It had been almost four weeks since that fateful day of healing Malarky, and Luch and I were officially a couple.
Dating.
We’d leaned into that perfect blissful time in a relationship where we could barely keep our hands off each other, the other person had zero flaws, and every date was a new discovery. I loved every moment of it. I relished the feeling of being cocooned in a little ball of bliss.
Yet,still, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Never before had all parts of my life fallen into perfect place before. I had new friends, I had joined a magickal Order that acceptedwhoI was, and I had a man who seemed proud of me and understood what I did for a living.
It felt… wrong. I knew that was horrible to think, but I’d grown so used to my life imploding that having a time where there were no real problems didn’t sit well with me. A part of me felt like I was always looking over my shoulder, waiting for the next attack.
“Earth to Faelan.”
“Och, sorry.” I snapped back to attention. I was at Willow’s shop and trying on an outfit she insisted I would “slay” in. I wasn’t sure I really felt like slaying anything, but I did have a date at Grasshopper this week with Luch, and I wouldn’t mind something new to wear.
Willow, a bubbly American who radiated sunshine, was also a member of the Order of Caledonia. While Sophie had been doing good about hosting a “family” night every Sunday at the castle, Willow had initiated a weekly girls’ night for all of the members to hang out away from the men in their lives. This week’s focus, apparently, was my abysmal wardrobe, and even though I’d told Willow that I had to keep it pretty simple as at any time I could be covered in vomit or feces, she insisted I still deserved a few frivolous things that would make me feel beautiful.
“She’s a terrorist, Faelan. Just let her have her way.” Orla, the pint-sized builder working on the Common Gin construction project, grinned at me from where she sat on the floor in overalls, her back to the couch.
“Now, as I was saying, we don’t have a lot of time before your next date, but if you wanted to feel sexy what would you normally wear?”
“Um.” Honestly, it had been ages since I’d put much thought into dressing up. Instead, I purchased serviceable clothes that could pack easily in a duffle when I moved on. “I guess a skirt or a dress? But I don’t own any.”
“A girl after my own heart.” Orla raised her glass to me. Kaia, a goldsmith, snickered and held up her glass too.
“Same here,” Kaia said. Murdoch, her crow, bobbed his head in agreement behind her.
Honestly, if anyone peered through the window at that moment, they’d probably be highly confused. We had a veritable menagerie around us. Apparently, once our magickal familiars had caught wind of our girls’ nights, they’d decided to join. So along with seven women crowded into Willow’s fitting studio, we also had a cat, two gnomes, a crow, a broonie, and a fox. I was told Orla’s goldfish didn’t travel well and her dog was happy at home with Finlay, and Eugene and Edith were enjoying their blissful time as new parents. And though the castle dogs weren’t Sophie’s familiars, Sir Buster and Lady Lola lounged on one side of the room, casting baleful eyes at the cat, Calvin, that prowled the rug, taunting them.
The gnomes had taken themselves to a corner, canoodling on a cushion on the floor, and Gnorman was currently feeding Gnora a grape. But it was the shy broonie that fascinated me. He had big eyes, rarely showed himself, and apparently enjoyed mischief. Brice was his name, and he was incredibly endearing—when you caught glimpses of him. Usually I’d just see a blur of movement and some soft chitter-chattering before something appeared before me.
Like just now, when my glass of champagne was miraculously topped up.
“He’s so fast.” I looked at Lia in shock and she laughed, tucking one of her wild curls behind her ear. Owner of Grasshopper restaurant, Lia spent most of her time tucked away in the kitchen and was rarely about. These girls’ nightswere her saving grace, she’d told us on more than one occasion, making her feel human again.
“He really is. And when he’s not up to trouble, he’s wildly helpful.” Lia blinked down at her now full glass as soft chattering filled the air. For a moment, Brice glimmered into view and then he was gone again.
“Honestly? I can’t believe I’ve spent my whole life being harassed for my magick when if I’d just landed here first, I’d have found kindred souls.” I shook my head in awe. It had been a fact that I’d been marveling over, quite a bit, of late. How many countless hours of worry and fear would we have avoided if we could have just found this place to begin with? And how did I eventually find my way here, all on my own?
“I’ve been thinking about that, actually. Since we first learned about you. It’s taken me some time, but I think I’ve found some more information.” Lia held up a leather book.
“What is that?” I asked, curiosity mixing with unease in my gut.
“Ladies, come on. Let me at least get started on some outfit ideas.” Willow stomped a screaming pink high heel.
“Go fitted,” I said, not turning to look at her. “I never wear fitted. Skirt, top, dress. And a bold color. Something totally out of the norm for me.”
“Sparkles?” Willow whispered, hopefully.
“Too far.”
“Damn it. Fine. Let me think.” Willow bent her head to her iPad and I focused on Lia.
“Your mum? Her name was Eriska, right?”
Hope bloomed. I wasn’t sure why, but even just hearing her name brought her laughter back to me. It was as thoughshe was hovering over my shoulder, joining us for this connection of women and friendship, and I swallowed, my throat going dry.
“Aye. Eriska Fletcher.” I took a shaky sip of my champagne and dug my hand into the fur at Gloam’s neck. He sat, curled next to my leg, one eye cracked open to keep an eye on the dogs. Frankly, I was proud of him for even staying in the room with them, but he’d told me that Sir Buster was all bark, and Lady Lola only cared about snacks and naps. “Her maiden name.”
