“Years?”
“Nightshade Manor was the original estate from when the Drakos family came from Greece. It was during the reign of King James that a Drakos was given the title of Earl of Wharton and another estate. The women married lords, and now, all that is left are three siblings, with estates of their own. However, none of those estates are enchanted, and it was best that they are not, or people might notice and the witches be discovered. It was because of King James and his hunt for witches that the family decided to hide Nightshade Manor from the rest of the world. For the longest time a family only returned when a child was coming into their powers so that they could learn to control their magic in safety and behind the walls where no one was likely to see.”
“Hide? How do you hide an estate?”
Cassian arched an eyebrow. “Through magic. If anyone were to come looking for Nightshade Manor when no Drakos witch was in residence, it would not be found. Even then, a witch can choose to keep it hidden if they wish and it has happened when they have visited and did not want to be disturbed.”
“Does that mean that when everyone leaves, it will seem to have vanished?”
Cassian chuckled. “That used to be the way, but now that Orion and Nina make it their permanent home, it will not be cloaked again, unless it becomes necessary.”
Samantha frowned and looked up at Cassian. “Are the children not born with their powers?”
“They are, but for safety, it has always been a practice to bind them at birth until the child becomes of age, which is around twelve.”
She nodded as if she understood. “My family does not follow the same practice, but someone was always near to put out my fires.” She snapped her fingers and grinned, then blew out the flames.
Cassian chuckled and led her through the trees and pointed to the Romani camp across the field.
“Are you certain they will not mind?”
“If they do, they will tell us and we will go away.”
“Is that Ajax?” Samantha asked as they drew closer.
Iza Boswell, a Romani with the site, and great-granddaughter, or great-great-niece of Madam Boswell, was pointing toward Nightshade Manor.
“Leave!”
Given it was Ajax she was ordering away, Cassian could only imagine what mischief his friend might have gotten up to. Though, in truth, those at Nightshade Manor held a lot of respect for their neighbors and only came here to seek answers, not cause trouble. So, what had Ajax done to elicit such a response from the young woman?
“Do you think Ajax has angered her?”
“It appears that way.”
“I wonder how.”
“It could be as simple as Ajax being himself.”
“I find nothing objectionable about Ajax.”
His gut tightened as the jealousy returned. Cassian knew of no woman who disliked Ajax. He was handsome, charming and charismatic. Had Samantha also fallen under his spell? Not a magical one because Ajax did not possess such, but by simply being a delightful rake. “For a gentleman for six and twenty years, he often behaves no differently than he did while at Eton,” Cassian explained.
“Were you in school together?”
“He was a year behind me.”
Ajax and his brother Ares were sometimes pranksters, but they had their serious moments when the family truly needed them.
“They also live a life of privilege and have only one requirement, which they will avoid for as long as possible.”
“What would that be?”
Cassian frowned. “You do not know what is expected of every male with Drakos blood?”
She shook her head.
“They must marry a witch.”
