Morrigan and Caitrin met her halfway, and Morrigan beamed while opening her arms. “Cece! It's been too long.”
“Yes it has,” the woman agreed, giving Morrigan a tight hug. “Forty years too long.”
Morrigan pulled away and scanned her friend. “You don't look any different.”
“Liar, but thanks anyway. I believe the last time I saw you my hair was brown.”
Morgan laughed and tousled the witch's sterling strands. “I guess it was, but the silver looks beautiful and goes great with your eyes.”
“Thanks, sweetie. I'm just glad it went silver instead of gray.”
“You’d look lovely either way.”
The guest took Morrigan’s cheek and smiled. “Sweet as always, Morrigan. I've missed you.”
“I've missed you, too, Cece.”
Caitrin stepped forward, resting a hand on Morrigan’s back while looking at their company. “Welcome, Cecelia. It's wonderful to see you looking so well.”
Cecelia stepped back and scanned him from head to toe. “You look just as I remember, Caitrin. Why hasn't anyone else gone silver?”
He laughed and offered her his arm. “I think the silver looks more natural than the brown. Perhaps you were simply a late bloomer.”
“Late indeed,” Cecelia replied, slipping her arm into the crook of his elbow while taking Morrigan's hand. “This happened two years ago.”
“I'm so excited you're finally meeting my family,” Morrigan said, leading her friend to the circle of chairs.
“Me, too,” Cecelia agreed. “It will be nice to put faces to the names. I feel like I know them already. Your letters and phone calls are always so in-depth and full of love; breaths of fresh air.”
“I'm proud of my coven,” Morrigan bragged, tilting her chin.
“And for good reason,” Cecelia replied, scanning the faces around her. “They're lovely.” Her gaze stopped on Layla and Quin, but if she was confused by their missing auras, she didn't show it. “Quite lovely indeed. So,” she chirped, looking at Morrigan, “would you like to make the introductions or should I?”
“I would love to make the introductions,” Morrigan gushed. “Everyone, this is Cecelia. She became one of my best friends when we were teenagers in Virginia. Now she lives in Nova Scotia.” She began pointing to each of the witches and wizards, announcing their names and giving brief descriptions.
Cecelia did, in fact, know a lot about the people she was meeting, and every once in a while she’d bring up certain accomplishments or funny anecdotes she'd heard from Morrigan.
When at last it was time to introduce Layla and Quin, Morrigan led Cecelia closer. “This is Layla. She's new to our coven.”
“You're stunning,” Cecelia observed, shaking Layla’s outstretched hand.
“Thank you,” Layla returned. “You're very lovely yourself. Your aura as well.”
Cecelia smiled, keeping Layla's hand as she intently searched her face. Then she cocked a perfectly arched eyebrow. “You're an extraordinary witch, aren't you, Layla?”
Layla blushed and shrugged. “I wouldn't say that.”
“I would,” Quin interjected, offering his hand to their guest.
Cecelia's smile stayed in place as she accepted the gesture and sized him up. “You're not so average yourself, young man.”
“This is Quinlan,” Morrigan explained, “the son of Kemble and Cordelia.”
“The bonded child,” Cecelia recalled.
“Yes,” Quin confirmed, glancing at her aura. “I assume you can relate.”
“Then you assume correctly.”
“You’re a bonded child?” Layla asked, scanning Cecelia's aura.
“Yes,” Cecelia laughed. “Does that intrigue you?”
“Yes,” Layla mumbled, blushing again.
“Don't be embarrassed,” Cecelia insisted. “I only ask because you seem to be more extraordinary than Quinlan and I combined.”
“Oh.” Layla bowed her head and moved closer to Quin. “I'm not competing.”
Cecelia's smile broadened as she glanced at Morrigan. “Who is this stunning creature?”
“Well...” Morrigan mumbled, looking at Quin, who shrugged, giving her silent permission to tell their secret. Morrigan’s aura brightened as she grinned and turned to her friend. “Cece, you're about to see something amazing, something you'll never forget.”
“It must be big,” Cecelia observed, laughing at her friend.
“Bigger than big. Are you ready, paying attention, excited?”
“Yes, sweet Morrigan. I'm all those things. Now quit teasing me and tell me the big news.”