Laurie Forest - The Black Witch

“Lukas,” my brother replies coolly.

We both watch as Lukas strides off in the direction of his fellow soldiers and makes his exit with them.

Rafe turns to me, visibly relaxing. “I hear you were quite the star tonight.” His face takes on a look of mock suspicion. “Who are you, and what have you done with my shy, reserved sister?”

“I’m her glamoured double,” I laugh.

The foyer is now mostly empty, except for the two of us. It seems the party is dying down, the buzz of conversation emanating from the ballroom quieter, the music now absent.

“Hey, Ren,” Rafe says, his voice uncharacteristically serious, “you know I wouldn’t tell you how to run your life, right?”

I look up at him curiously, wondering what’s prompted this comment.

He inhales deeply, as if wanting to choose his words carefully. “I know Aunt Vyvian wants you fasted, but...don’t jump into anything with Lukas Grey, all right?”

I feel myself flushing and shrug evasively. “I’m not.”

“I’ve known him a long time,” Rafe cautions me. “And I know you’re smart, but so is he. And he has more...experience in the world.”

I purse my lips in embarrassed annoyance, wanting to ignore this.

Rafe lets out a long sigh and rubs at the bridge of his nose. “Just be careful, all right?”

“I will,” I promise edgily.

Upon hearing this, Rafe seems to relax, and his usual easy expression returns. “All right, all right,” he says, holding up his hands in mock defeat. “This concludes the overprotective older brother part of the evening.”

“Good,” I say with relief, attempting to bury his warning in the back of my mind. I notice a group of nice-looking girls hovering near the door to the ballroom, giggling and looking at Rafe.

“Hey, Rafe,” I say, “have you ever met Aislinn Greer?”

“Not formally.” He lifts one eyebrow in question.

“I just met her a while ago. I should introduce the two of you.”

He laughs. “You’re trying to set me up with her, aren’t you?”

“Okay, I realize you don’t need much help with that.” I glance over at the knot of giggling girls. I suspect they’ll converge around Rafe like a flock of geese as soon as I’m done talking to him. “Aislinn seems...different. She’s smart...nice...”

“I’ll tell you what,” he bargains, amused. “There’s a dance every Yule at University. You go with Gareth, and I’ll ask Aislinn Greer.”

“I can’t,” I say hesitantly, not wanting to displease my older brother. “I’ve already agreed to go with Lukas.”

“Elloren.” He reaches out to touch my arm, his voice once again serious. “I’m not kidding about Lukas Grey. Stay away from him. He’s incredibly powerful. You’re playing with fire there.”

Maybe I want to play with fire.

“Thanks for the warning,” I say, my tone completely and utterly noncommittal.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Wandfasting

“I received some correspondence this morning,” my aunt informs me as we sit in her breakfast alcove.

We’re surrounded on three sides by arching windows that overlook well-maintained gardens. A nearby display of blood-red roses pierces the gloomy, overcast day.

I can barely make out the sound of silverware on the gilded porcelain as my aunt neatly cuts into the omelete and spiced fruit before her. Her half-eaten scone sits pristinely on an adjacent plate. Everything she does—calligraphy, eating, dressing—is always so tidy. It’s easy to feel disheveled and bumbling next to her constant perfection. I glance down at my own half-eaten scone, a circle of fine crumbs orbiting the plate.

“Correspondence from whom?” I wonder as I try to clean up my stray crumbs with the tip of my finger.

“Lukas Grey’s parents.”

My finger freezes. I look up, my aunt taking her time with this news as she tranquilly sips at her tea.

“Are you friends with them, then?” I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral.

My aunt shoots me a bemused smile. “Of course, dear. I’ve known Lachlan and Evelyn for years.”

I take a small bite from my scone, attempting to appear nonchalant.

“Apparently,” she continues, as she cradles her teacup, “Lukas indicated to them last night that he would agree to fast to you.”

I choke on the scone. “What?”

My aunt flashes a large, white smile at me, like a cat that has just eaten a canary. “It seems you made quite an impression.”

“He wants to wandfast to me?” I sputter, crumbs flying from my mouth.

She eyes me quizzically. “Why are you so surprised? You’re of age, Elloren. Most Gardnerian girls your age are already fasted, or are soon about to be...”

“But I’ve only just met him!”

“That’s of no consequence,” she says, waving her hand dismissively.

I stare at her, stunned. Of no consequence. Seriously?

“We should arrange for the two of you to be fasted as soon as possible,” Aunt Vyvian states decidedly. “Enith...”

My aunt turns to the blue-skinned Urisk girl who helped me with my music last night. She stands against the wall, silent and expressionless, like a statue.

“Yes, ma’am?” Enith responds.

“Send word to the Greys,” my aunt instructs. “Let them know that Elloren is very pleased to accept Lukas’s proposal and that we would like to arrange for the fasting to take place as soon as possible. Perhaps after tomorrow’s church service.”

“Wait...” I plead, interrupting her. “I can’t fast to Lukas.”

Aunt Vyvian holds her scone in suspended animation. “What do you mean, you can’t?”

Enith is glowering at me, wide-eyed and appalled, like I’ve just thrown a jar of preserves at both of them.

“I’ve known him exactly one day.” Sweet Ancient One, what could Lukas be thinking?

“Elloren,” my aunt breathes, setting her scone down, “this type of proposal, from a family such as this, from a young man such as Lukas Grey, does not come along every day.”

“I’m sorry.” I shake my head. “I can’t. I’ve only just met him. And...and I promised Uncle Edwin...”

“Promised him what?”

“That I’ll wait until I’m done with my education to fast to someone.”

My aunt’s mouth falls open. “But that’s at least two years from now!”

“I know.”

“Elloren,” she says, her voice low, “you’d be a fool to turn down this proposal.”

My resolve stiffens. “Perhaps if he likes me that much, he can court me first.”

Her eyes take on a hard glint. “Perhaps I should send word to the Greys that they should reconsider their initial plan.”

“What plan?”

“Why, to have Lukas fasted to Fallon Bane, my dear.”

I freeze, completely thrown. “But,” I counter, “Lukas told me he’s not going to fast to Fallon.”

My aunt makes a sound of derision. “Really, Elloren. Do you honestly think he’ll wait for you forever?” Her gaze turns calculating. “I’m sure Fallon Bane would be happy to take your place.”

An unbidden image of Lukas kissing smug, perfect Fallon forms in my mind, his back to me as he clings to her passionately, her eyes open, glaring at me with malicious triumph. She wouldn’t hesitate to accept a wandfasting proposal from Lukas Grey.

But to fast to him after knowing him for only one day—that would be madness.

And Rafe has concerns. Enough to warn me off Lukas.

“Do you want to be alone all your life, Elloren?” my aunt coos, leaning forward. “Don’t you want to be fasted someday? To have a family? Do you know how unlikely that will be if you go unfasted for much longer?” She sits back. “Of course there will be a few choices left after you finish University. The young men that no one else wants. But is that what you really want?”