When one group wants the other’s oppression, both sides are not equal atall. How can you compromise when the opposition wants to take away your life, safety, or health?
For a moment, she stood, hand in Prospero’s, and thought about the impossible situation that faced Crenshaw. Ellie was not yet required to sit on the Congress of Magic, and for a tremulous moment, she was incredible grateful for that. How was she to speak to witches like Agnes who were blinded by greed?
Then Prospero pivoted and said, “What in the name of all that’s holy were youthinking?”
5Prospero
“Are youtryingto kill me?” Prospero asked Ellie in a barely there whisper once she had dragged her safely into her arms. “Is that what your throwing yourself into danger at every turn is designed to do? Simply press me into panic until my heart stops?”
Ellie paused, as if weighing the question. That stung. Hell, everything about Ellie stung today. This falling-in-love business was terrible. “You say that as if there were other dangerous acts.…”
I should have known better. I cannot let these feelings continue.The last woman Prospero had loved was murdered because Prospero had loved her.I don’t deserve Ellie, either.
“Come on.” Prospero jerked Ellie into her arms and teleported them home. Maybe she held her tighter than she strictly needed. Maybe she buried her face in Ellie’s hair. Prospero was weak where Ellie was concerned.
Ellie slipped her arms around Prospero like she had no intention of letting go. “Perhaps you ought to let me livein our houseif you’re going to overreact every time I talk to a w—”
“She’s not simply ‘a witch,’ Elleanor, and you know that.” Prospero tried to step back, but Ellie held on to her waist. “She would take you from me, from Crenshaw. Doom all of us to—”
“Doomyou?” Ellie smiled as if there were a joke to be made in devastation. “Surely, nothing quite so dire?”
Prospero sighed, forcibly pulling away this time. “Actually, exactly that dire. You know there was a prophecy.”
Ellie stepped around her and put the kettle on the stove. “You need tea. You’re all…” She gestured at her. “Emotional.”
“She can evoke things, Ellie. If she holds your gaze, she’ll pull up fears—”
“Yes, I figured that out what with the terror and trembling.” Ellie’s voice quavered briefly, and Prospero realized that she was not as calm as she was appearing.
“Are you… well?” Prospero stared at her, taking in her blanched expression and cupping the edge of her face gently. Whatever memory Agnes had started summoning was a raw one. “She’s not to use her magic outside of the Congress.”
“And we all know that witches are great at rule-following,” Ellie muttered. “Except you. You are inordinately good at it.”
“You might be surprised,” Prospero confessed.
Ellie lifted her chin, gaze falling to Prospero’s lips. “What are you hiding from me, Prospero?”
Everything,Prospero answered in her mind silently. Aloud she only said, “You have a habit of endangering yourself.”
“Interesting. I don’t recall that.” Ellie frowned. “I remember you in my library at home. A car accident. Snakes of asphalt. Classes. Seeing you naked… and then being here.”
“Yes. Fine, but—”
“Things are missing.” Ellie crossed her arms. “You… fucked around in my head. That’s it. That’s why you are withholding affection. You feelguilty,don’t you?”
“That’s not the topic at hand. Your rash actions—”
“I am not a child, Prospero. Do not speak to me as if I am.” Ellie moved closer. “Stop lying to me. Stop pushing me away.”
“Could we argue another time? All I am asking is that you avoid danger. That’s not a huge request.” Prospero stepped around her because if not, she was in danger of doing something foolish. She wasn’t sure whether that foolishness was kissing Ellie or confessing. Either was a bad idea. In her chilliest, most rational voice, Prospero said, “I would prefer you stay safely at the castle where you are protected and out of potential peril.”
“What I want doesn’t matter?” Ellie’s voice was seething now. “I understand that you are… older, but I am your equal here. As your wife. As a head of house. You do not tell me where I may go. You do not make the rules for my bodyormy life. Am I clear?”
Prospero pivoted and took her hand. “Things are complicated, and—”
“I. Don’t. Care.” Ellie stared at her, holding her gaze brazenly.
No one did that. Most witches acted as if prolonged eye contact was a dare to her to slip into their minds and alter things. Of course, Ellie thought Prospero was unable to do so. Maybe it was just her directness.
