Maeve’s stomach plummeted this time. “Even outside of Vaukroe?”
Mal nodded. “Wherever you are.”
Maeve couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. Dark flecks of light swirled through their chocolate color, sparkling at her.
The gesture was so genuine. So personal.
So. . .
Maeve pocketed the parchment. Mal thanked her for the books and immediately got to reading.
Classes resumed. Maeve got high remarks in Defensive Magic for her counter curses and twenty stars for Volaticus Court from Headmaster Elgin for transfiguring Abraxas into a snowy white owl. No others besides Mal successfully transfigured their partners in class into animals.
The Headmaster commented to Abraxas after class that he made quite a beautiful owl. Maeve bit her lip to keep from laughing. Abraxas didn’t appreciate the comment.
“It’s your complexion,” said Maeve with a grin.
It was weeks before Mal brought up his heritage to Maeve. She was seated in the farthest corner of the library by a crackling fire when he appeared in front of her with an open book pointing to a line.
“Read this.”
Maeve took the book from him.
“Gagner, James: Human: father to one unknown Human son and unknown Magical daughter. Gagner Farm and unknown Magical Daughter sold to the Peur Family in 1913. Debt settled.”
Maeve looked up at him.
“Holy Merlin,” said Maeve.
Maeve looked back down at the entry. There was a small hand-drawn map of the Gagner Farm property lines. Beside it was a black star with Ragsling Village scribbled next to it.
He found a connection.
That was all the information the book contained. The next line moved onto the Gaurteel family.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Mal cut her off.
“When term ends,” he said. “I will be going to find them.”
“Do you think they are still there? This information is from thirty years ago.”
“Like calls to like,” said Mal.
Maeve couldn’t argue with that.
After a moment, she spoke. “What if you do find them? What if the Gagner’s are still there and know where the Puer family is? What if they knew your mother? They could help you find your family.”
“A family that doesn’t want anything to do with me. A family that left my mother to die-”
“Have you considered they may not know you exist?”
Mal hesitated and then nodded.
Maeve sighed. “Your curiosity must be bursting. It’ll be months before summer.”
“All too true.” His voice had that dark quality to it when his mind was racing. “You’re in here, you know?” .
“Yes,” was all Maeve said.
