seemed to be the head priestess, judging by her aura and the moon-streaked silver in her long black hair. I also could’ve sworn I recognized her from somewhere, long enough ago that my memory failed me now.

“Ward Weaver.” She grinned at me with a mouth of clean, straight teeth strong enough to chomp bone.

“Witch.” I bowed my respect, keeping Riley behind me.

Riley spoke through our mating link. “Ward Weaver? You know what… The knitting kind of makes sense.”

I kept my face stoic despite wanting to laugh, not showing weakness in front of these women who probably had a recipe for dragon scale or ball sack.

“You can call me Morgana.” The witch was still in good humor as she turned to Riley. “And you must be his mate.”

Be ready. I stiffened.

Riley gave a short wave. “Yep. That’s me.”

“And you didn’t bring your familiar with you?” Morgana frowned as she looked to the ground by Riley’s feet.

What does she mean?

“Never mind.” Morgana waved her hand.

A gust of wind seemed to follow, feeding the bonfire flames and illuminating all our faces in the orangish glow. The other witches stood quietly in a circle, keeping vigil.

“Come here, child,” she called to Riley. “Let us see your mark.”

Riley’s pulse increased as she clung to my hand.

“It’s fine,” Ember whispered as she motioned for her to step forward. “They’re only trying to help.”

I growled as Riley’s fingers slipped from mine.

“Trust us, cousin.” Kieran looked my way. “Not everything is a fight.”

Speak for yourself.

Riley swept her hair to the side, exposing her neck as she walked to the witch.

“If she lays one hand on her…” I grumbled to Kieran.

Morgana smiled in my direction, raising her fingers in the air and wiggling them dramatically, not actually touching Riley’s neck.

My fists clenched at my sides.

The old witch winked at me before stepping back into her coven’s circle.

“It’s a pretty mark,” she said, “but I don’t claim to understand dragon runes.”

Kieran hissed through his teeth.

Now who wants to fight?

“You told us you had an idea of this new addition to the prophecy.” He stepped forward, careful not to break the circle.

“Well, I have an idea .” Morgana rolled her eyes. “I wanted to see if I had any proof first.”

“And do you have your proof?” Riley asked.

The witch gave her a smile before glancing at me over my mate’s shoulder. “What say you, Ward Weaver? Did you notice the magic in their blood?”

I looked at Riley and Ember, feeling as though I’d failed some test. But I wasn’t a warlock.

I could sense strong elements of aggression and create protective wards to keep it out. I’d never studied magic further than what I could naturally produce. There was no need to.

Morgana seemed to take pity on me. “Don’t worry, Ward Weaver. The traces of magic aren’t strong. About as faint as the imprint you still carry of a recent memory. Black magic, perhaps?”

Witchcraft!

My eyes shot to her face. “How did you know?”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, motioning to her long skirts and hair.

Right.

“Did the MacAlisters come to you for aid?” I’d wanted to ask about this if given the opportunity, but I planned to be less aggressive.

Oops.

“No, but I’ll have to touch you to see the memory of what you saw.” She arched an eyebrow. “If I have your consent, that is.”

Sighing, I stepped forward and held out my hand.

“It’ll be okay.” Riley smiled encouragingly.

A brush of the witch’s bony fingers and a slight dizziness overtook my beast. It was gone in an instant.

Morgana turned and spit on the ground. “Definitely black magic. They call that residual effect ‘power drunk.’ It’s a leftover from shared spells in a gathered group of like minds discussing harm.”

“Can you trace the spell caster?” I asked.

“All I know is that it isn’t anyone I know.” Morgana brushed off her hands as if trying to clean them from the memory. “But since it’s dark magic, I’d assume it comes from one of your enemies. Who have you angered recently?”

I glanced at Kieran.

He looked back to me.

“I don’t keep names.” I shrugged.

“Then I wish you luck in solving that riddle,” Morgana said.

“Did you plan to help us solve any riddle tonight?” I kept my tone even despite my patience wearing thin.

Riley gasped as she glared at me. “Can you not piss off the scary magic lady?”

“I like her.” Morgana smiled.

She hears us.

Shit.

“And where is the third?” Morgana peered into the night. “Ah, the royal one. Come here.”

“Me?” Willow stepped from the shadows. She’d been silently watchful this whole time and now the light from the fire cast her in a golden glow.

“We’re still not sure if she’s his fated mate,” Kieran hurried to explain.

“And where is our esteemed guardian?” The witch turned her face to the sky.

She was older than I realized if she paid tribute to the guardian. The respect for Malachy was evident in her tone.

I let my gaze drift over the younger witches. If this wasn’t the answer and they survived the coming change, would any of them remember the sacrifice my family made?

“He couldn’t make it tonight, but we’ll see in the morning.” Kieran didn’t actually believe Malachy would come.

I can’t say I blamed him, but I still had hope.

Morgana tutted and returned her attention to Willow. “Can I see your hands?”

“Go on.” Riley moved beside her, offering courage as Willow held out her arms.

Morgana clasped Willow’s hands in her hands, muttering as the flames danced higher. The other witches picked up the chant and began to sway under the moonlight.

Unease rolled from Riley to me through our bond. I stepped closer, ready to intervene at her request. Even Kieran moved toward us, spurred by Ember’s heated command.

Morgana smiled as she released Willow’s hands. “It’s good to meet you, sister.”

She leaned forward to whisper in Willow’s ear, speaking in a magic tone so low that not even a dragon could hear.

Riley pulled Willow to her side as Morgana returned to her circle.

I hated the scent of her fear.

“If the theatrics don’t stop, we’re leaving,” I told Kieran.

Morgana cackled as the flames danced higher, rising to the sky.

I winced, forgetting she could somehow understand our silent communication with each other.

The other witches started to twirl slowly, stepping in a simple sort of dance.

Morgana stood still as she stared at me. “There are stories of a return of feminine energy.”

“Earth is feminine,” I said. “She’s never left.”

Morgana waved my confusion away. “You and I both know how ridiculous all these stories can be.”

She winked at Willow before turning to Kieran, “What I do know is that Mother Earth couldn’t have picked better vessels to tell her new version. An ancient magic whispers through these three and their souls have agreed to meet on this plane and time for a specific purpose.”

I gathered Riley to my side. As did Kieran with Ember. Both women reached for Willow’s hands and we stood conjoined like that on the hill under the full moon with the witch’s words lingering in the air.

That was not what I wanted to hear.

And I could sense Riley’s confusion, but I resisted offering her any more assurances through our link. I didn’t want the witch to hear what I was thinking. I needed time to process it myself.

“We’re magic?” Riley broke the tense silence. Skepticism laced her tone.

“A dusting.” Morgana danced her fingers. “But you should’ve known it’d take at least a little magic to be able to mate a dragon.”

“Yeah…” Riley looked at her friends and they all nodded. “That actually makes sense.”

“Earth always provides,” the witch said solemnly.

As if called upon, the ground trembled at our feet.

Always with the dramatics.

Morgana raised her hands to the sky. “The hour grows late.”

We all stood there, staring at her.

“That means you can go now,” Morgana groaned. “Unless you want to dance with us, Ward Weaver.”

“He’s good,” Riley growled.

I stifled a laugh as she pushed me a step back.

“What?” Riley said. “Doesn’t she seem obsessed with you?”

Morgana’s witchy laughter followed us as we turned away. “You can dance with us too, Warrior Mate.”

“Oh, no. We’re fine.” Riley picked up the pace, dragging me to the trail.

The witches’ laughter and catcalls followed us down the hill as the flames from the bonfire crackled higher into the night.

“Are they always that… riddled?” Riley regained her composure as we picked our way along the path.

Not that I minded her little show of jealousy.

My dragon was quite pleased with it.

“Usually they’re worse.” I chuckled.

We headed to the edge of the wards surrounding their cast circle. Kieran and I wouldn’t be able to shift to our dragon form until we crossed the boundary.

It wasn’t the first time I wondered if I had the ability to rearrange their wards with mine, but I didn’t want to make enemies of witches while I tested the theory out.

Riley skipped ahead a little faster.

“What now?” I held to her hand.

“Nothing.” She turned, batting her eyelashes as the moon lit up her beautiful face. “It’s just that I’m magic.”

You sure are. My dragon grinned.

I was anxious to get her away from here and safely back to Kieran—er, Ember’s—territory. It wasn’t as safe as our nest, but I could shift to my true form there at will.

Riley stopped in the clearing, looking over my shoulder to where Willow walked slowly behind us. I’d carried the two of them here in my talons because unlike Kieran, I wasn’t reckless and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a saddle.

“I hope Morgana is right,” Riley told me. “Willow deserves someone, too.” Sadness drifted through our bond as my mate watched her friend walk alone on the moonlit path.