With a little shiver, Shana blew the candle out.
She’d done a few spells before—coaxing Loren to show her. But she’d never done anything this complex, or anything on her own.
Now she smiled at the clear, quiet liquid in the bowl. She would learn more, she decided. She had a few drops of Wise in her, after all, from her mother’s mother’s mother.
She poured the potion from the bowl into a small vial, closed it with a stopper.
She would dress, aye, she would be sure to look her very best, then go up to Keegan’s chambers before the Welcome.
She knew just what to do, what to say.
And before the moons rose, she would have all she’d ever wanted.
Breen Kelly would be sent back to her own world, Tarryn back to the valley.
And she would take her place at the council table. She’d share Keegan’s handsome chambers in the tower—and make a few changes there, of course. And she’d plan a lavish wedding, one suited for a queen.
Imagining it, she opened her wardrobe to select which gown she should wear when Keegan pronounced his love.
Even as she reached for one, someone tap-tapped on her door. Before she could call out, it opened.
With a hesitant smile, her styling case in hand, Kiara poked her head in. “I’ve come to do your hair. Are you still angry with me? Oh, Shana, I don’t want you to be angry with me. I can’t bear it!”
As she hadn’t given Kiara a thought all day, it took Shana a moment. Remembering, she put on a pout. She wanted her hair styled, of course, but wanted a bit of groveling first.
“Ah, so you’ve done your new friend’s hair already, have you then? And now have a bit of time for me?”
“Oh, Shana, no!” Hurrying in, Kiara closed the door behind her. “I’ve come straight to you after minding some of the littles. Never would I want to hurt your feelings so, and I’ve been half-sick on it all day. I won’t do her hair again, I promise you. So come and sit, won’t you? I’ve a style in mind for you that will turn heads.”
Kiara started for the dressing table, and stopped when she saw the red candle, the bowl, the remainder of the ingredients used in the spell.
“What are you doing here, Shana?”
Cursing herself, Shana waved a hand as she strolled over to gather up herbs and oils. “I thought to try making a scent for myself, but I couldn’t get it right.”
Kiara laid a hand on Shana’s arm. “No, that’s not what you were about, no, it isn’t. You mustn’t do this, Shana, you mustn’t do such a bad thing as this.”
“I don’t know what you could be talking about.” Furious all over again, Shana yanked open a drawer, intending to shove everything inside to deal with later.
“You’ve already done it, I can see it on your face.” Heartsick, fearful with it, Kiara tightened her grip. “I can see the candle’s already been lit and put out again. Oh, Shana, why would you do such a thing? It’s against our laws, and you know full well. A love spell takes choice away, and can cause the one bespelled to do things he’d never do, do them out of jealousy or despair.”
“Now you lecture me? Go, just go. I’ll do my own hair.”
Truly shocked, Kiara took a step back. “Oh, gods help us, Shana, you mean to bespell Keegan. The taoiseach! Shana, you would be banned from the Capital, and your family disgraced! Worse, you could be banished altogether, for you’d break one of the First Laws.”
“I’ll not be banned or banished or anything of the sort, as he’ll be devoted to me, as I’ll take my place as his wife and his hand. And I’ve earned that, right enough.
“And you’ll be quiet about this,” Shana added, giving Kiara a shove. “You’ll say nothing, do you hear me, or you’ll be the one sent from the Capital.”
“You’re angry now, and hurt more than I knew, and I’m so sorry for it. You’re just not thinking clear, that’s what this is.” Even as her eyes pleaded, Kiara kept her tone gentle. “Give me the potion, and I’ll destroy it. We’ll never speak of it. I’ll tell no one of it.”
“You’d best be telling no one, or you’ll pay for it, I promise you that.” Snarling it, she shoved Kiara back another full step. “Now take your bloody case and go. You’re a false friend, I see that clear enough.”
“I’m as true a friend as you’ve ever had, and so I’ll save you from yourself.” She didn’t pick up the case, but turned to the door. “You won’t give me the potion, but you’ll give it to my mother right enough.”
“You’d betray me?”
Eyes full of tears, Kiara looked back. “I would save you.”
She’d nearly reached the door when Shana grabbed the vase, rushed after her. Brought it down on her.
When Kiara fell, when Shana saw the blood, she thought she’d struck harder than perhaps she’d meant.
“Can’t be helped,” she mumbled. “You turned on me, and would have ruined everything. The fault’s your own.”
No time now to put on her dress, to style her hair. When Kiara woke—if she woke—she’d go running to her ma.
But when Keegan drank the potion, when she had his heart, he’d deal with them.
With all of them.
She stepped around Kiara, closed and locked the door, and began to make her way to the tower rooms of the taoiseach.
In her room, Breen put away the gift for Marg. She filled Bollocks’s water bowl, brought the fire up to a satisfying snap, then poured herself a glass of wine.
“The Capital’s interesting,” she told the dog. “But I’ll be ready to get back to the valley. And to our cottage. But right now, I have to work myself up to a party mood.”
She opened the wardrobe to lay out the blue dress, and instead pulled out the one hanging beside it, and read the note from her grandmother.
A Welcome is a bit fancier than a ceilidh, less so than a ball. Remember all the years I couldn’t give you pretty things, and enjoy this, as I enjoy the giving of it. Bright blessings, mo stór.
“Nan.” Breen sighed it as she took out a dress the color of moonlight mists.
It felt just as soft, she thought as she held it up, turned to the mirror. The thin layers of the skirt floated down to just above her ankles with the faintest of sparkles, like faerie lights through that mist. The long sleeves came to points, and the square bodice dipped considerably lower than the more modest neckline of the blue.
“Well, it’s gorgeous, and it deserves some sparkly pins in the hair, like Marco said. Let’s go find Kiara, Bollocks, and see about a loan.”
The dog went out with her, and she realized she had no idea where Kiara’s room might be. She started to tap on Marco’s door to see if he did, and saw Brigid.
“Is there something you’re needing?”
“I was hoping to ask Kiara for something, but I don’t know where her room is.”
“Well now, I’m happy to show you. It’s down in the other wing.”
“I appreciate it.”
“And so did you enjoy your afternoon in the village?” Brigid asked as she led the way.
“I did. So much to see.”
“Yes, and a fine day to see it. And tonight should be fine as well. Here’s Kiara’s room. Will she be doing your hair? She’s brilliant with hair.”
“I just wanted to see if she had some pins I could use tonight.” Breen knocked. “She told me she already promised to do someone else’s.”
Brigid slid her gaze to the door one down from Kiara’s. “Likely that one. Shana, that is. She’s likely in Shana’s room now, fixing it up for her.”