around.”
It was like they were speaking another language. Obviously I was “her” and Cheney hadn’t told me everything which irritated me. “You didn’t tell me everything? What else did I miss?”
“Lene, mind your manners,” Grandma barked at me.
Out of habit, my mouth snapped shut and I looked down.
Cheney smiled, obviously amused, but answered me. “I told you all you could deal with at that moment, princess. I couldn’t possibly catch you up on 500 years of my family’s personal and political drama in 15 minutes.”
Condescension made me furious. I gave him a hateful look but didn’t comment.
“Without the support of the King what chance does she have?”
“He’ll come around. She has my support. I’ll protect her.”
“But without the King, what will keep your people from killing her? If she’s dead, she cannot be used as a weapon—no more problem.”
He sighed and tightened his jaw. “I will.”
“You’ll turn your back—”
“I’ll do what must be done.”
Deep worry lines etched Grandma’s face. “She needs to awaken her power. You cannot protect her alone.”
“If she does that, she’ll be easier to find.”
“If she doesn’t, there’s little hope.” Gram sighed again. “How did they find her in the first place?”
“I don’t know.”
“Lene, did you use your magic?” She looked at me with those clear eyes I could never hide anything from.
“I didn’t use any of my abilities per se . . .” I bit my lip, “but I did start a coven.” I was unable to keep a grimace from my face. I’d messed up royally. I knew it.
“Lene! What did I tell you about magic?” Gram’s fury made me want to apologize, but I stood my ground.
Blaming this entirely on me hardly seemed fair. “Absolutely nothing, which is why we’re in this mess,” I snapped at her for the first time in my life.
Her mouth fell open. “You will not speak to me with such impertinence, child.”
Immediately I felt guilty. Here she’d been protecting me and was half killed for her effort, and I blamed her for my mess. “I’m sorry, Gram. But we’re well past finger pointing. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Actually this is a good thing, Edith,” Cheney said. “We need a coven to awaken her powers anyway, and it will be better with people she knows and trusts rather than strangers. Everything happens for a reason. You know that.”
Our eyes met and something other than fear and loathing swirled in me.
“I guess this is between the two of you now. You’re out of my depths, child,” Grandma huffed. “Get her out of here, Cheney. Protect her, but don’t be too easy on her.”
“I will—and I won’t.” he promised, smiling at Gram. “I take it this is the book you wanted her to find?” The black book from the hidden room appeared in his hand. Grandma nodded solemnly.
“We’re not leaving you,” I told her.
“Go with him, Selene. Cheney can teach you, help you protect yourself.”
“Who’s going to protect you?”
“I may be older, but I am not feeble. I can take care of myself. They caught me off guard. Next time I’ll be ready.”
I started arguing, but Cheney cut me off. “She’s in more danger with you here than if you leave. They want you. They don’t give a damn about her. No offense, Edith.”
“None taken.”
“If you honestly believe I’m going to leave my grandmother here completely unprotected, think again. I don’t know what I was like when you knew me, but that’s not who I am now.”
“Lene—”
“It’s okay, Edith. She’s right. We cannot leave you here without protection.” He handed her a small necklace with a green stone that bore strange markings. “Wear this and use it to reach me if you’re threatened. Any time. Do not hesitate.” He cast a meaningful look at me. “Can we go now, princess .”
He called me princess with such bitter mocking that my hackles rose, but I fought against the urge to be difficult.
It was like they were speaking another language. Obviously I was “her” and Cheney hadn’t told me everything which irritated me. “You didn’t tell me everything? What else did I miss?”
“Lene, mind your manners,” Grandma barked at me.
Out of habit, my mouth snapped shut and I looked down.
Cheney smiled, obviously amused, but answered me. “I told you all you could deal with at that moment, princess. I couldn’t possibly catch you up on 500 years of my family’s personal and political drama in 15 minutes.”
Condescension made me furious. I gave him a hateful look but didn’t comment.
“Without the support of the King what chance does she have?”
“He’ll come around. She has my support. I’ll protect her.”
“But without the King, what will keep your people from killing her? If she’s dead, she cannot be used as a weapon—no more problem.”
He sighed and tightened his jaw. “I will.”
“You’ll turn your back—”
“I’ll do what must be done.”
Deep worry lines etched Grandma’s face. “She needs to awaken her power. You cannot protect her alone.”
“If she does that, she’ll be easier to find.”
“If she doesn’t, there’s little hope.” Gram sighed again. “How did they find her in the first place?”
“I don’t know.”
“Lene, did you use your magic?” She looked at me with those clear eyes I could never hide anything from.
“I didn’t use any of my abilities per se . . .” I bit my lip, “but I did start a coven.” I was unable to keep a grimace from my face. I’d messed up royally. I knew it.
“Lene! What did I tell you about magic?” Gram’s fury made me want to apologize, but I stood my ground.
Blaming this entirely on me hardly seemed fair. “Absolutely nothing, which is why we’re in this mess,” I snapped at her for the first time in my life.
Her mouth fell open. “You will not speak to me with such impertinence, child.”
Immediately I felt guilty. Here she’d been protecting me and was half killed for her effort, and I blamed her for my mess. “I’m sorry, Gram. But we’re well past finger pointing. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Actually this is a good thing, Edith,” Cheney said. “We need a coven to awaken her powers anyway, and it will be better with people she knows and trusts rather than strangers. Everything happens for a reason. You know that.”
Our eyes met and something other than fear and loathing swirled in me.
“I guess this is between the two of you now. You’re out of my depths, child,” Grandma huffed. “Get her out of here, Cheney. Protect her, but don’t be too easy on her.”
“I will—and I won’t.” he promised, smiling at Gram. “I take it this is the book you wanted her to find?” The black book from the hidden room appeared in his hand. Grandma nodded solemnly.
“We’re not leaving you,” I told her.
“Go with him, Selene. Cheney can teach you, help you protect yourself.”
“Who’s going to protect you?”
“I may be older, but I am not feeble. I can take care of myself. They caught me off guard. Next time I’ll be ready.”
I started arguing, but Cheney cut me off. “She’s in more danger with you here than if you leave. They want you. They don’t give a damn about her. No offense, Edith.”
“None taken.”
“If you honestly believe I’m going to leave my grandmother here completely unprotected, think again. I don’t know what I was like when you knew me, but that’s not who I am now.”
“Lene—”
“It’s okay, Edith. She’s right. We cannot leave you here without protection.” He handed her a small necklace with a green stone that bore strange markings. “Wear this and use it to reach me if you’re threatened. Any time. Do not hesitate.” He cast a meaningful look at me. “Can we go now, princess .”
He called me princess with such bitter mocking that my hackles rose, but I fought against the urge to be difficult.
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