Sympathetic Magic(70)

And then it really was two, and a knock came at the door. By then everyone had relocated to the dining room, although Connor and Lucas had to bring in two chairs from the breakfast set in the kitchen, since the dining set only had four. Margot went to let in Allegra and Bryce, both of whom looked more than a little shocked to see Connor and Angela and Lucas there as well.

“What’s this all about?” Bryce demanded, but Allegra gave an incongruous smile and said,

“Oh, I think I have an idea.”

“You do?”

“Please, sit down,” Margot put in hastily. “I didn’t intend to spring all this on you, but….” She broke off, not sure of the best way to put it.

“But I thought I should be involved,” Angela said calmly. “And before any of you say anything, I just want to remind you that this may be elder business, but the prima has the final decision.”

“Decision about what?” Bryce asked. Margot could see him shoot a suspicious look in Lucas’ direction; of everyone there, Lucas was the only one who’d remained standing, leaning against the wall behind her chair as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Now that the time had come, it was strange how easily the words left her lips. “I want to be released from my duties as elder.”

“You what?”

Sitting next to Bryce, Allegra shot him a quelling glance. “I should think it’s clear enough, Bryce. Margot and Lucas Wilcox want a chance to be together.”

“Preposterous,” Bryce said at once. “An elder doesn’t just up and abandon her duties because of a man…especially a Wilcox.”

At that Connor raised an eyebrow, and Angela chuckled, although it sounded breathy, as if she barely had the energy to get out that much of a laugh. “Bryce, I think we’re past the point where we need to be worrying about whether a man is a Wilcox or not. Anyway, Margot’s given a good ten years of her life to this clan, and if she wants to be free to be with Lucas, then she should have that opportunity.”

Hearing Angela speak, Margot felt a rush of gratitude toward the younger woman. She knew she and Angela hadn’t always gotten along, but that didn’t seem to matter now — the prima was doing what she thought best, no matter what their personal history might have been.

“Just like that?” Bryce said, clearly annoyed. “And who are we supposed to replace her with?”

“Boyd Willis and Henry Lynch are both very strong warlocks,” Angela pointed out.

“Yes, dear,” said Allegra, “but our tradition has always been to have two witches and one warlock as our elders.”

That seemed to stump Angela, and she sent a beseeching look in Margot’s direction. Margot nodded, then remarked, “That’s true. I was actually going to suggest Tricia McAllister.” Tricia was the most senior of their weather-workers, a talent that appeared in the clan with some regularity. Besides being a strong witch, she was married and settled, her son already relocated to Cottonwood to manage a restaurant there, her daughter starting junior college this year. Having their mother named elder shouldn’t create a huge disruption in their household.

Allegra smiled her approval. “Yes, I think Tricia would do very well.”

“Well, I don’t,” Bryce snapped. “What about all of Margot’s illusions? Are we supposed to just go without them protecting us?”

“Of course not,” Lucas said, speaking for the first time. “We’ve already discussed this and are ready to come down here once a week so she can continue to oversee them.”

“I think that sounds like a great compromise.” Angela paused for a second or two, her gaze roving over those assembled in the room, stopping at Bryce. He glared back at her, then seemed to subside, probably because he’d just realized that he was outnumbered on this one.

“I don’t like it,” he muttered.

“You don’t have to like it,” Angela retorted. “In fact, maybe it’s time we revisit the whole idea of our elder system. Times have changed, and we should change, too. I think it might be better to have our elders only serve for four or five years, and then switch out. That way no one gets tired, and we have a chance to utilize a number of different talents and perspectives.”

This announcement made Bryce’s blue eyes almost pop out of his head, and Margot said quickly,

“Well, we don’t have to decide that today.”

“No,” Angela replied. “But it’s something to think about. In the meantime, Allegra, Bryce, you can approach Tricia and see if she’s open to becoming an elder. If not, ask Henry or Boyd. But from this moment on, Margot, you’re released from your duties.” She let out a sigh and glanced up at Connor. “And I need to get myself back home. Doctor Ruiz would blow a gasket if she knew I came down here.”