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“She was alive when I found you in the woods,” I answer. “She was holding her own against the baobhan-sìth, that’s for sure.”
She bounces her chin a few times, reassuring herself.
“I’m going to take you back to Crossbill Haven, and everything is going to be fine.”
“You’re taking me back?” she asks. “Aren’t you coming with me?”
“The Duchess saw the baobh-shìth’s mouth on my neck, so I think Professor Tommelise has met their unfortunate end.” Her face drops, and I add, “I’ll still be with you every step of the way, but a little differently.”
She holds her pendant. “It was fun while it lasted.”
“It was.” I call my aether to surround me, checking the energy. It still feels thin. “That being said, I need to get my strength back up unless you want to steal a boat and sail across the Undine Sea?”
“I’ve had enough sailing for a while.”
“Then let’s go grab some breakfast.”
We try not to make too much noise entering the cottage. Orla is asleep on the sofa, her book open across her chest. Dried tear marks shine on her cheeks.
I bite the inside of my lip.
She’s been granted an immortal lifespan for as long as she maintains the position of the lighthouse witch, but I’ve witnessed how isolating that can be.
“Oh yay, you’re alive,” she says, cracking one eye open. “I honestly didn’t know if that elixir would work.”
I take the pink throw blanket off of Mother’s rocking chair and cover her up. “I really do owe you.”
“Hmmph, I know. Take a bath and put some pants on already.” She sets her book on the side table. “Then we can all have breakfast.”
Cordelia pats her stomach. “We still have that lavender bread.”
“Yes, but you’ll need more than that.” Orla grabs her steaming teacup. “And the last time Tommy stopped in, they promised they’d make crepes. I have all the ingredients.”
“Crepes it is,” I relent and turn to Cordelia. “You’ll love them.”
I take her to the bathing room beneath the stairs that lead to the three bed chambers. The cottage is much larger than it appears from outside, but that’s only part of its enchantment.
This tub is much more luxurious than anything most people would expect to see in their lifetime. Polished stones form a platform surrounding the porcelain curving out from the wall.
A small fireplace is positioned at one end, and a brass spout curves over the other. I place the bread on the platform and turn the knobs.
The water comes out at the perfect temperature.
“How does it do that?” Cordelia asks, placing her fingers beneath the stream.
“A mixture of plumbing and magic.” I grab a few bottles from a tray beside the fireplace and pour them in, watching Cordelia’s face as the water bubbles up with a soft vanilla aroma. “You can get in if you want.”
“Aren’t you coming?” she asks, pulling off her coat and gown.
“I’ve got to get us a few things from the village.” I swirl my aether around my hands again. “And I need to test my strength.”
She dips beneath the laver of foam as I pinch myself out of the cottage, traveling to shops by memory. Some of them have changed since the last time I visited.
But I make my way across the strip of wattle-and-daub buildings, only shifting to my full size long enough to take what I need—undergarments, outfits, and a sword since I lost the damn thing in last night’s frenzy.
I keep a tab of how much money I owe and silently vow to make an anonymous donation as soon as I can, feeling guilty when I see the price on a sword belt at the leathersmith’s shop. I loop it over my shoulder and look into the closet left open in the back.
A marble display of a woman’s torso is posted on a pedestal, a leather harness strapped around its thighs with a pink glass dildo fitted through a silver ring between them. Heat pools in my core.
