My breath billowed out of me, producing small, white clouds in the chilled morning air. Needing to feel the earth beneath me—needing the grounding—I slipped off my shoes. My bare feet pressed into the damp dirt, releasing the earthy scent into the air.
I studied my chipped polish and too long toenails.Once this is over, a pedi will be a necessity.
The thought surprised me. It was so positive, almost an assumption that we’d win. Despite my tendencies toward mantras to manifest what I desired, since we’d tumbled from 17thcentury France back to 7thcentury England the day before, my worry had escalated.
Xaphan had seen us and knew that we’d found Morgan. Thankfully, we’d been careful to use false names with La Voisin. Still, would this change anything? Everything? Hopefully, he wouldn’t discover our true identities, and we hadn’t inadvertently changed the future.
I huffed out a breath. Timewalking really confused a lot of things.
I glanced back down at my toes. But even the idea that a pedicure might be an option was kinda nice. A subconscious bright spot.
I loosed a sigh, allowing that hope to wash over me as I leaned back into the tree behind me.
A cheery hum cut through the silence I’d sought. Footsteps approached, and I twisted to glimpse the other side of the tree.
Morgan walked my way with two piping hot drinks in her hands. Her red hair gleamed in the sunlight, and contrasted starkly with the abundant green surrounding the cottage.
I smiled as she approached and handed me the mugs. They smelled of apples.
Using both hands, and more care than usual, to lower herself, she sat down next to me, her standard grace lacking.
Although Alex and Merlin had begun fixing up the injury Xaphan had inflicted, it was nowhere near healed. That would only come with time.
“Thought you might want something warm to drink. It’s a nice day, but still chilly.” She smiled and held out her hand. Now that she was settled, I returned one mug.
She was right. It was colder than I usually preferred, but I’d woken early and needed time outside the shack. Time to prepare for our journey home.
“Are you ready?” Morgan asked when I didn’t reply.
I stared out over the waving grasses, breathing in the spring air of long-ago England. “I don’t know. We’ve done a lot of timewalking, even with other people, but I’ve never done it withoutyou.” My free hand landed over my totem against my chest. “Or this.”
Morgan nodded understandingly. “For what it’s worth, I believe you’re more than ready.” Her eyes gestured down to the totem. “And you have no use for that anymore, love. It was your training wheels.”
“Training wheels?” One corner of my lips lifted in a smile.
Morgan grinned. “I may not use modern words or sayings often, but I’ve timewalked across the centuries. I know a few things.”
The question I’d been dying to ask burst out of me.
“Do you know if we’ll be successful? Are we going to beat the demons?”
Morgan’s hand landed on my arm. “I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to tell you.”
“That’s so frustrating.”
“Yes, but you understand why I can’t. You’re my blood. You can visit me in my time, but Ican’tvisit you in your time. Hence why Merlin and I used the totems to speak with you before.”
I would never forget that. Alex and I had been heavily making out when the illusions of Merlin and Morgan popped out of our totems. Thank the universe it wasn’t theactualpeople.
She squeezed my hand, apparently taking my silence as nerves. “It’s just like how I can teach you things about others’ pasts. And yet neither of us can reveal information about how the other might meet their end.” She shrugged. “Timewalking has loopholes. That way, fate proceeds as it should.”
I snorted. “Fate can suck it.”
She laughed her musical laugh. I savored the sound, unsure if I’d hear it again.
We fell silent for a few moments. Then Morgan took a sip of her drink and looked at me once more. “The rest are awake and done eating, but I told them you needed a moment. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll be waiting for you.” She squeezed my arm before rising and making her way back to the cottage.
I sipped my drink and listened to the birdsong. I felt the morning dew evaporate and fill the air with moisture as the sun rose higher. I smelled the flowers opening, lacing the day with their sweet scent.
