A Bad Time to Sparkle #3
“Darn straight,” Ryder says, and then he grins at someone over my shoulder. “That doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying though.”
I turn, feeling my knees go weak when I find Ash right behind me.
The councilman gives Ryder a bland look, and then he turns his eyes on me. “Are you ready to go home? Or would you like to stay longer?”
I should probably take this time to get to know more people, but I find myself saying, “I’m ready.”
“Bye, Kit,” Ryder says, his emerald eyes teasing me.
Meg nudges him in the ribs, silently telling him to behave. He grins down at her affectionately…but maybe not as affectionately as she would like.
Poor Meg.
I was joking when I said half the town must be in love with the elf, but it seems that assessment might have been more accurate than I realized.
The cool evening air is welcome after the heat of the meeting hall. And I have plenty of time to enjoy it because Ash is stopped by half a dozen people asking questions that probably should have been addressed in the meeting.
Finally, we get away and walk down the street to the livery stable, where one of Hudson’s men already has Ash’s cabriolet and horse waiting.
“Ash!” someone hollers just as we’re about to take off.
She’s a high fae woman in her late fifties, and she looks a little eccentric. Breathing hard, she presses her hand to her chest like she had to run to catch up with us. “I’m glad I caught you.”
“Hello, Marjorie,” Ash says patiently, but his face says he’s annoyed. “What can I do for you?”
“Do I need one of those fae beast permits for Barnaby?”
“Barnaby is your husband.”
“Yes, but…” She lowers her voice. “He’s a fae beast.”
“He’s a shifter.”
“A dragon shifter. I don’t want to break the law, Ash.” She looks up at him with an owlish expression. “Not again.”
Ash makes a sound like he’s suppressing an annoyed groan. “You know what? Why don’t you talk to Anna about this on Monday? She will be happy to assist you.”
Marjorie nods as if that’s excellent advice. “I’ll do that. Thank you, Ash.”
“Have a pleasant evening.” Ash shakes the reins, alerting his horse that we’re ready to go, and we leave the stable.
“You just pawned that woman off on your sister,” I whisper, trying not to laugh.
“Anna is better with people than I am.” He shakes his head. “I hate meetings.”
“You’re good at leading them,” I say. “Though you should have warned me you were going to make me introduce myself.”
He chuckles. “If I’d warned you, you would have stayed home.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
He moves the reins to one hand and offers me his other. “Forgive me?”
“We’ll see,” I tease lightly, sliding my palm into his.
Moss Hollow is beautiful at night, with a warm glow coming from the streetlights and shop windows. There are twinkle lights in the trees, and landscape lighting illuminates flower beds.
“It’s so lovely,” I say.
“It is,” Ash agrees. “And it takes a lot of work to keep it this way.”
“You’re good at your job.”
“I try.”
We leave Main Street, and the glow of the town fades behind us. Ash’s carriage lights illuminate the road, making it possible to travel at night. But the woods feel different in the dark, maybe even a little sinister.
Perhaps that’s why my mind wanders back to the meeting with Professor Bellview.
The thought of siphoning my magic sends a chill down my spine. I think of stories from our past, of pixies held captive, drained of their magic repeatedly so it could be used to enchant jewelry and make potions, until they finally succumbed to the weakness and died.
Only a fool would willingly allow a mage to siphon her magic. I shouldn’t have agreed—it’s just too dangerous.
But if I don’t help Rowan, he’ll be stuck as an owl for the rest of his life.
Dark clouds roll across the moon. I don’t notice them until Ash squeezes my hand, startling me out of my dark thoughts.
“Is that your storm?” he asks.
“Probably,” I sigh. “Sorry.”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s not something I’m free to talk about.”
“Are you homesick?” he asks, his usually abrupt tone gentle.
“Yes, but it’s not just that. I feel responsible for something, but I’m not sure I can do what needs to be done to fix it.”
“If you can’t open the tea shop by the festival, you can have more time.”
I’m sure he means it, but the words sound like they were difficult to spit out.
I smile despite my worries. “No, it’s not that. It’s something else.”
“Something that Laverna saddled you with?”
I pause, unsure if I should answer. “Yes.”
“If this is about that stupid owl, I swear I’ll get rid of him for you myself.”
I laugh abruptly, startled. “Why would you think it’s about the owl?”
He turns to look at me. It’s dark, so his brown eyes are gently lit with his fae magic. “How much do you know about him?”
The question makes me uncomfortable. Swallowing, I clasp my hands in my lap. “I did some research before I came to Moss Hollow. He’s an eastern screech owl.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then…what do you mean?” I ask, getting nervous.
“His name is Rowan, and he’s an idiot mage who turned himself into a bird. And if anyone should be stuck with him, it should be me.”