Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Over the next few days, Meadow met with Nadia and practiced gathering her magic, releasing it, and repeating the process until exhaustion set in.
And by the fourth day, when Giles Dawson returned as a volunteer again, Meadow was able to temper how much magic she released and determine the limit where it started to affect Giles.
While she’d have to test out her limits further on those more susceptible to magic, it made her feel like she’d accomplished something.
Because as well-meaning as Stacey had been, she hadn’t possessed the patience to repeat exercises until Meadow found her “sweet spot” for weaving magic without exhausting herself.
Once she finished her most recent lesson and was alone for barely a minute, there was a knock and Yesenia entered, with Nora right behind her.
She stood and hugged her sister before asking, “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you to visit today.”
Yesenia waved a hand in dismissal. “It took some convincing before Leo said it was okay.” She winked. “But he’s easier to manage than you think.”
Nora sighed. “That’s my brother you’re talking about.”
Yesenia snorted. “Well, when you have three siblings matched with three siblings and one unrelated person, that’s what’s going to happen.
I guess we can all drool over Joseph?” She glanced back at Meadow.
“Have you seen him with his shirt off yet? He might be the quieter one of the pair, but sometimes the serious ones can surprise you.”
Meadow fought a blush. “Er, no. Considering the last time I saw them I had puffy red eyes and snot coming out of my nose, they weren’t exactly inspired to strip and seduce me. They’ve obviously stayed clear of me ever since.”
Even to her own ears, she sounded irritated.
Nora smiled. “Only because Dark Lord Khan ordered them to, until this evening.”
“Wait, what? Why would Dark Lord Khan order them to stay away? I thought I had free rein to see them.”
“You were given permission to travel to the vampire territory, yes, but not the other way around,” Nora replied. “And crossing the boundaries without an invitation is unwise, given the fear the fae witches still have surrounding vampires.”
“Do they bully you, Nora?” Meadow demanded, ready to stand up to anyone who mistreated her kind sister-in-law.
“No, no, not since the first few days. Between River and my own actions helping in the clinic, they’ve come to like or at least tolerate me.”
Meadow huffed. “Still, if they ever say something mean, tell me.”
“I will, although you’ll have to stand behind River.”
As Nora smiled fondly, Meadow’s heart ached. Would she ever have that dreamy look on her face too about a male? Or, maybe, about two males?
Yesenia shook her head, interrupting her thoughts. “At any rate, for a fae witch, Khan definitely thinks like a vampire when it comes to language and negotiations or orders. You can tell he doesn’t understand the pull of a fated one. Too bad he’ll never have one himself.”
“It’s possible he ends up as one of a vampire or shifter, though,” Nora stated.
Yesenia smiled deviously. “Hmm, there’s an idea.
” She looked back at Meadow. “At any rate, do you want to see Laurie and Joseph? Laurie’s been moping a bit lately—he’s not as good at hiding his emotions as Joseph—and you could go to Nyx’s Kingdom tonight.
There’s a masquerade ball, and while I’m close to convincing Leo to go to one, he’s not quite there yet.
But you could go and tell me about it, and then I can maybe use that to get my husband to say yes. ”
“So much for Leo being a super-powerful Dark Lord,” Meadow drawled.
Yesenia smirked. “He is for everyone else.”
Meadow laughed.
Nora spoke up. “So? Will you go then? Because if so, we’ll help you get ready.”
Meadow had been trying not to miss the vampire males, but had failed miserably. She’d hesitated about sending messages to them, certain they’d had enough of her problems, especially when it came to her magic.
Yesenia placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Both Laurie and Joseph are grumpier than usual, and it’s because they haven’t been able to see you. And before you say it’s just the need to claim you, I think it’s more.” She paused, searched Meadow’s eyes, and asked, “Isn’t it?”
At one time, she’d told Yesenia almost everything.
However, during the three years when she’d believed her older sister had been dead, some of that closeness had faded. She wanted it back, and yet, she didn’t want to disappoint Yesenia, who had sacrificed so much to help her and River.
Yesenia pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to get you here. If I’d only trained more and been a little more patient, I could’ve timed it better so that you came to us sooner. But I was desperate to have you safe, and it ended up causing you pain anyway.”
She tightened her arms around her sister. “Rationally, I know that. And I forgive you, I promise you, I do. But it’s going to take some time for me to really accept that you and River are alive and well, and that you didn’t forget about me.”
Yesenia squeezed and then leaned back to meet her gaze again.
“As much as the older sister in me wants to demand you tell me everything, I understand and will try not to ask too often about Laurie and Joseph. But I will continue to ask, Meadow, because I want you to be happy, no matter what that means for you in this time.” She hesitated and then asked, “I know it’s only been about ten days since you arrived, but do you think you can be happy here?
Eventually, I’ll be skilled enough to send you back to the future.
I don’t want you to go, but I will do whatever you decide, I promise. ”
She smiled at her sister. “I think eventually I can be happy here. Between actual magic lessons, you and River, and my new friends like Nora and Nadia, I like it here. Well, most of the time. I have to admit I miss ebooks and the ability to check them out from the library and download them seconds later.”
“Ah, yes, Wi-Fi. I missed it a lot more at first, but I’ve sort of gotten used to not having it.
As long as I have hot water, a flushing toilet, and electric lights, I can handle this time period; luckily, my husband has the money for all those things.
But as for your book problem, I know Leo has a giant library, as do Laurie and Joseph.
The books might be a little more slow-paced, given the slower pace of life in general here, but there are still some good ones.
Or, hey, maybe you could write a book and see what happens.
Nothing that crosses the line about sharing future knowledge, but I’m sure people would read your stories.
Females, in particular, could do with more books that have strong heroines. ”
She frowned. “I can’t believe you remembered that I always wanted to write a book.”
Yesenia nodded. “I know you stopped thinking about it once you got your magic, but without TV or the internet or even radio, you’ll have a lot more time to fill.
Because even if you end up working at Nyx’s Kingdom, you would get to pick and choose your hours.
And in your downtime, you can’t have sex all the time. ”
Fighting a blush, Meadow wondered if she could start writing again. She’d loved creating stories as a teen, until her magic had appeared and upended her world.
As she thought about writing ideas down in her journal, Nora spoke up. “I’d love to read anything you write, once you get started, Meadow. Whilst I’m much better than I was before I met River, reading about a strong heroine might inspire me to try even harder to be one myself.”
Meadow took one of Nora’s hands and squeezed.
She’d learned a little more about the female’s past in recent days—about her being sold as a breeder by her father and being sexually assaulted, as well as her babies being taken from her—and couldn’t help but say, “You’re amazing already, Nora.
We aren’t all on the same journey, and we have to take the wins when and where we can. ”
Nora nodded. “I like that. And yes, we should. All of us.”
Ack, she meant her, too. “I’m trying, but it’s going to take more lessons and being able to control my magic in public without a training bracelet before I stop hating my powers.”
“Trust me, I understand better than most that it takes time to change routines or how you see the world. If you ever want to talk, I’m here. I know I’m not your blood-sister, but I always wanted sisters growing up, and I’d love you to be mine, just like Yesenia has become one.”
“Hm, a vampire sister. I’d like that, and not just because my father would have a heart attack if he knew about it, either. You’ve been so kind to me, Nora, and I really appreciate it. You’re far too good for River.”
Laughing, Nora shook her head before replying, “Not true, but thank you.” She tilted her head and asked, “So, will you go to the ball at Nyx’s Kingdom tonight?
It’s a masked affair, and we can even do your hair to hide your ears, if you like.
But it might be nice to take a break from your lessons and have some fun.
It’ll also give you a chance to see Laurie and Joseph in their element.
Well, more Laurie than Joseph, but both will dance, if you ask them to. ”
“Er, I don’t know how to dance.”
Nora tapped her chin. “I’m sure we have enough time to teach you how to waltz. If you’re not too tired, that is?”
Before she could change her mind, she blurted, “No, I’m not too tired. I’d love to learn the waltz and go tonight.”
Nora clapped her hands. “Brilliant. Then let’s see what you have in your wardrobe and then I can teach you the waltz. We might even get River to help, as I’ve taught him, too.”
Yesenia snorted. “I’d pay to see River dance.”
Nora said, “He’s quite good, actually. Even if he holds me a little too close.”
Meadow imagined Joseph holding her close before giving her to Laurie, who definitely moved his hand too far south, and anticipation coursed through her.
While she had a long way to go before she could be considered a social butterfly, she didn’t have to hide away any longer. And she’d always dreamed of balls and dancing and the things that rarely happened in the twenty-first century any longer.
Damn it, I’m tired of cowering. I want to have fun, and this will be like a dream.
Even so, she needed one caveat. “I can wear long gloves over my training bracelet, though, right? I don’t want it to come off.”
Yesenia nodded. “We’ll make it work. They have loads of buttons on a lot of fancy gloves here, so we should be able to fit one over the bracelet easily.” She studied Meadow for a beat and asked, “So that’s a yes?”
“Yes, I’ll go. Although I don’t know what to wear.”
Nora threaded her arm through Meadow’s. “More of your dresses arrived today, including one I bought for you as a gift, just in case you ever wanted to attend a masquerade ball at Nyx’s Kingdom.”
Yesenia jumped in. “And I brought along some of the jewelry Leo inherited from his ancestors. You’ll look like a queen when we’re through!”
Meadow laughed. “This is like when I was really little and you liked to dress me up.”
She’d seen some of the photos before their father had kicked Yesenia out and burned them all.
Yesenia winked. “This will be even better since you actually want to dress up. Now, let’s go. There’s a lot to do and not much time to do it.”
And as her sister and sister-in-law taught her to dance and helped her dress, Meadow laughed and smiled, and all around had more fun than she’d had in a long time.
However, as much as she loved spending time with the two females, she was looking forward to the ball.
And by the time she was in the carriage and on her way, she tapped her foot and did her best to push aside the past, her worries, and anything negative. She wanted to have fun, get to know her two vampires, and maybe forget about the rest of the world for a short while, too.