How About Tonight? 

Mildred stood in the great room of the Stilton Coven office two weeks later, hidden by an invisibility incantation, eyes tapered in thought. The day had seemed odd to her, which was the only thing that separated it from all the others that passed before. They’d all become blurs of business, silenda messages, moving from place to place, helping the Resistors, and training team leaders. But today felt different. Thick clouds piled in the sky though nothing came from them, casting the evening into early darkness. A change seemed to ripple through the air, though she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“I’ve just received a message from Hazel at school,” Lily said, bursting into the office. William looked up from where he worked at his desk and beamed. Mildred shifted further away, feeling like an intruder even though both Lily and William knew she was there. She remained invisible nearly all the time now—yet another drain on her powers. Rumors circulated that Noah was searching for Mildred, so Dolph gave her a few spells to keep her safer. She never remained in one place for very long.

“And how is our darling girl?” William asked.

Lily frowned at the opened paper as she pulled her cloak off, sending it to a coat rack with a spell. It fluttered as it sped across the room, finally landing on a peg with a sigh.

“She said that some girls at school are hostile about the current political situation. Most of the students come from wealthy families, so they’re supporting Evelyn and the Elitists. You know Hazel,” Lily said with an exasperated sigh. “She can’t stand the thought of lying, so she just keeps avoiding it whenever they ask her opinion. I’m worried about her.”

She stood next to her husband, frowning. William wrapped an arm around her slender waist and leaned into her side. Lily chewed on her bottom lip.

“Hazel is a clever, fast girl,” he said. “She’ll keep herself safe.”

“I just . . . I’m afraid she’ll be cursed because she doesn’t believe in Elitism. Perhaps we should pull her.”

“She’s in her final year. All she has to do is lay low, like she has been, and she’ll be fine. Besides, she’ll be safer out there during the takeover than here. She’s in the silenda. As soon as we act, she’ll hide for several hours before transporting home, as we’ve already discussed with her. It will be just fine.”

Lily sucked in a deep breath, then let it all out in a great whoosh. “Yes,” she murmured, running her hand through William’s thick hair. “You’re right. You always are.”

Mildred pretended she hadn’t listened to the conversation until she heard the preemptory whistle of a transportation spell. She turned around to find Marten standing near the fireplace, arms folded across his chest. Mildred removed her invisibility incantation and stepped away from the windows.

“Merry meet, Mildred,” he said with a warm smile.

“Marten.”

“Come, William. We have other mail to discuss,” Lily said, pulling him to his feet. With a nod to both, the couple disappeared upstairs, leaving Mildred and Marten alone. Mildred felt immensely grateful. She hadn’t had any time alone with Marten in the weeks following the massacre.

“Here,” he said, motioning to a chair. “Have a seat, and let’s talk.”

She sank into the chair next to him. He sat on the armrest, and she leaned against his side.

“As soon as this is over,” Mildred muttered, “I’m going to sleep until I’m forty. Would you like to nap with me?”

“Yes,” he said, chuckling. “I think I’d like that.”

He draped an arm around her shoulder; she closed her eyes and inhaled the musty scent of his clothes. In the midst of her frantic existence, Marten had always been the stable rock she leaned on. She’d never known love could feel so certain and secure.

“I just want this to end,” she said. “But then again, I don’t because . . .”

Her words hung in the air, unstated but not needed.

“How about tonight? Would that be soon enough?” he asked.

Mildred’s eyes popped open, and she stared at the fire for a few seconds. When she looked up, Marten gazed down on her with concerned eyes.

“Tonight?” she whispered. He nodded.

“Donovan just died. The Guardians sent Dolph the notification, and I came right away to tell you. I think Evelyn is just finding out now as well.”

Mildred snapped into action. “I need to notify Lavinia to send the maids into the secret passages and track Evelyn’s every move.”

“I’ve already contacted her.” He took her arm and pulled her close. “They’re on their way. She’ll be here to report as soon as all the maids are in position and they find Evelyn. But before you launch into plans, I want to talk to you about how you are doing.”

“Me?” she asked, eyebrows lifting. “What do you mean?”

He pulled in a deep breath and laced their fingers together. “Have you thought about what it will mean when you defeat Evelyn in the Magia tonight?”

She paused, feeling a sudden stillness spread through her body. She’d wanted to delay comprehension of her task for as long as possible, but time was no longer a luxury.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Once or twice.”

“Have you thought about what it means for you and me?”

Mildred closed her eyes. “No. I didn’t want to. I’ve just thought about the fact that it has to be done.”

Marten squeezed her fingers, then pressed his lips to them and met her dark eyes. “I love you, Mildred Graeme. No matter what happens tonight, I shall always belong to you.”

“If I’m successful in saving the Network from Evelyn tonight, we will be forever separated. I cannot be hand fasted to you as High Priestess, and I will not live as a secret mistress. If I must become High Priestess, I will live the expectations of me to the letter.”

A failing smile flickered across his face. “Even if the rule that the High Priestess can’t be married is a tradition, and not a law written in the Esmelda Scrolls?”

She lifted a hand to his face. “Even then. This Network has suffered through enough from its leaders. I shall not be another Highest Witch that bends the rules. The transition will be difficult enough.”

Marten pressed his palm to her cheek and threaded the tips of his fingers into the short hair at her temple. She leaned into it with a sigh.

“I know you wanted more,” he said. “I know that you wanted a life outside of politics, but you were made for this.”

Mildred swallowed. “It’s the very last thing I want.”

“That’s why it’s supposed to be yours.”

He looked between her eyes, studying them for so long she feared he was trying to memorize something. It frightened her. She reached up and covered his hand with hers.

“It won’t matter what level of intimacy we are or are not allowed to live with,” Marten said. “Unless you plan on banishing me from the Network, our separation won’t be forever. One day we’ll be together, if not in this life.”

Mildred tried to pull away, but he held her too tight. “I’m not positive that you understand what this means, Marten,” she said. “We may be together in the next life, but we must survive all of this one before we get to it.”

His face fell. “I understand, Mildred. I just don’t believe in endings.”

“I do.”

Marten laughed softly. “I can’t lose you, not really. I never had you. Both of us love the Network too much. It’s like having a mistress and a wife. You can’t have both without eventually losing one.”

“No,” she said, touching his lightly stubbled face with the tips of her fingers. “I suppose you never did have me.”

Marten kissed her softly on the lips.

“Will you promise me something?” she asked.

“Anything.”

“If I take over as Highest Witch, will you always stand by me as my best friend?”

“Forever,” he said, gathering her into his arms. He gripped her dress more tightly in his hands, melding their bodies as close as he could. A moment of longing passed through Mildred, stronger than physical passion and more overwhelming than love.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his shoulder. “I love you.”

Marten swallowed and pressed a hand to her hair. “Not as much as I love you.”

A light tap sounded on the door to the Stilton Office. “It’s Lavinia, Council Member. I’ve come to report.”

“You’ll be at my side?” Mildred asked.

“Forever.”

When Mildred pulled away, she felt herself change. Her jaw hardened. She lifted her head just a fraction of an inch, but it made all the difference. She felt in charge and ready when Isadora’s voice from so long ago drifted through her mind.

Sometimes we fight our destiny because of our fears, when what we really need to do is learn how to make destiny work for us.

Mildred wrapped the words of the Watcher in her heart and stepped back. “We have a war to win tonight, Marten. Go to your Guardians. I’ll take care of Evelyn.”

Assemble at your positions immediately. Best of luck, my friends.

Mildred wrote the message out on paper first, reviewed it, and finally nodded. It didn’t convey the strength and power she wished to give the Resistors, but it was enough. They were strong on their own.

She closed her eyes and murmured the incantation. Sending it to the hundreds of witches within her silenda tugged at something deep inside her. She recognized the stir of magic in her chest. It fought for a second and finally departed from her, leaving an empty hole in its wake. She grabbed the edge of the desk when her knees buckled.

“Miss Mildred?” Lavinia inquired from where she stood across the room, waiting. Mildred opened her eyes and braced herself against the desk. She pulled in a deep breath.

“Yes?”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re very pale and—”

“I’m fine.”

Lavinia swallowed. “It’s the silenda, isn’t it? There are too many witches pulling from your magic. I’ve been worried about this all along! What if it kills you?”

“I’m fine,” Mildred snapped. “Now tell me what you saw in the passages.”

Lavinia reared back, but, accepting the determined look in Mildred’s eyes, gave in. “I saw Evelyn in the Council Room meeting with a group of witches. I couldn’t tell who they all were by their voices, but I recognized Grant and Gloria amongst them.”

Mildred straightened, feeling a bit of strength return to her muscles. She willed her magic to grow. “Did you overhear any plans?”

“No, but it’s not hard to guess what they’re going to do.” Lavinia glanced down at her hand. “One of the maids is contacting me now,” she said. “Evelyn left the Council Room, but they can’t tell where she is. She must have transported. Oh, wait, another message. Evelyn’s in her office. They . . . they can’t see what’s happening. They said something blocked their view.”

Mildred stopped. “The Esmelda Scrolls.” The maids wouldn’t have been able to see the scrolls when they appeared to Evelyn for the first time, as only the Highest Witch could lay eyes on them. The magic surrounding the scrolls would have prevented it.

“Are you ready for this, Council Member?” Lavinia asked. “It sounds like it’s time for you to face your enemy.”

“She’s not just my enemy, Lavinia,” Mildred whispered. “She’s my best friend. And yes, I’m ready. Transport to my old office. We’ll go through the secret passages from there.”