Gossamer in the Darkness (Fantasyland)

“My king—”

“Regardless that he needed to learn when to be silent, it is illegal to place curses in this realm, or any realm in the Northlands or Southlands,” Noctorno shared. “I sense, as you took pains to hide your powers, you’re quite aware of that fact.”

She decided not to try to speak this time.

“And it’s a high crime to amass magic without permission from the crown,” he went on. “But more, you aren’t even registered as magical.”

When Noctorno finished speaking, and didn’t start again, she decided to give it another go.

“I—”

“We found Sjofn ice diamonds,” he cut her off. “Firenzian rubies. Lunwynian furs. Dellish wool. And a good deal of coin. You’ve become quite rich, selling curses and spells.”

“My magic is almost depleted, laying down that curse,” she informed him.

“Laying down those curses and bringing forth women from the other world.”

Mom made a quiet noise.

Slowly, my eyes closed, and I felt my shoulders slump.

Yes, Loren knew.

He knew I was what Dad-not-Dad said I was.

A swindler.

A fraud.

A liar.

“What’s he on about?” Aunt Mary whispered.

No one answered her.

“I came from nothing. I have a talent. It is not fair that magic is regulated,” the witch asserted.

“She has a point,” the redhead noted in a droll, silky voice.

The king shook his head with exasperation but kept his attention on the woman floating in front of him.

And his voice was quiet, and even mildly forlorn, when he said, “You know the punishment for this.”

“My king!” she cried, which meant she knew, and it was less fun than being at the king’s leisure.

“I wouldn’t have denied you,” he informed her. “I have denied no witch who has come forward. If her intentions were pure and good, she was granted my leave. We have many witches who have greatly grown in their craft since we defeated Minerva and her connivers. I’ve even sent some talented youngsters to Lunwyn to study with Lavinia.”

“I…did not know that,” the witch replied wretchedly.

“Because you didn’t submit your application,” he returned. “And because public sentiment will need much healing in its regard of witches before these women feel safe and comfortable to practice again openly. And, I will note, something that doesn’t assist in this matter is witches who practice like you.”

She grew silent again.

“You’ve given me no choice,” he stated. “And it disappointments me, because it’s clear you have a gift, and it has been a gift squandered.”

He waited.

She said nothing.

He turned to the redhead. “Is she bound?”

“She is,” the redhead replied.

“Is her curse broken?” he continued.

“On the women, yes. On that man, no.”

On the women?

Mom and I weren’t cursed anymore?

Noctorno sighed. “Release him from the curse.”

The woman in green rolled her eyes, kept them rolled, lifted her fingers and snapped.

“There. That odious man can speak again. Happy?” she asked insolently.

Who was this woman?

The king didn’t answer her.

He looked somewhere else and murmured, “You can take her now.”

Two women, well-dressed, eyes focused on the witch, came forward, and it was then I glanced around the room to see no guard, no person, no one but the king’s retinue, our group, the witch, and those two women.

One lifted a hand and the witch who brought us to that world drifted toward her.

They didn’t use the main doors to leave.

They went out a door in the back.

It was over.

I watched, feeling weird. Hollow and listless and spent and numb besides.

So it was slowly that I realized when Noctorno spoke again, he was doing it to Mom and me.

“You are no longer under her curse. You are also no longer imprisoned in this world.” He lifted a hand in the direction of the redhead. “Valentine will spirit you home. And I will allow, if it is your wish, the other you”—he was looking at me—“to return with you.” His regard went to Mom. “Say your goodbyes, if that’s your wish. Valentine will be ready first thing tomorrow to take you home.”

He stood and turned to help his queen to her feet.

When he did, Loren, Ansley, Mary, Marlow and Loren’s friends stood too.

So Mom and I did as well.

“Will someone tell me what in blazes is going on?” Aunt Mary demanded.

I didn’t pay attention to Mary.

I turned directly to Loren.

“Honey—” I said urgently.

He looked down his nose at me.

“I’ll be at your father’s house at eight tonight. We’ll say our good-byes then.”

I made a noise like a king’s guard speared me through my stomach, which was what I felt Loren had just done to me.

“Brother,” Marlow bit off.

“I’m away,” Loren bit back.

And then he was just that.

Away.

From me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Shadowland

Loren

To his surprise, as he was shrugging on his evening coat, it was Lahn who came to him.

Loren said nothing as the large man slipped silently into his dressing room and went directly to the window, where he looked out.

“I am always amazed by all the green.”