Morgan’s spine straightened. “No, but if there’s one of those in your time that does the trick, let me know. I could earn coin from that.”
I snorted. “If there was, we wouldn’t look like a pair of hot messes right now.”
Morgan’s eyebrows furrowed at the modern slang, but she decided not to question it.
When we arrived at La Voisin’s home, my ancestor knocked, and the poisoner witch flung the door open with a flourish.
“I was wondering when you’d show up! Had a night out, did you?”
It was that obvious? We must look terrible.
“Indeed we did,” Morgan said. “Paris is a city for celebrating.”
“So they say.” La Voisin let out a bark of laughter, and waved us inside.
We followed her into the expansive sitting room where we’d taken all of our lessons. The familiar rush of Morgan’s wards flitted over me as I crossed the threshold. I sighed as a warm cocoon gave some relief.
“The one for comfort. So you wouldn’t let your nerves get the best of you during lessons,” Morgan explained, noticing the reaction. “Apparently, you didn’t need it before, but today, it probably takes the edge off.”
“Thank goodness,” I muttered.
La Voisin pointed to the salt circle, already drawn on the ground. “Whoever wants to practice first, hop in.”
My ancestor stepped forward. “Actually, we’ve only come to tell you that today will be our final day in Paris. Yesterday, you said you couldn’t teach the girls much more. That’s our cue to move on.”
La Voisin nodded, seeming unsurprised. “I thought you’d say that.” She collapsed onto the chaise. “That just leaves the matter of my payment.”
From the bag Morgan wore against her hip, she pulled out a small pouch of coins, then another, and another. Five sat side by side by the time she was done.
“It’s all there. Count it, if you will.”
La Voisin’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as she took in the pouches of livres. “No need. I trust thatyou’rehonest.”
My eyebrows furrowed. Her emphasis gave me pause. Did she think that Eva and I were dishonest?
“Next, the magic, and then a bit about my future before you go.” La Voisin leaned forward and placed her hands on her knees. “I’ve thought long and hard about what I wished for most. What could you give me that I could not conjure or create for myself? It took a while before I realized what that was—the same thing that brought you to my door.”
La Voisin’s eyes slithered to latch on to me.
“Me?” My blood froze. “You want Morgan to give youme?”
La Voisin scoffed. “I already have a daughter to care for, and she’s enough work as it is.”
A sensation of relief was just settling over me, when the witch’s smile grew in a way that made my stomach sink.
“I am referring to timewalking.”
Timewalking? She wanted Morgan to give her timewalking? I’d never heard of such a thing. When I shot a glance at my mentor, I was sure she hadn’t either.
Her ruby lips were pursed and her ginger eyebrows knitted together as if she wasn’t sure what to say.
I cleared my throat. “You want Morgan to give you the powers of timewalking?” I asked in an effort to clarify, “or you want her to timewalk you somewhere?”
“I’m aware that she cannot just transfer the skill. However, an amulet or a pendant of some sort, imbued with the power to timewalk, should be achievable.” The poisoner shrugged. “That is what I want.”
Silence descended upon the room. Was that possible? My totem had allowed me to timewalk, but that was only because Morgan had been controlling it—and I possessed the inherent magic. We were connected by blood and a destiny that Merlin had foreseen before the pair split. Surely it wouldn’t work for someone like La Voisin, who had never revealed such a talent.
After a prolonged pause, my ancestor spoke. “I’m not sure I can create such a thing. I can spell pendants for many reasons. However, timewalking is an innate skill and rather specific. How you alter time matters—a lot. I’m not sure that enchanting any sort of object would allow you to explore the eras as you wish.”
