“I think I expected them to be less than accommodating and stuffy,” said Malcolm. “But your father’s been very helpful.”
Curtis Batsford had been genuinely nice in their training sessions, but Malcolm felt like a fool admitting to Lady Batsford’s daughter that he’d needed magical help.
“People can always surprise you. That’s the amazing thing about life, isn’t it?”
“I guess so.” Malcolm studied the gleaming crystal balls all around them. “These contain prophecies, don’t they?”
“Only the ones the Council deems relevant to the council members or any situations they are monitoring.” Tamsin eyed the crystal balls.
“Do you know how to look up the prophecies connected to a particular person?”
“Sure, hang on.” Tamsin retrieved a ledger from a nearby shelf. “What’s the name?”
He cleared his throat. “Er… Malcolm Wellesley?”
Tamsin’s eyes widened “Oh…” But she didn’t pry, even though she clearly wanted to. She flipped the pages and came to a stop. “Just one. Shelf number four, ball 128. This way.” She led him through the various aisles until she located the right spot. Malcolm saw a crystal ball on top of a shelf far out of their reach.
Tamsin flicked her fingers and the ball rolled off its little stand and fell.
Malcolm gasped and dove to catch it up but it halted in mid hair just inches from his hands.
Tamsin twirled her fingers in the air and giggled. “You should have seen your face!”
He gulped and straightened, his heart still racing.
She placed it into his palms, and he stared at the opaque surface which stirred to life at his touch.
His mind was inside a world thirty years before. He was in the corridor of a busy hospital. Lady Batsford stood beside Reginald as an older woman with gray eyes began to speak to them, holding an old porcelain cup in her hands. She showed his father and Lady Batsford the tea leaves in the base of it.
“The serpent has been born… a warlock of a new age. His magic will fail him until he finds the witch destined to be with him. She will restore balance… she will help him lead the witching world into a place of hope. They will protect the power of magic at its source but she… the mongoose will be his rival, his equal, his balance. Without her, he is cold, he is lost… he is dangerous. Without him, she will no longer bring sunlight into the world, no longer protect her people. Only together do they belong. Only together can they both be strong.”
The vision faded and Malcolm swallowed hard around the lump of his throat. It wasn’t just about him; it was about Calli too, and that they were meant to be together.
“Who’s the other witch she spoke of?” Tamsin asked. “Do you know her?”
Malcolm waved a hand and the ball floated back into its stand on the top shelf. It hadn’t ceased to amaze him that his magic came so easily now, did exactly as he bid. When he’d been upset with himself and his father, his magic hadn’t worked because he’d been afraid of it. When he’d been with Calli, he’d wanted it to work too much. Now… when apathy ruled him, his magic did just as he wished.
Soft afternoon sunlight crept through the nearest window, warming his cold skin. He felt Tamsin’s eyes on him, curious, her question still hanging in the air.
“I know her,” he finally admitted. “Do you know anything about witch-locking?”
“Just the usual romantic stories tied to it. Did you lock with her?”
“No… but we were going to. It’s funny how quickly you can connect,” said Malcolm. “It’s like you knew them from a previous life, and you just need to catch up a bit to pick up where you left off.”
“Wow, it’s really like that?”
Malcolm nodded. “It took less than a week for her to become my entire world. And less than a minute for me to destroy hers. Twice.”
“Seriously?” Tasmin said. “But, you didn’t mean to, did you? This wasn’t some weird Council initiation thing? How did you do it twice?”
“The first time, I was a child, and it was by accident,” said Malcolm. “But it was also a prophecy.”
Tamsin sighed. “Oh… I’m so sorry.” She reached out, taking his hand in hers. “What happened?”
“I killed her parents. I was flying my broom low to the ground late at night and caused a truck to swerve to avoid me, which forced her parent’s car off the road.”
“And you said you were a child?”
