Chapter 4
Taking Cynthia’s hand was like plunging her own into a frigid lake and holding onto an electric eel. A current of power tore through Helena, but she refused to let go. Not until she broke through Cynthia’s barrier.
Holy Hecate!
She closed her eyes, knowing they would be bright silver, but Cynthia’s thoughts remained hidden as the electric current increased, creating a buzz in Helena’s ears.
A strangled cry escaped before Helena was forced to let go of Cynthia’s hand and step back. She was breathing heavily and felt like she’d just come out of a raging sea. No doubt puddles were gathering around her leather boots.
Blinking to clear her eyes, she clashed gazes with Cynthia. The woman must have felt the extraordinary jolt of energy because her cheeks flushed and she blinked rapidly.
During the entire encounter, Cynthia’s thoughts were still hidden from Helena.
‘What the blazes was that?’ Cynthia’s breathless words stroked like cool fingers over Helena’s senses.
‘Static electricity,’ Helena muttered, not caring if Cynthia believed her.
‘That was hardly static electricity!’
‘Something is amiss.’
‘You don’t say? What the bloody hell is going on?’ Cynthia looked from Helena to Uncle Lachlan to Clio. ‘I might be in shock, but I’m not stupid. You aren’t telling me something. Out with it. Now.’
The command in Cynthia’s voice was impossible to ignore. Helena never reacted well to orders, but something about the marchioness wielding such power stroked along Helena’s spine, tightening her skin and creating a warm flow of energy from her chest to her fingers and toes.
Whatever Cynthia was guilty of, being a coward wasn’t it. She didn’t bruise like a flower in a hailstorm, which only added to her appeal and increased Helena’s frustration.
Clio tugged Cynthia back onto the couch and patted her hand reassuringly. ‘There are probably a few things you should know about the Blair women.’
‘Clio!’ Helena’s sharp tone had Hamlet yipping as he bumped his head against her skirts. What was her cousin thinking? They didn’t reveal their abilities to anyone who wasn’t coven or kin. Helena had made the mistake once with deadly consequences. She wasn’t about to let Clio repeat her errors.
Clio’s amber eyes flashed dangerously as the gas lights flared. ‘She is family now, Helena. And she needs to understand.’
‘Understand what?’ Cynthia’s dark brows creased her smooth forehead as she looked from Clio to Helena and back again.
‘She isn’t my family,’ Helena muttered, earning another vicious glare from Clio.
She turned to Cynthia, softening her gaze. ‘Ellie, Helena, Aunt Rowan, and I have certain abilities that give us, er, skills most others don’t have.’ She patted Cynthia’s hand.
Helena’s own fingers twitched at the memory of how soft Cynthia’s skin felt, like petals kissed by the morning sun.
‘Skills?’ Cynthia shook her head. ‘What kind of skills? And what does this have to do with Hubert’s death?’
‘Just show her, lass.’ Uncle Lachlan’s gruff voice carried easily across the quiet room.
Panic gripped Helena. This was a terrible idea.
To reveal such intimate, potentially deadly secrets about themselves to someone as well-connected as Lady Cynthia Burrows was foolish.
There was no telling how she would react, what kind of hell she could bring down upon them if she wished. ‘Think about what you are doing, Clio.’
Her cousin smiled. ‘I have thought about this. And I trust Cynthia. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt us. Just as she didn’t do anything to hurt Lord Burrows.’
‘We don’t know that. You are gambling with our lives.’
Cynthia’s back stiffened. ‘I would never put my friends or family at risk. And I did not kill my husband. If you had made the slightest effort to know me at all, you wouldn’t be wasting your time quizzing me about Hubert’s murder.
’ Cynthia’s sharp syllables cut through Helena’s jealousy and judgement.
She sucked in a harsh breath, but Clio interrupted her before she could launch a rebuttal.
‘Hel, you don’t trust Cynthia, but you do trust me. Would I ever put your life in danger?’ Clio’s fire sparked as her words added to an ugly feeling building like a swell within Helena. Because she knew her cousin would always protect her coven.
But fear still gripped her, sucking her down into cold, dark waters. ‘Never. But she might.’ Helena thrust her chin at Cynthia, unwilling to reveal secrets to someone who could become their enemy.
Cynthia’s glare was akin to harnessing sunlight through a magnifying glass. ‘You are a very disagreeable woman.’
‘I would rather be disagreeable than a slave to society’s whims.’ Helena raised a brow in silent challenge.
‘How lovely that you have a choice. Some of us are born into expectations we can never escape.’ Cynthia turned away, silently dismissing her.
Helena didn’t need to hear Cynthia’s thoughts to know she had wounded the woman. The wave of shame gathered strength as it crested. Not that she cared about the marchioness’ feelings. Much.
Cynthia gripped Clio’s hand. ‘You are my sister now. Whatever secrets you share will remain safe with me.’
‘This is a rather large secret.’ Clio’s small smile was full of faith that Helena couldn’t understand.
She pulled her hand free, turned her palm upward, and a blue flame flickered then flared.
Helena nearly stepped forward, nearly doused Clio’s fire with her own power, but it was too late. Their witchcraft was revealed.
To Cynthia’s credit, instead of leaping away, shrieking, or swooning, her berry lips fell open on a silent inhalation. ‘What trickery is this?’
Clio’s flame flared higher as all the lights in the room glowed bright. ‘Not trickery. Magic.’
Cynthia shook her head, confirming Helena’s suspicions. She would reject them. Reject what she couldn’t understand. ‘You aren’t making any sense.’
Wiggling her fingers, the flame sparked and danced as Clio kept her gaze on Cynthia. ‘Sometimes, the universe defies sense. We are witches. Aunt Rowan, Ellie, Helena, and I.’
‘Witches?’ Cynthia’s eyes widened as she turned to her brother. ‘Thomas… you can’t believe—’
‘I do. Because it is true. Look at the evidence in front of you, Cynthia. Clio is a witch, and I love her all the more for it.’
Cynthia looked over his shoulder, trying to process what she was seeing.
What she was being told. Helena begrudgingly gave her credit for not panicking, or flinging out accusations, or storming out of the parlour.
Helena had seen affection turn into hatred and love twist into something vicious and hungry.
But Cynthia seemed to be trying to make sense of what defied logic.
She refocused on Thomas. ‘When did you discover this?’
Thomas’ cheeks flushed. He was inherently an honest person. It had to wear on him that he had kept such a secret from his sister. ‘At the Duchess of Devon’s house party. When we were investigating Viscount Beachley’s murder.’
‘That was months ago! How did you find out?’
He cleared his throat and glanced at his new wife. An unspoken message passed between them. Or perhaps a memory that Helena refused to steal from their minds. Some things deserved to remain private. Besides, she had no wish to see any scandalous moments between her cousin and Thomas.
‘Clio exposed her… that is to say, she revealed her gifts to me.’
I bet she exposed more than just her magic to you.
Cynthia’s hazel eyes darkened. ‘Why didn’t you tell me then? Do you not trust me?’ She looked from Clio to Thomas, and the heartbreak missing from her response to Hubert’s death was suddenly very apparent.
I will not feel sorry for a wealthy, pampered marchioness whose feelings are hurt because her friend is keeping secrets. Important and incredibly dangerous secrets.
‘I wanted to tell you, Cynthia. I was waiting for the right time, but Alcott seems to have skipped the chapter on when to reveal your magical powers in The Young Woman’s Guide to Excellence.’ Clio’s weak attempt at humour fell flat.
Cynthia swallowed, her delicate throat constricting as she squared her shoulders.
She exhaled slowly before addressing her brother.
‘Thomas. I stood with you when your reputation was in tatters. When the entire beau monde accused you of being the worst kind of rakehell, I went toe to toe with every duchess, viscountess, marchioness, and debutante who dared speak a word against you. You didn’t think I would support you now? ’
Lieutenant General Grey dropped his gaze, and Helena found a measure of comfort knowing she wasn’t the only one feeling ashamed. It inspired an alarming sense of empathy for him, and she wasn’t even sure she liked Thomas. ‘I never doubted your loyalty, Cyn. I should have told you.’
‘I asked him to keep my secret until I could share it with you at the right time,’ Clio added. ‘It wasn’t Thomas’ fault. If you need to be angry with someone, be angry with me. I have treasured our friendship, and I was scared I might lose you.’
Helena’s need to protect those she loved rose like a fountain. She dared Cynthia to turn her anger on Clio. Helena would stand in the gap between them and see exactly how fierce the marchioness could be before she would let her hurt Clio. But Cynthia continued to defy Helena’s expectations.
The proper lady pulled Clio into a tight hug.
‘You can never lose me, Clio. I have longed for a sister who would love Thomas the way he deserved. From the moment we met, I knew you were perfect for my brother, and your friendship has been a boon to me. Nothing can change that.’ Sitting back, Cynthia shook her head, her hazel eyes sparkling with wonder.
‘Not even discovering you’re a witch.’ She laughed, a melody of sound inviting everyone in the room to join her.
‘I can’t believe I’m even saying the words. This is nonsensical.’
Cynthia so easily accepting them after knowing the truth of who they really were was impossible. Helena instinctively rejected the idea.