Page 52 of Grimoires & Glamoury

As soon as his fingers folded over mine, I felt his power. Another royal Fae, and if my memory served, he too was married to a mortal. Before I could remember exactly who his wife was, he had released me and was shaking Charles’ hand. Soon, he and Valentin Lowell began to talk as if the three of them were old friends.

The remaining female came down the steps last. Another brunette, she was also dressed casually in jeans, sneakers and a flowing purple top. Her dark brown hair was pulled up into a large bun, and golden pentagram earrings dangled from her ears. Meaning she was likely a Witch.

“Well, hey, it’s great to meet y’all!” she said to me, in a voice that rang with a Tennessee accent.

“Merry Meet,” I replied and found myself enveloped in a strong hug. Instantly, I liked her.

“I’m Giselle Mac Lir,” she introduced herself.

“Lorna Southern,” I said, trying to get a read on her.

Immediately I knew that Giselle was more. Her eyes were grayish blue and very shrewd, but I had the feeling she could have lifted me right off the ground with one arm—if she would have wanted to.

“My husband, Hayes, wasn’t able to join us today,” Giselle said. “He’s overseeing negotiations—a meeting—between the Pixies and the Water Sprites on Lake Eala.”

“Okay,” I said, my head spinning from the energetic overload of the presence of two royal Fae, the Hunter, a Vampire, and a Witch.

Giselle released me but slid her fingers down my arms to take my hands. “So, you’re the Magistra from Birmingham.” She gave me a friendly squeeze.

“I am.”

To my surprise she bent close and inhaled at the nape of my neck, taking a hit of my scent. “Ooh, you have some amazing power, lady!”

I blinked. Giselle had drawn in my scent the way a Lycan would. Suddenly it hit me. “You’re a hybrid,” I said. “Lycan and Witch?”

“You got that right.” She smiled. “My daddy is a Lycan. My momma is a Witch.”

“That’s amazing,” I said, and meant it.

“And you...” She narrowed her eyes as she considered. “Storm magick and elemental magick, with a bit of spirit communication… Am I right?”

I nodded. “You’re the first Witch to ever get that right on the nose.”

She tapped the side of her nose. “I can smell the lightning on you, girl.”

“So can I.” This came from Oona, who had moved closer and was considering me very carefully with her dark eyes. “You will have no cause to use that magick in my home, Lorna Southern,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to, Your Highness.”

Oona nodded. “You are safe here within the Sanctuary Lands. No Supernatural or any Fae will cause you harm while you stay within my territory.”

“I appreciate that,” I said in lieu of saying ‘thank you’ and causing her offense.

From off to the right, I heard heavy footsteps. I turned and my jaw dropped as a seven-foot-tall Fae, wearing a dark red flat cap, marched through the yard with a pikestaff hoisted over his massive shoulder.

“The Redcaps will patrol the grounds while we have our meeting,” Oona said. “Please come inside and be comfortable.”

“Wow,” I managed.

Giselle tucked my hand in the crook of her arm. “You’re not in Birmingham anymore.”

“Seeing a Redcap in the flesh was not on my yearly bingo card,” I admitted.

“Darlin’,” Giselle said, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” And with a chuckle, she led me up the stairs and into the house.

***

Giselle hadn’t been kidding. Because Charles and I found ourselves ushered inside and quickly seated around a kitchen table in Oona Archer’s rustic and charming kitchen. Once there, a meeting was promptly held with several of the members of the Ozark Council of Supernaturals...and a few other beings. And honestly, it was wild.