Copper Ravens(45)

“Have you done things like this before?” I asked. “You know, have you had to deal with things,” I gestured toward the boggart, “like this?”

“Aye.”

“Even at the Raven Compound?” I pressed.

Mom sighed, her lips pursed. It was the oldest I’d ever seen her look. “Being Beau’s children has always made the three of you targets. It’s one of the many reasons I couldn’t go off and look for your father, and later for Max; who would have protected you and your sister? And, once you two were grown, there was the matter of the family artifacts…” She shook her head, then grinned. “Why, I remember one good fight, not long after Sadie went away to that university of hers.”

“Fight?”

“Nearly a battle,” Mom confirmed. “Why, it was a hand of goblins, led by a glaistig, of all things. They must have had old information and thought that your brother was still in residence.”

I rubbed my temples; this was why I didn’t ask Mom too many questions. She tended to answer them. “You fought off five goblins and a twig all by yourself?”

“Glaistig,” Mom corrected. “A seductress with the legs of a goat. Really, Sara, you should learn more of your heritage.” I nodded, pinching the bridge of my nose; yes, I think I finally understood why Sadie had started hanging out in the library so much.

“Come, now,” Mom said and began walking toward the manor. “I’ve a mind to be gone when the beastie wakes. Think your Shep’ll let bygones be bygones and brew me some tea?”





15

I went to bed early that night, bone tired after all the cursing of boggarts and burying of poppets. When I woke the next morning, I was in Micah’s arms. To call me content would have been a severe understatement. I kissed his nose while he was sleeping and again once his eyes opened.

“Hi,” I murmured, drowning in his silver gaze. I could just stay there forever, and, from the way Micah kissed me back, I suspected that he felt the same way.

“What are my Sara’s plans for the day?” Micah asked, after we’d snuggled for a while.

I opened my mouth to say that I had no plans beyond breakfast and a walk in the orchards, when Mom’s advice came rushing back to me. If I ever wanted to be more than an ornament on the fringe of Micah’s life, I was going to need to develop my own interests.

“You know, I think I’d like to go back to the Promenade Market,” I said.

“In the Mundane realm?” Micah asked, his brows peaking.

“Yeah.” For a moment, I thought Micah would forbid me to go. Wait—could he even do that? I was his consort, not his subject! I was his almost-equal, right?

Since he remained silent, and I really didn’t want to learn the answer to those questions just yet, I continued, “When Max and I were there the other day, I wanted to get a few things from the jeweler’s stand, but we didn’t have time. The stand is the same one where I got the supplies for this.” I traced the edge of Micah’s copper cuff, the token that marked him as mine. “I thought I could make a few more things. You know, like a hobby.”

“An excellent notion,” Micah murmured.

“Really?”

“Of course,” he replied. “The few items you’ve created have all been exquisite. If visiting this jeweler’s stand is the first step in creating more beautiful things, then I encourage you to go.” Relief cascaded over me; I’d been so worried that Micah wouldn’t approve of me traipsing across dimensions with Max. Then he said, “May I accompany you?”

“Don’t you have stuff to do?” I blurted out.

“Yes, but nothing so important it cannot wait. Nothing more important than being with you.” He kissed my hair, and I had to admit, a day spent strolling around the Promenade Market with Micah seemed very inviting. “Besides, I do still need to verify your claims about this Land of Scott.”

“All true,” I said, kissing his nose once more before I leapt up to dress. “We can bring Max with us.”

“Max?” Micah repeated. I ignored Micah’s frosty tone, just as I ignored my brother’s equally bad attitude when I told him about my plans over breakfast.

“You think he’ll like it there?” Max asked, eyeing Micah over the rim of his coffee mug. The rest of us ingested our caffeine from the dainty silver teacups Shep was so proud of, like civilized folk, but Max’s cup was as large as a beer stein. He was such a caffeine addict, he’d snort the stuff if he could figure out how to do it without drowning.

“I think so,” I murmured. “He likes to travel.”