Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LIORA
Ididn’t even bother arguing with Torin this time.
Instead, I let him drop me off at the castle and promised I’d text him or get a ride home with one of the girls as needed.
I wasn’t sure how long he was going to keep this up for, but I didn’t have the heart to argue with him after the experience we’d shared today.
My brain was still playing unicorn re-runs on a loop.
A freaking unicorn. In the garden. Bowing.
Sure, why not. Totally normal Sunday, as Bracken said.
I was still buzzing with excitement when I rounded the castle, unsure of what door to enter, to find absolute chaos on the lawn.
There I found Sophie bouncing up and down, squealing at a pitch that could shatter glass, currently wrapped around a tall, lean man with dark-rimmed glasses and California written all over him.
His suitcase lay abandoned at his feet, and he was hugging her back with a fondly exasperated expression, as if this wasn’t the first time she’d assaulted him with her entire body weight.
Beside them, an older woman with a floral headband, a bright pink jumper, and paint-splattered jeans, was laughing, arms spread wide as five Scottie dogs zoomed frantic circles around her legs like wee hairy satellites.
Sir Buster raced around the outside of them, having an absolute fit, which they completely ignored, while Lady Lola sat close by, seemingly uninterested in the new arrivals.
Lachlan, Sophie’s boyfriend that I’d only met briefly in passing, stood behind them, arms folded, wearing a smug expression.
My heart did a little flip.
“Sophie?” I asked, stepping shyly forward. “Did the party start already?”
Sophie twisted so fast she nearly knocked the man over. “Liora!”
She barreled toward me, hair flying, her face lit up.
I caught her in a hug, laughing. “Someone’s excited.”
“Of course I’m excited!” she said, pulling back just enough to grab my shoulders and shake me a little. “Look who Lachlan brought me for Christmas. Early. Like a surprise package of emotional support humans. This is my second mom, Lottie, and my bestie, Matthew.”
“Oh, that’s awesome,” I said, waving at the new arrivals. “Welcome.”
“He’s here for the holidays. And Lottie too. They’re staying here. In Loren Brae. For two months!”
She sounded so giddy I half expected her to start tap dancing.
Matthew sauntered over, adjusting his glasses and eyeing the castle. “I see you’ve cleaned her up a bit since the last time I was here.”
“When I’m not busy trying to protect Loren Brae,” Sophie said cheerfully. “Matthew, this is Liora. She’s an astrologer and just joined the Order earlier this week.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I shook Matthew’s hand and found his eyes to be kind and his smile genuine. I was surprised he knew about the Order, but it seemed that it wasn’t as much a secret as I’d first thought.
“I’m Matthew. I teach history and make poor romantic decisions in foreign countries.”
I laughed, already liking him.
“Believe it or not, that’s the most succinct intro he’s ever given,” Sophie said.
Lottie trotted up behind him, five Scotties trooping along like a tiny army. “Oh, introduce me,” she said, eyes sparkling. “I need to know which one is the star witch.”
Lottie clasped my hands, her rings cool against my skin. Up close, I could see faint paint smudges on her fingers and a streak of something teal in her hair.
“Lovely to meet you, dear. Don’t mind if I’m a bit short tonight, we’ve only just arrived and it was a long flight.”
“On a private plane.” Matthew rolled his eyes and looked fondly at Lottie. “Where it was hard to tell who was snoring more loudly, you or the dogs.”
“Oh hush.” Lottie swatted his arm. “I do not snore.”
“Mmmhm, must have been the dogs then.”
I loved these two.
“And speaking of dogs…” Her voice brightened as she looked down at the Scotties. “This is my chaotic crew.”
The dogs all stared at me.
“Hi,” I said weakly. “I don’t have any treats, sorry.”
One of them trotted forward and sniffed my ankle, then sneezed. Within seconds I was surrounded by scruffy, enthusiastic Scottie affection.
“You’ve been accepted,” Lottie declared. “They only do that to people they deem worthy. Or people who smell like food. Which, in this crowd, is most of us.”
“Speaking of food,” Sophie said, practically bouncing. “We need to get inside. The girls are already in Grasshopper.”
She linked her arm through mine and started hauling me toward the castle doors. “Lottie and Matthew are joining us tonight, by the way. I told them it was ‘girls’ dinner,’ but Matthew is an honorary girl, and Lottie obviously counts.”
“I have always counted,” Lottie agreed serenely, following with her Scottie parade. “Also, I brought wine.”
Matthew sighed happily. “And I brought emotional baggage and the desperate desire for a life change. Should fit right in.”
“Oh good,” I said faintly. “Because I was worried we might not have enough of that already.”
The restaurant was glowing.
The castle’s restaurant had been transformed into a witch’s version of a Sunday night dinner.
A long table was set near the big windows, candles flickering in mismatched holders, greenery twined down the center, and what felt like a hundred tiny fairy lights draped along the stone walls.
Did they put all this on for just us? I was in awe but then remembered Brice and how quickly he managed to get work done.
A group of women surrounded the table and all beamed at me.
“Matthew!” Lia cried and rounded the table. There were a few hugs and then Sophie clapped her hands.
“Right, everyone. I have three introductions to make tonight, instead of just Liora.” Sophie waved at me. “This is Matthew, my bestie from home whom some of you already know, along with the best second mom in the world, Lottie.”
Lottie bowed and the table clapped.
“And Liora, an astrologer, and our newest member of the Order.” Sophie waved to me and I smiled at everyone. “Okay, let’s do this quickly. Pay attention, Lottie. You know Agnes.”
Agnes waved from her end of the table, curls in a messy halo, paint-smudged hands wrapped around a wine glass.
“Next to her is Shona.” A woman sat with pink cheeks, blond hair in a messy braid, a small posy of winter greenery tied with twine at her plate.
Lia moved around the table with a dish towel slung over one shoulder, hands in perpetual motion as she set out little dishes of olives and something that smelled cheesy and sinful.
“Next to her is Orla, the one in her usual builder chic, canvas overalls and boots.” A tiny woman with a wide smile waved.
“Next to her is our fashionista, Willow.” The woman next to Orla wore a leather shirt dress, cinched at the waist with a wide belt, and huge doorknocker earrings.
“After that, we have Kaia, our lovely metalsmith, and next to her is Faelan, our vet.”
I waved at Kaia and Faelan.
“That’s everyone. Please, talk among yourselves while I find Lachlan and thank him for this gift.”
“Ugh, please, thank him later. You won’t get back in time for dinner,” Matthew groaned.
“I could be quick,” Sophie argued.
“Nope, not gonna happen. I know how you two get around each other.”
“Sit,” Lia ordered. “Eat. Tell us everything about California and men who don’t deserve you.”
“Gladly,” Matthew exclaimed, sliding into a chair and pulling Sophie down with him, seemingly to keep her from absconding with Lachlan.
In fast order, Brice appeared and slung pizzas across the table, along with heaping bowls of pasta, and baskets of crusty bread. The smell of garlic and rosemary filled the room, and collectively the table all sighed with appreciation.
Lia plopped down in her chair and sighed, happy to be done with cooking.
“Seriously, guys, go on and eat.” Lia smiled at me. “And we’ll drill Liora on if any of her powers have come out yet.”
I blanched and then took a healthy gulp of my wine.
“Oh, something’s happened, hasn’t it?” Orla, the wee builder, asked, studying my face. “You look stressed.”
“I mean, it’s not the worst thing. It’s just … I can’t really explain it.” I glanced to Matthew and Lottie, not sure if I should continue.
“Go on, they know everything. This is a group you can be totally open with. Even when it’s annoying.” Sophie gave Matthew a look and he laughed.
“Don’t act like you aren’t all up in my life too, lady.”
“Well, so, I don’t know how to say this.
” I took a bite of my pizza and sighed in happiness as red sauce and warm cheese filled my mouth.
I chewed for a moment, thinking it through.
“Basically, I gave a reading, an astrology reading like I normally do. But nothing was normal about it. Not even in the slightest. It was like, I don’t know, it took life?
And in it, I learned that I’m a chartweaver. ”
The table fell completely silent as everyone stilled and looked curiously at me.
Lia leaned back in her chair, studying me with those sharp brown eyes. “So.” She dragged out the word. “Chartweaver, huh?”
I took a breath. “Apparently.”
“Um, please explain,” Willow said, eyes bright, a smile hovering on her lips.
I laughed, nerves easing. “Okay, but honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out myself. I’ll do my best to explain.”
I ran my fingers along the edge of my wine glass, grounding myself. “Yesterday I did a reading for a woman named Greta. Widow, two young kids, just dealing with some stuff. I pulled up her chart and … something happened.”
“Awww, Greta,” Shona interjected, holding her hand to her heart. “How is she? I spent some time with her last year and was able to help her process some of her grief.”
“She’s good, I think. Or will be,” I said, trying to think of how to protect Greta’s confidentiality.
“What kind of something?” Kaia asked, bringing us back to my explanation.