Celise didn’t particularly enjoy visiting brothels, but it was necessary for her plan. They were much the same, just with different names. But while the sprite had originally begun coming for the power, she’d found another reason to visit. Celise had met someone while spying, or attempting to spy, on the Colorado pack. She was shocked to find a gypsy healer, considered precious to theCanis lupus, wandering the woods alone, looking lost and forlorn. Celise recognized her from the sprite realm but had never spoken to Jewel Black. She decided not to reveal that she knew who Jewel was.
At first, Celise considered abducting the female, but when Jewel began talking to her dead mother, Celise decided to approach her instead, hoping to understand why she was in the woods, conversing with a woman who couldn’t hear her. She thought back to that day, smiling at how easy it had been to convince the strawberry-blonde healer to buy what she was selling.
“Please don’t be startled.” Celise stepped into the small clearing where the young woman stood. Jewel had been picking flowers and pulling the petals off, all while speaking aloud.
“I knew you were there.”
Celise frowned. “How?”
“I could feel your magic.”
Celise tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Jewel Black,” the woman answered simply. “What’s yours?”
“Celise.” She watched for any sign of recognition. Jewel didn’t seem to realize she was the rogue sprite on the supernatural most-wanted list.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Jewel bowed her head slightly before bending down to pick another flower, pulling the petals off as she had done with the others.
Celise leaned back against a large tree, crossing her arms. “What are you, Jewel Black? I can feel your magic, too, but something is off about it.”
Jewel glanced up, the sunlight filtering through the trees, making her strawberry-blonde hair glisten. Her pale skin looked like porcelain, and though she was beautiful, she appeared exhausted.
“I’m a gypsy healer,” Jewel finally said after a moment’s hesitation. “Among other things,” she added cryptically.
“Hmm.” Celise hummed, examining Jewel as if she were a newly discovered species. “What other things, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Jewel paused before speaking. “I have some … witch abilities.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Celise’s eyes widened in surprise. She had heard of gypsy healers with witch powers but didn’t know which ones they were.
“I see,” Celise said thoughtfully. “And do you use your powers often?”
Jewel shook her head. “Not if I can help it. I don’t like the way it makes me feel.”
Celise nodded, understanding the sentiment all too well. She had felt the same way when she first started using theNushtonia. The dark magic had been intoxicating, but it had also been terrifying.
“I understand,” Celise said gently. “But sometimes, our powers can be a great help. They can protect us and those we care about.”
Jewel’s eyes rose, meeting Celise’s. “But at what cost?”
Celise frowned, unsure how to answer. She had made her own sacrifices to gain her power, but she wasn’t sure if Jewel was ready to hear about them yet. “I don’t know. But I know that we don’t have to face our struggles alone. We can help each other.”
Jewel looked at her, her expression thoughtful. “I don’t even know you. How could I possibly trust someone to help me when I have no idea of her motivations?” AVformed on her forehead as she scrutinized Celise.
Celise tipped her head forward just a small amount. “I understand. But I promise, I only want to help.”
“What are you? Your magic is familiar, but you’re not fae, and from your attire, I’d say you’re not an elf, either. What gives you the ability to help me? You don’t even know what I need.”
Celise considered whether to reveal her identity and decided that if she wanted to earn Jewel’s trust, she needed to be honest. Lies made everything harder—keeping them straight, telling more to cover the previous ones—it was exhausting. She’d dealt with it when planning her revenge on Perizada and all those involved in her sisters’ deaths. It had been a pain in the ass.
“I’m a sprite. And I possess a very powerful book.” She watched Jewel’s reaction. “When I found you, you were talking aloud, mentioning your mother.” She didn’t miss Jewel’s slight flinch. “Where is she?”
Jewel glanced at the flower, now petal-less, and dropped it into the small pile of flowers she had destroyed, a mini flower graveyard. “She’s dead,” Jewel said flatly.
“You don’t talk about her much, do you?”
Jewel shook her head.
