Everyone with answers was already long gone.
"Do you think she'll go back to her castle?" I wondered out loud, when the conversation had lulled. We'd all already rehashed everything that had happened a dozen times, but it was hard not to wonder about all of the answers we still didn't have, "I mean, who abandons a castle?"
"Someone with enough money to buy a new one?" Tate answered, raising his dark eyebrows. "The whole leprechaun pot of gold thing is a crock of shit, but the legend didn't come from nowhere. With enough luck, money isn't really a problem."
"I don't know," Nina countered, "she's mentioned having friends across Europe more than once. If I gave it enough thought, I could probably even come up with names. But I couldn't tell you who else might have been interested in causing a little havoc before the summit or why."
"A problem for another day," I said. After a long day, I was already struggling to stay fully alert and awake. But I also wasn't all that excited about the idea of heading back home. Were there bullet holes in my walls? Symbols still painted on my floor? Even if not, even if somehow, magically it had all been cleaned up, I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to go back again without remembering the night I'd almost been sacrificed.
"So what's next for you guys?" I asked no one in particular. "You came here to try and stop the summit before it happened. That didn't work, so what happens now?"
Not surprisingly, it was Nina who answered first. She seemed to have stepped into the leadership void left by Aoife the day before, but so far hadn't looked all that comfortable in her new role. "I honestly don't know. When Aoife asked us all here, it was because she had every reason to believe the summit was not going to end in the favor of the lesser magicks. I came because I believed her, and I still do. But while I'm not looking to go all battle royale with the factions, I'm still not going to go to bed tonight feeling all that safe."
"So why not go to the summit?" I asked. "Sure, you weren't technically invited, but it's not like it's a secret. Show up en masse, be heard. Share your concerns."
The look I got back for my suggestion found a balance somewhere between—aww, that's cute—and—wow, you really are new to this, aren't you?
"What?" I asked, a little defensively. "Is it really such a crazy idea.
Sebastián chimed in from the corner of our large booth, where he was squished in between two twenty-something women whose names I hadn't had a chance to remember. "Do you truly believe you're the first to think of this? Many lesser magicks have approached the faction leaders of their nations before, to ask for assistance, or change, or rights. Sometimes we are laughed at, sometimes we are killed. The factions have no reason to change their ways or lose the advantages they already had."
"I think that's where I'm getting stuck," I said, leaning forward into the table. "Because isn't that the whole point of the summit? To change things, and start doing things differently to protect ourselves. There's never going to be a better chance to have your voices heard."
"That's easy for you to say," Nina continued. "You've been part of all of this for less than a week, and already people are listening to you, involving you. But it's not because you decided to speak up and get involved, it's because you're some long lost prophecy child. The factions will be interested in you for as long as it takes for them to figure out how to use you and your powers. You probably had the right idea when you decided to get out of town. And there's still time for you to reconsider that option before the summit. Disappear for a while, at least until interest in you dies down. Soon enough, the factions will be too preoccupied with how to deal with the humans or with Aoife, to worry about you."
A dozen conversations filled my mind at once, memories of all the discussions I'd been a part of since Ethan had first called my number to go fix his Wi-Fi. There were a few points that kept coming back, again and again, haunting me. Following me. Or maybe just trying to get my attention.
Everybody knew that the factions were strong because of what they could do, and stronger still because of their numbers. Witches, fae, vampires and werewolves had managed to exist for centuries, growing their populations all over the world. The lesser magicks, in a way, had done the same. But unlike the factions, there was no one set of power uniting all of us. There might be a hundred people who could see magick like I could, scattered throughout the world in small pockets or families. Perhaps a thousand who had healing talents like Nina's, maybe more. Nobody knew.
And maybe that was part of their problem. Our problem.
And then there I was, all of my secrets out in the open, and word of my existence probably spreading through cities and towns, sped onward by the internet. And people were every bit as interested in me as I feared they would be.
But maybe that was something I could use as an opening. Neither timing or luck had been on my side much these past few days. So perhaps it was time for me to step up and make my own path forward, to use what I had and what I knew, and to try and use my newfound voice as a way to help.
"So," I interrupted the table after a full five minutes, when conversations had filled in around me, and our pizzas had been put on the table in front of us. "I have kind of a crazy idea. What do you think the odds are that we can get all of the factions back to Galway before you all have to leave?"
"That depends," Tate said slowly. "But I thought we were glad they'd all gone home."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Yeah, that's fair. But they're all going to be back soon enough, and I think I may have a way for all of us to have a bit more footing for when they do. But this doesn't exactly feel like the kind of thing I can pull off over FaceTime. This time around, I don't want the witches or anyone else getting the news secondhand. If this is going to work, it needs to be face-to-face. And it only works if you guys are willing to play along."
Chapter 24
By the next afternoon, I was back in a place I'd never thought I'd get to return to—Aoife's castle—and actually feeling pretty pleased with myself for finding an excuse to go back. Because even if it's owner was a little messed in the head, the building was still beautiful.
It was also the only place I could think of that would be big enough for all of the people I needed to gather in one place.
Because I'd invited basically everyone I could think of for my big announcement. And while it wasn't like I could force anyone to come, from the looks of those who had returned to the city, everyone who had been remotely involved in the past few days had turned up. Not including Aoife and anyone who had fled along with her, including Eugene and his wife, and a man named Dylan who I'd never been introduced to—mostly because he was permanently invisible.
So far, there was no way for me to know for sure if any of the lesser magick people who stayed behind were as against Aoife's methods as they claimed to be. But for that day at least, if there were traitors in my midst, it didn't really matter. It wasn't as though there was some master plan that needed to be secreted away.
I basically had no plan at all beyond that afternoon. And if any of Aoife's friends wanted to share what I had to say with her, then more power to them. But for everyone else I'd invited to the now empty castle, I needed them to hear it from me.
This time around, the witches wouldn't be getting something from Taya, the vampires and the fae wouldn't be getting their updates from Ethan.
It was all me. With more than a little support from the lesser magicks who I'd come to know over the last few days.
"I guess we're technically trespassing," I whispered to Nina who stood close by. The two of us were standing near the central staircase as everyone else filed into the foyer around us. She'd been checking her phone every few minutes to ensure she still had enough time to catch her flight.
It was a male voice that responded. "Oh, I think we're fine." Surprised, I squeaked a little before turning to find Cooper right behind me, leaning against the banister.
"Hey!" Reaching over, I pulled Cooper into a hug, surprising myself. "I didn't think you'd b
e back this soon."
"I couldn't let the boss drive across the country twice in one day by himself, now could I?" At the mention of Ethan, my eyes immediately started to wander through the slowly filling room, looking for any sign of his dark hair and tall frame. "He's just in the car finishing up a work call," Ethan said, reading my mind. "He hadn't planned on being off work today, so he's got a bit of stuff to catch up on."
"Work?" I wondered out loud. "For some reason, I'd never really pictured alpha wolves having day jobs."
Cooper laughed, the noise was deep and sincere. " I know some of the European packs in Poland and Austria have their wolves tithe to the alpha and his mate, but I can't see Ethan ever going that route. If he's not busy, he starts to go a little mad. He runs a security firm out of Dublin. Private protection and all that fun stuff. He's had years to build it up, passing the company off as family run. He's probably playing his own grandson by now. But recently it's more a way to get some of the new wolves working, making sure they have enough to live on while they adjust to their change. But don't think I didn't notice how eager you were to track him down."
"He's the alpha wolf in Ireland's only pack," I scoffed. "It's just important that he's here."
Nina finally looked up from her phone long enough to shoot me a look that promised that she didn't believe me in the slightest. But seeing as there were nearly thirty people now gathered, all chatting quietly as they waited, I figured it probably wasn't the best time to get in a debate about any romantic inclinations I might have.
Because, let's face it, it wasn't the best time for me to be having any romantic inclinations.
"About ready?" Tate asked after taking a few long strides across the room to join our little group. "It sounds like people are starting to get a little antsy. They've got a lot of questions."
"Well who can blame them?" Cooper answered. "It's all very ominous. Maybe you've got time for a sneak preview for those of us not in the loop?" He reached over to gently nudge me in the ribs with his elbow. "Some of them think you've asked them here to formally declare yourself for one of the factions. The witches think its them since you have so much of their power, but I know who you really loved the best." Cooper winked, but I was too distracted to really respond.
I took a long breath, not totally sure what to do or say next. This had all come together so quickly, that my plan was a shaky one at best.
Just then, the front door opened and Ethan slipped inside. His eyes met mine for only a second before I forced myself to look away, turning back to Cooper with the biggest smile I could muster.
"I think it's time we just got on with it. This anticipation thing has gone on long enough, and we all have lives to get back to." I wasn't entirely sure that last bit applied to me, but that seemed somewhat anti-climactic to point out. But I really had no idea what my life would look like the next day or the one after that. I still had my job, though the one call I'd had in the last day had accidentally gone ignored in my inbox for more than twenty-four hours now. Not exactly professional.
"Uh, are any of you good with that sharp, get everyone to shut the hell up kind of whistle?" I asked, knowing that if I made an attempt, all that would come out would be a spittle-filled sputter.
Tate quickly obliged me, as Cooper took off toward Ethan. Within moments, something similar and a little strange happened throughout the room. Myself, and anyone else who was considered one of the lesser magicks, began to gather on the stairs, while those who had come as our guests faced us.
We had representatives from each of Ireland's factions, something I was slightly surprised by. I had thought that the afternoon hour of our meeting would have ruled the vampires out completely, but the seethe in Dublin had sent a lone human emissary. He was a light-haired, freckled man who looked to be about my age, named Colin. With his plaid t-shirt and worn-down jeans, he wasn't exactly what I would have expected of a vampire-lackey. But he'd come, or been sent, and that was what was important.
I was slightly less enthused to see the Circle of Seven in attendance, along with a smaller coven from the city of Cork that had a few men among its numbers. From the way a few of the people in the witches’ corner near the back of the room were standing slightly away from the others, I suspected that they were like Taya, covenless, but they'd come anyway, making the witches the largest faction in attendance.
Six fae had come as well, and all were standing in the back corner, as close to the door as they could without actually blocking the way. Two women stood, bookmarking the other four, their eyes trained on everyone else in the room rather than the stairs. Security. But I could hardly blame the fae for feeling wary after the last few days.
While I had technically only invited the people I already knew in some capacity, it looked like word had spread across the country, sending far more faction members than I'd been mentally prepared for. I hadn't even really thought that Ireland's factions had this many people. And there had to be at least this many again still who really did have jobs or responsibilities that meant they couldn't drop everything and come to Galway with almost no warning.
Cooper and Ethan stood closest to the stairs, giving me at least a couple of friendly faces for what had to happen next.
"Thanks for coming, everyone," I started, before having to repeat myself, forcing my voice to go as loud as it could without yelling as I internally agonized over whether or not I sounded as sure of myself as I needed to. But I had at least managed to sound more confident than I felt, so that was a start.
"I know a lot of you have questions about what happened over these past few days. Unfortunately, I can't offer any explanations. The people responsible for the attempted exposure of our communities have long since fled the area, and I suspect the country. But we also have every reason to believe they'll be back. And I for one, plan to be ready."
I cleared my throat, giving myself a moment to pause and wish I'd written everything I wanted to say out on cue cards or something. "Some of you already know my story, so I'll spare you most of the details. But I can promise you that any—okay, some—of the rumors you might have heard by now are true. I was born with a touch of magick from each of the factions, along with the ability I inherited from my own family, people most of you might have considered lesser."
It was that same ability that had really brought the room ahead of me to life, with all four major forms of magick swirling around in front of me. Even Colin, who was clearly very much alive, had a trace of red around him, showing he'd been touched by vampire magick. Mixed in with the vibrant green of the fae, it would have almost looked festive.
I knew without looking that the colors behind me would be far less behind, a rainbow of hues that represented the varying talents of the lesser magicks.
"Today, I have asked you here to declare that those of us gathered before you, while unable to change what you call us or how you think of us, will no longer accept how you treat us. At least not here, not on this incredible island where much of Europe's magick first originated. We are not lesser. And from this day forward, we are no longer divided. Here in Ireland at least, from today onward, we are a faction of our own."
An oddly similar look of surprise passed like a wave across the small crowd gathered before me.
And then everyone started talking, although it was hard to tell if their words were directed at one another or at me. I wasn't even sure they knew for sure.
While the words were varied, the sentiment was the same. We couldn't do this. It was unacceptable. The lesser magicks were lesser for a reason. Although no one seemed to be willing to volunteer exactly just what that reason was. Go figure.
At last, one voice managed to ring out among the others, silencing some of those around her. "A faction must be made up of those with greater magicks."
"Check," I said, trying unsuccessfully not to sound too glib. This argument at least, I'd been ready for. "I possess all four of the greater magicks, and I'm part of this faction. So I think we're good there. But
thanks for chiming in."
"You don't count," one of the witches added. She was standing with the Circle of Seven, though I didn't recognize her from before. She barely looked old enough to vote, let alone to tell me whether or not I got to decide my own fate. "You were born to the lesser magicks, your little faction doesn't actually have any member who would truly be considered greater."
"Says who?" I asked. "Taya," I called out after, unable to stop a small smug smile from forming on my lips.
The sound of a door closing could be heard from above. Moments later, I turned to see Taya stepping down to join our group, her distinctly purple magick blending with the others. "Taya is one of you," I called out to the young witch. "But now, only technically." I quieted myself to let my former roommate speak.
"While I have always been a witch," Taya said, her voice shaking only a little, "all I have ever wanted was to be part of a coven, included. But I've been told again and again by the witches of Ireland and elsewhere, that what I have to offer isn't enough. And so I've lived here, on my own, away from any territory controlled by those who didn't want me. But not anymore. Today I join..." she stumbled mid-sentence, looking down at me to stage whisper, "do we have a name?"
Yeah, we probably should have worked out the kinks of our big performance. But I guess the spotlight was back on me.
"We're only beginning, so for now we have no name, but we do have a purpose. Our faction offers a place for those who otherwise might not belong, and who are not always heard. Our voices will be stronger together, as all of you will soon see during the summit." I held up a hand, cutting off anyone who might already be planning to interrupt me. "Galway is our home, our territory. And if you or anyone else intends to use this land to hammer out your own plans, we expect to be included, just like all of you. Today, we ask you to consider standing with us when the time comes, presenting Ireland as a united front as we move toward the next challenges that we'll face. Because like our new faction, our land is a small one, and our population small. We're not asking for commitment, just consideration. We plan to show up either way."
Magic in my Bones (Lesser Magicks Book 1) Page 18
