Dawn approached slowly. Bone weary and tired beyond her years, Alanna let herself out of the studio and Gallery without waking Gregori in his little makeshift bedroom and walked to Zelda’s cottage on the outskirts of Raven’s Creek. She left a note in case he was concerned. He’d been so kind, so gentle with her last night. Despite his confession, he had her grudging respect.
The good thing about the town was that it was so small, one could walk anywhere within an hour and be at their destination. It was daylight, just. But Alanna knew that, unless away on Supreme Council business, Zelda would already have been up at daybreak and completed a range of tasks most people took all day to get to.
Zelda stood framed in the open front door, waiting for her arrival. “Felt your intention to visit,” she said and pulled Alanna into her arms and hugged her close. “Come in. We’ll go out into the garden.”
Although the hug wasn’t unusual, the strength and warmth of Zelda’s welcome worried Alanna. She followed Zelda, who walked like a twenty-year-old instead of the elderly woman she portrayed to the public, through the cottage and out onto a private lawn. Flowers bloomed in abundance around the entire perimeter of the property dotted with fruit trees everywhere. A white cast-iron table and chairs were located in the center of the lawn. On the table was a pitcher of orange juice and freshly baked savory biscuits. The aroma was enticing and Alanna’s stomach grumbled. She’d barely eaten anything since Gregori had forced his way into her life.
“You knew I was coming even before I did.”
“Despite your efforts to remain disconnected from everyone, I know when you are distressed.”
Alanna eyed the food as she sat down at the table. Never patient, she bypassed any further pleasantries. “You knew Gregori’s history but didn’t think to warn me. Don’t think making my favorite biscuits will make me feel any better about your deception.”
Zelda looked over the rims of her 1950’s horn-rimmed glasses. She might appear old, but her mind was sharp and incisive. “There was no deception. It is not my place to enlighten you.”
“Does Rosa know anything? Surely now she’s at Marylebone she’s heard whispers.”
Zelda placed a biscuit on a plate and handed it to Alanna. “No.”
Alanna took the plate and placed it in front of her. “So will you tell them now I know?”
“I will not. You will.”
“I’ve no way of calling Rosa from Marylebone. I was hoping you could help. I’m assuming Aden knows the whole story?”
Zelda poured juice into two glasses. “Most of it. He’s not happy he’s had to stay silent on the matter.”
“Rosa’s is going to be pissed about that. But why keep all this a secret?”
“If you’d known Gregori was imprisoned in that magnificent jade dragon you crafted and that he was your intended mate, what would you have done?”
That wasn’t the secret she was referring to. Still, Alanna was gratified Zelda thought the dragon was magnificent. Her ego needed a boost today. “I probably would have rebelled.”
“And you’ve answered your own question.”
“But why the secrecy surrounding him? Why wait until now?
“Gregori has broken out. He’s free. You’re old enough. Marylebone hopes that you will bind with him before it’s too late. Then Gregori will be free to hunt the cause of the killers of your parents.
Alanna felt herself pale. She didn’t like talking about the accident. She didn’t want to now, but that was why she was here. Cutting her biscuit into quarters, she nibbled at one piece, giving herself time to consider her answer.
“I don’t know how I feel,” she admitted. “I don’t think it will serve any purpose to dredge up the past.” Doing so would mean more questions. More upsets.
“I’m surprised you’re so calm. Discovering your intended is suspected of being instrumental in the death of your parents is a huge revelation.”
No! I don’t want to go there! “I’m surprised you’re so calm too. Mom was your best friend.”
“I’ve had the time to accept Gregori didn’t do anything other than assist you that day. And for that I will be eternally grateful, despite my dislike of most warlocks.” Zelda’s eyes gentled along with her tone. “Without his timely arrival at your side, we would have lost you, too. And that is why I agreed to assist Marylebone when they ensorcelled him.”
Despair lodged itself in Alanna’s throat. She picked up the juice and drank until the glass was empty. “Gregori says no one, not even Marylebone, have been able to work out what caused the accident. Is that true?” She held Zelda’s gaze, her stomach roiling, afraid to hear what her answer might be.
Zelda held her gaze for all of two seconds before looking away. But it was too late. She’d seen sympathy in the old woman’s eyes.
“You know,” she whispered, her heart thumping wildly in her chest, her eyes flaring wide as shock had her reaching for her magic. It was there on the perimeter of her aura, but try as she might it was out of her reach.
Zelda’s compassion was not what she’d expected. Surely she should be furious with her. “I have my suspicions, but without details I can do nothing. It’s your story to tell. You were there. You know what happened.”
Alanna shuddered. Her heart beat way too fast in her chest. She felt dizzy, light-headed. Short of breath. “I can’t go there.” She swallowed even though her throat was tight with fear. Her eyes brimmed and a hand clutched at her chest. “I can’t.”
“My dear girl. If you wish to have a life with Gregori, then you must.”
“It will ruin everything.”
“The risk is great, yes, but the rewards will possibly outweigh that risk. To remain frozen emotionally is not healthy.”
“Who’s frozen emotionally?” Beth asked as she walked out Zelda’s back door with Rosa on her tail.
“Ah good,” Zelda said, a smile lighting her face. “You’re here.”
Alanna’s stomach sunk through to the earth below. She looked at the old woman, indignant she had invited her sisters. “You knew they were coming?” She was in panic mode. Alarmed, she stood. She had to get out of here. “I’ve got to get back to the studio.”
“Sit.” Zelda’s voice was stern. Alanna sat. She clawed at the neck of her T-shirt. “I can’t … I can’t breathe.”
Instantly Zelda was at her side, both Rosa and Beth huddled around her, concern on all their faces as they peered down at her. Zelda placed a hand on her pulse and whispered soothing words. Within seconds, her racing heart began to slow.
“Rosa,” Zelda spoke over her shoulder. “Now would be the time for one of your lovely teas. Chamomile perhaps.”
Within seconds, Rosa was pressing a cup of warm liquid into Alanna’s hands. “What’s happened? You’ve not had a panic attack since you were a teenager.”
They all knew she’d begun getting them not long after the accident, but over time they’d diminished until disappearing altogether.
“She has something to tell you about Gregori. The knowledge has brought past memories to the fore,” Zelda explained. “That’s all.”
That’s all? She hoped Zelda would understand the silent question in her eyes.
That’s all, was her answer. For now.
Alanna’s stomach flip-flop backed into place and with shaky hands she sipped on the tea. Whatever Rosa had put in it was working. She was feeling much calmer. Safer.
“Perhaps it would be easier if Gregori showed you all as he showed me.”
“Showed us what? And who’s emotionally frozen?” Rosa returned to Zelda’s earlier statement. Satisfied Alanna’s panic attack was over, the worry in Rosa’s emerald eyes had dissipated. She sat down and lifted a biscuit to her nose and inhaled the aroma. “Mmmm. They don’t make these at Marylebone.” She tugged over the little dish of butter and cut the biscuit open and spread a thick layer onto both pieces.
Beth sat quietly, and sipped at the juice Zelda had poured for her before accepting one half of the biscuit Rosa held out to her.
“You should have brought Gregori with you,” Zelda stated.
“I would have if I’d known you were going to invite everyone over.”
“We’re not everyone,” Beth objected. “We’re your sisters.”
“Sometimes, I wish you weren’t.”
“Sometimes,” Beth declared, “you’re so rude!”
Rosa’s eyes flared but her voice teased. “So this is good. When the barbs start flying, it means everything is back to normal.”
Zelda actually dared to laugh. “Alanna has something to tell you both,” she said. “And I have some explaining to do as well.”
Once again, Alanna’s stomach flip-flopped. Zelda knew her secret. Or at least suspected. The one she’d held close for so long. What she didn’t understand was why it had never been reported to Marylebone or the Supreme Council. Beth would accept everything just as she always did. It was Rosa she worried about. Her marriage to Aden was barely two months old and she was about to discover he had been hiding a secret from her.
“I think Aden should be here too,” Alanna said. “Rosa, can you call him and tell him to bring Goran and Gregori with him. We might as well get this over with. I haven’t the stomach to tell the story over and over.”