A longer silence follows this time. When he speaks again, it’s quieter. “I’ve thought about draining you. Your power. Your magic. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t.” He breaths in slowly. “I resisted. You…your struggle with yours.” His voice softens, almost tender. “She told you to do it, didn’t she? I heard her laugh. The Nightmother has wanted me since I was young, but I never heard her. Not until Nora’s…sessions.”
His voice breaks slightly. “I wonder sometimes,” he continues, “did she do to you what she did to me? You have lived in that place…all your life. She would’ve had you longer.”
He swallows hard. "That thought makes me violent, and I don’t know why.”
I drift—not fully awake, not fully gone. I’m back in a dream—buried deep in the past—from before I began paying the price.
Before she laid claim to my soul.
I SIT BENEATH THE WILLOW tree beside the pond at my coven, watching a swan glide effortlessly across the surface.
Footsteps crunch softly behind me, turning my focus to who approaches.
It’s Cage, motioning to empty space beside me on the plaid-woven blanket.
“This spot taken?”
Excitement pops off inside me after seeing Cage. He isn’t allowed out often, and he’s been sleeping through daylight hours lately. He told me that Nora has him in class at night.
I don’t offer him my usual hug because he owes me grapes after eating all mine last time.
I narrow my eyes, crossing my arms. “You bring me grapes?”
“Of course.”
He grins, plopping down next to me.
He scoots closer until our sides are squished together. From his trouser pocket, he extracts a bundle of grapes he swiped from the kitchen.
I squeal in delight, grabbing them greedily and stuffing my mouth full. My previous annoyance with him is completely erased. I lean into him, squishing us further.
With cheeks bulging, I raise my arms to show off my witch marks that are now darker and more defined.
“Wow, Millie! Your mama’s right: you are gonna be strong.”
His awe makes me beam with pride.
“Of course I will! I’m going to be stronger than you!” I giggle, kicking my legs over his and leaning into his chest.
I love Arcadia, but the other girls bore me.
Mama says that I should be nicer as they’re my sisters. So, I try to be nice, but I grow tired of them.
Cage isn’t boring. He’s from the outside world. He has stories.
“Tell me about the markets again! The ones with farmers!”
Grape juice drips down my chin, but I don’t care.
He leans back against the tree, pulling a grape free as he begins the familiar story. His mother would take him to the market, and he’d get a caramel pastry he loved. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water.
“One day we’ll go to a market,” I say excitedly, “and get pastries!” I’m too young to be allowed outside of the coven to explore and see the world. His stories make me so excited to do just that as soon as I am as big as Mama.
“Yeah, Millie,” he murmurs. “One day.” His voice seems a little sad.
I lift my head, pressing my forehead to his. “Are you sad?” I try to read his thoughts, squinting and focusing hard. I have no mind magic, but, maybe, if I try hard enough…
He ruffles my curls. “You’ll burst a vessel squinting like that.”
