Avery squeezed her shoulder and knelt down beside her. Susan let her red hair tumble in front of her face as she avoided Avery’s eye contact.
“Susan, you don’t need to blame yourself! We didn’t have time to form a proper plan and I was overwhelmed. If it wasn’t for Morgan, we’d probably all be dead.” Avery turned and looked at her sister, standing uncomfortably near Selene.
“I should have done something. Your sister just walked in and killed the Latian King without fear! That power she released wouldn’t even let anyone near either of you.” Susan lookeddirectly at Morgan as she said, “We are honored to have you here, Morgan. All of us, Latian, Bayberry, and Nepheli owe you a life debt.”
Morgan shrugged. “I was just trying to save my sister.”
Selene made a small scoffing sound from where she stood. Avery raised her eyebrow and stood back up. “What exactly are you doing here, Selene?”
Selene’s black wings tucked in tighter, as if she was insulted by the question alone. “I have orders to keep an eye on the Latians until they leave. I was merely doing my rounds.”
Rue chirped in, “She was just about to leave, but she was kind enough to have tea with us.” She moved closer to Selene, her pinky finger extended as she brushed against Selene’s black feathers.
It was almost like Rue enjoyed Selene’s company. But Selene was a torturer. She did whatever Rylo instructed her to do, and didn’t question his orders. Worst of all, she seemed to delight in causing pain. No, surely Rue didn’t actually want to be around Selene.
“I’ll be going now. You are all expected to be dressed for supper with King Rylo by evening. Guards will escort you to his private dining room. Gowns, of course, will be provided as I dare say none of you have the appropriate outfits for supper with the king.” Before anyone could reply, Selene expanded her wings and walked onto the balcony, leaping into the autumn sky.
Avery would never get used to seeing the Nepheli do that. Fortunately, in only a month, she wouldn’t have to be around it.
“They are so weird. Do you think the Nepheli don’t know how to say a proper goodbye?” Avery asked to break the awkwardness that settled over the room.
“What do you mean?” Susan asked. The other two women looked at Avery with confusion.
“You know, just jumping out of the building like that. Rylo’s done that to me a few times. Anyway… I came over here so Morgan could meet you two.”
Rue laughed. “I’d do that too if I could fly! I would never walk anywhere. It’s so nice to meet you, Morgan!”
“Nice to meet you both,” Morgan said in a monotone voice, not bothering to move from the wall.
“Morgan, Susan is the witch I told you about. And Rue is a shifter fae, but don’t worry. She shifts into the cutest little fox!”
Rue batted Avery in the arm. “You may not know this, but calling a shifter ‘cute’ is considered bad manners. I may be small, but I’m powerful!”
Morgan didn’t respond to the information. She was usually so thoughtful with her words and her actions. Now she stood, arms crossed near the door. Maybe it was a mistake to bring her here. She didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, but it seemed she’d done just that.
Avery tried to move the conversation forward, but she could see Morgan didn’t have much interest in interacting with Susan or Rue.
Finally, Susan caught Avery and Morgan’s attention. “I think the three of us have to start training together. I’ve studied enough about witches that I think we can learn to use our powers together, and prevent ever experiencing something like last night again.”
“What do you mean, use our powers together?” Morgan asked, stepping a bit further into the room.
“Well, from your display last night, you have potent magical abilities. You’re a natural at wielding your magic. From my adolescence on, I’ve been reading everything I can on the ancient witches, and your natural ability with shadows was rare. Usually we are more connected to one of the elements—like Avery and her connection to the earth or mine to water. Anyway,when witches formed a coven and learned to wield their magic together, they were virtually unstoppable. That’s who separated the two realms in the first place. Witches, like us.”
Morgan cocked her head. “So you want us to learn to control our magic together and then what? Kick the shit out of these fae bastards?”
Avery winced as she looked at Rue. Rue had a funny smirk on her face. “Sorry, Rue.”
Rue shook her head, “No it’s fine. There are plenty of fae bastards who need the shit kicked out of them, and Morgan just took care of one of them. Who should be next? King Rylo? Or should you three head south to take care of King Maglar and Queen Mara next. I heard those cave-dwelling creeps are worse than Jasper.”
Avery looked at the frown on Morgan’s face. “Avery’s right. Rue, I’m sorry. But… I was attacked by one of the fae in my world. They can get through and I don’t want anyone else to experience what happened to me. If I can stop them from getting into Montana, I will.”
Avery cocked her head at her sister. “I thought you were ready to throw yourself over the waterfall and try to get home.”
Morgan crossed her arms across her chest. “Of course I want to go home. But, you said it’s most likely not an option. So if I’m stuck here, I won’tbe spending my time cowering in a corner or looking for my soulmate. No offense, Ave. I want to use whatever magic that we’ve got to my advantage. I want to stop monsters like the one who attacked me from ever hurting somebody else again.”
“I like you already!” Rue laughed. “Would you like to learn how to use a sword? Or maybe knives? No, never mind. You have that small weapon that you used on Jasper.”
“I think I should focus on my magic. If that’s actually what happened to me last night.” Morgan shrugged as she turned herattention to Susan. “Susan, you mentioned studying the history of the witches? Do you have access to books? I want to be prepared for whatever this place is going to hit me with.”
