I sighed. “What is it? If it will help?—”
“Oh, it will help, but it can be frightening. I can create a dampener on your emotions. It won’t destroy the bond, but it mutes it. It’s not permanent, but it can—at times—force the dragonette and the witch to re-bond after they meet again. However, it will allow you to focus on what needs to be done.”
I worried my lip. “Will Fancypants think I abandoned him?” That was the last thing I wanted—I didn’t want him feeling like I’d just cut him out of my life, like some old tissue I had blown my nose on and then discarded.
“No, dear. He won’t notice. This won’t sever your bond—no fear about that—but it will give you the ability to focus without Fancypants’s fear clouding your vision.” She motioned to Grams. “Can you cast a circle while Bran and I go get the tincture I need?”
“I can. Do you want me to invoke the elements, as well?” Grams opened her bag and pulled out her dagger.
“Invoke the elements and focus on air—we need the clear sight. I’ll be back in five minutes?—”
“I can get them for you, Ma,” Bran said. “Tell me which one?”
“The one labeled Lemon Clear Sight. Can you also bring the sage spray, and my clear quartz Merkabah stone?” As May motioned for me to follow her into the living room, Bran took off out of the kitchen door.
May and I settled on the sofa as Grams readied her dagger. She walked to the north side of the room and encircled the edges, drawing the magic circle of power. Her voice rang in the room, echoing with strength.
I cast this circle once around, by the powers of sacred ground.
I cast this circle once again, by the powers of sacred wind.
I cast this circle once on high, by the powers of sacred fire.
I seal this circle as the Mother’s daughter, by the powers of sacred water.
By the powers of three times three, as I will, so mote it be.
Her magic filled the room, settling over us like a blanket of starlight. I breathed in and caught the faint scent of jasmine and oleander. My Grams was a powerful witch, she was. I was learning from her—learning the family secrets and spells. I was learning about the heritage I’d never been privy to because of my father’s untimely death, and my mother’s disinterest. We were taking it slow, step by step, but I was starting to recognize my great-grandmother’s energy signature.
On the other hand, May was training me in kitchen witchery—how to infuse everything I cooked or planted or made with love or anger, depending on what was necessary. This was the type of magic that Bran used, though he focused his magic through tending to the earth and to his animals. Both of them were considered Earth Stewards in the human magical community, and they blended the folklore of the earth with actual magic.
“Can you feel it?” Grams asked, lowering her voice.
I closed my eyes and reached out. There—there it was. One of Grandmother Spider’s children was weaving a web of protection around us. My great-grandmother worked with the spirit of webs every so often, and she had drawn her energy in for today. I wasn’t fond of spiders, but I did nothing to break the spell. The astral servants of Grandmother Spider were both fair and fell, depending on which energy was called for.
When I closed my eyes I saw the astral eight-legged servants, scuttling around to weave the web of protection around the outskirts of the circle. These spiders were both terrifying and beautiful, their eyes sparkling jewels, their legs and bodies formed of thin copper wirework. And yet, they were no machines. They were actual beings.
My great-grandmother possessed powers I only had a glimpse of yet. But she had assured me that one day, I’d be able to reach out and touch those same energies.
May let out a soft sigh. “You cast one hell of a circle, Morgance.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice,” Grams said.
At that point, Bran returned. He handed May a bag. “Here, I found the tincture, sage spray, and the stone, but something else wanted to come. I don’t know why, but I brought it back with me.”
May took the bag, then froze. “Melda.”
“I wouldn’t have brought the urn if I hadn’t heard her, Ma. She wanted to come.”
I glanced over at May, who looked like she had no idea of how to react. “What is it?”
“Not what,” she whispered. “But who…Melda’s ashes are in here.”
I looked over at Bran. “Is that…”
“Melda was my bonded dragonette,” May said. “I keep her ashes in my bedroom. I’ve never included her in spellwork before, not since she died.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” Bran said. “But I swear, I heard her.”
