by Lily Thorn
“Fresh apple twists! Today only!”
“Watch where you’re going, Milo! That horse almost stepped on you.”
“Cider! Hot and fresh! Made right here in Wolfsbane!”
“Don’t miss the fireworks tonight at sunset!”
“Take care with those packages, Bernard. If you drop one, it’ll come out of your hide.”
It was too much—this press of humanity felt more suffocating than a cell. There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape the onslaught to her senses. She tightened her grip on Felix—imagine if he escaped? Her breath came faster. Where had Easton gone?
She whirled. Behind her was a man with rosy cheeks and a tankard of ale. To her left, a mother dragged her son past a display of wind-up toys. On her right, an impatient couple pushed past her. He was gone. She was alone in this crush of strangers. Seraphina could feel her pulse in her neck as she tried to breathe. Her ears began to ring as fire crept over her fingertips—
“Sera?”
There he was, five paces back. Biting back a sob, she retraced her steps.
“Sorry, I got distracted by the chickens—what’s wrong?”
She inhaled. Easton was here—he’d protect her. The ringing in her ears subsided. “There are just so many people,” she said at last. “Is it usually this crowded?”
He shook his head. “It must be—”
“Happy Founding!” The rosy-cheeked man raised his tankard to them, then enveloped them both in a hug. His tankard dipped, sloshing ale on the ground that narrowly missed Seraphina’s boots.
Easton gave him a hard stare. “I think you should get something to eat,” he said. “Now.”
The man clapped him on the back. “Don’t worry.” He leaned close, as if imparting a secret. “I had two breakfasts.”
Easton nudged him away, and the man happily wobbled off.
“I guess that’s our answer,” he said. “It must be Founding Day. Wolfsbane was founded a few hundred years ago, and every year they drink and eat too much to celebrate exactly how long they’ve been here. I always lose track of when it is, but they always forget that the Frost pack was here before them.”
“Do you think they’ll be finished celebrating any time soon?”
He grimaced. “It might be at least a couple days. Not much happens here, so they go all out whenever they can.”
The noises of the crowd made her head throb. At least she’d found Easton again. In her hand, she felt Felix twitch. He was getting tired of being cooped up. Seraphina tightened her grip as a trio of girls ran by. She definitely wasn’t letting him out here.
“Well,” Easton said, “might as well make the most of it.” He dug in his rucksack, fishing out a handful of coins. “Want something to eat?”
She wasn’t hungry, but didn’t protest when Easton bought a whole chicken. His gaze kept returning to the birds in the window, their perfectly cooked golden skin reflected in his eyes. When he offered her a piece, she took a wing to be polite.
“Do you want to find somewhere to sit?” she asked.
“No need.”
Seraphina nibbled on the wing, watching two children fight over a toy wolf. She ate absently, wondering if anyone would even notice Felix in this chaos. Finished with her food, she looked over at Easton to ask if he’d like anything to drink with the rest of his chicken, but the bird was gone. A pile of bones lay at his feet.
He wiped his mouth. “That was good. We don’t get much chicken in the forest.”
Seraphina blinked. The chicken had been whole not three minutes ago.
“Let’s go to the town square,” Easton said. “It might be just as crowded, but there’ll be more room to move about.”
They made their way down the main road, along with a throng of revelers. Easton tugged her to one side, toward a cider cart.
“Two, please,” he said. The proprietor handed him a pair of mugs.
“Try this.” Easton handed one over. “It’ll warm you up.”
She wouldn’t mind some warmth. The wind was picking up, and her shirt was too threadbare to do much against it. Her palms were warmed instantly by the mug. One sip sent heat radiating through her.
“Good?” Easton asked.
She nodded, drinking again. She’d never before encountered a beverage that tasted like nectar. They kept walking toward the main square. When they arrived, her cider was half gone and she no longer noticed the wind.
Easton had been right—there was more space here. What must have been a dance floor had been left open in the middle of the square, and two great bonfires already roared at the edges. Seraphina found herself breathing more easily. She always felt safer with fire near.
Felix strained against her fingers. Stepping closer to the fire, pretending to warm her hands, she released him. He leapt into the center, kneading a log before curling up on it. No one would be able to see him there, but they might hear a purr over the crackle of flames if they listened hard enough.
Downing the rest of her cider, she returned to Easton, who had found them a bench.
“Content, is he?” Easton nodded toward Felix.
“You saw?” She had been so careful.
He grinned. “I know what I’m looking for. If I hadn’t already seen Felix, I’d never believe it.”
Seraphina let herself relax, daring to lean against him. It was for warmth, of course, no other reason.
“You don’t think he’s too strange, do you?” she asked. “Felix, I mean.”
“No stranger than me being able to turn into a wolf.” Easton put an arm around her. She liked the weight of it. She hoped he wasn’t lying just to make her feel better. Then again, he’d only seen Felix as a cat, when she was calm. He hadn’t seen Felix when she was angry, a tiger ready to devour Mr. Dark, to set searing teeth against that monster’s throat.
She sighed. Hopefully, Easton would never have to see that.
“More cider? A refill for the pretty lady?” The man with the cider cart had made it to the main square. He held out a steaming pitcher. The wind caught the scent of cider and brought it past their noses.
“I wouldn’t say no.” Easton looked at her. “You want another?”
“Sure.”
They both held out their mugs for the careful pour of the cider man.
“I’m setting up in that corner if you need to find me.” He ambled off with a cheery wink.
Seraphina took a sip, the liquid piping hot on her tongue. She could almost get used to this. Besides, they hadn’t even had to get up for refills, which meant that Easton still had his arm around her. She didn’t mind that one bit.
They watched as a band set up near the dance floor. The musicians warmed up quickly, then launched into an upbeat tune. All around the square, people started dragging their partners onto the dance floor.
Seraphina watched them, fascinated. People were giving into the music, moving like they didn’t have a care in the world. They felt like a different species. Then again, she’d probably be a different person if she didn’t have her powers, if she’d never been a target of evil men.
She had to find her sister. But even if she did, could she ever rest? Wouldn’t Mr. Dark’s men hunt them until their dying days?
The cider man was making another round, so she flagged him down. He poured her another steaming mug.
“There you are, miss, but you’ll probably want to go easy after this.”
She downed the cider quickly, trying to distract herself from her churning thoughts. Her eyes followed the women on the dance floor, their colorful skirts catching what wind wasn’t blocked by the buildings. She wished she could be as carefree as them.
Easton looked between her and the dancers. “Do you want to dance?”
“I… I don’t know how.”
“As far as I can tell, that’s not required, especially after three mugs of cider.”
Wait. Had that been hard cider? Was that why she felt so warm and fuzzy inside when Easton took her hand?
; He led them onto the dance floor. Her heart was beating much too fast. He must be able to hear it, even over the music.
Seraphina flushed. “I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“This is how they do it in Wolfsbane. Put one hand here.” He guided her hand to his shoulder. “And I put my hand here.” His rough hand slid onto her waist. It did nothing to help her thumping heart.
“Then we clasp our other hands and move to the music.” Easton swayed, moving her with him. She stared up at him, transfixed by those golden eyes. As if on cue, the band launched into a slower song.
All around them, couples got closer, women resting their heads against their men’s chests and shoulders. Seraphina’s throat went dry. She hadn’t expected to slow dance. Did Easton really want to dance like that? With her?
“Do you want to sit this song out?” she asked.
“Definitely not.” He grinned. “You can come closer, you know. I won’t bite—yet.”
Seraphina let herself relax, sinking into Easton. He could probably feel her heartbeat by now, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. This close to him, she was distracted by how he smelled of campfire and pine.
She was glad she had all three mugs of cider—two probably wouldn’t have given her enough courage. Who would have ever guessed that a man as handsome as Easton would really want to dance with her? And he was handsome… The sight of his bare ass as he strode through the forest in front of her flashed through her mind, and she felt her face heat again. It was a good thing he couldn’t read her thoughts. Then she’d really be in trouble.
Though she wasn’t ready for the song to end, the band struck up a faster tune. Reluctantly, she parted from Easton, even though she’d rather cling to him and bury her face in his shirt to memorize his scent. She hadn’t felt that safe in a long time.
“We can keep dancing, you know,” Easton said. “I’m sure they’ll play another slow song soon enough.”
With his urging, she decided to stay and dance with him. Before long, she found that the fast songs were just as fun as the slow ones.
Seraphina panted as another song came to an end. “Are you sure there’s no one else you’d rather dance with?” she asked, looking over the crowd of pretty ladies who surrounded the dance floor. She could tell some of them were eyeing Easton.
“Yes.”
“Not in the whole town?” she pressed.
“Not on the entire planet.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her into the next dance.
They had to take a break eventually. Easton insisted on getting her some food to take the edge off all the cider she’d had. They went to the line of stalls, and he ordered two of anything she thought looked good. The two of them carted their haul to a bench and ate with a view of the dancers. Seraphina discovered that one of the pastries was filled with pork and some kind of sauce, and she liked it so much that she devoured the second one as well.
They were still eating as the musicians wound down. Seraphina was disappointed, but Easton promised that that wasn’t the end of the entertainment.
“Some of it might be even better,” he said.
She found that hard to believe.
As the dancers cleared away, a young boy was coaxed into the open space. The crowd quieted as the woman beside him made some encouraging gestures.
“You can do it,” she whispered.
The boy opened his palm to show a handful of seeds. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. His hand shook. For a moment, nothing happened. Then green sprouts shot from his palm. The seeds had erupted, and in seconds they were in full flower. The crowd cheered. The boy looked around, grinning.
“It’s the magic shows now,” Easton said. “You won’t want to miss them.”
He was right. First, a few more children demonstrated their burgeoning abilities. A girl brought a pot of water to boil without any fire. A pair of boys made a ball roll back and forth between them without ever touching it. The crowd clapped after each demonstration, though the tourists were always the loudest of all.
“Some of them have never seen magic,” Easton said. “The witches love them. They’ll buy any cough remedy labeled as an elixir.”
A man in a blue cloak was making his way through the crowd, stopping every now and then.
“Fortunes,” he called. “Fortunes, short and sweet.” He stopped in front of a couple near them. “Would the two of you like to hear your fortune? Only three coppers.”
“Our fortune?” The man dug eagerly into his pocket. “Will Laura and I end up together? Can you tell?”
He held out the money, but his partner pushed his hand away.
“Please don’t,” she whispered. He withdrew his hand, shoulders drooping.
The man in the cloak moved quickly on.
“Fortunes, short and sweet.” He stopped in front of their bench and looked into Easton’s eyes. “But you don’t need your fortune read. You already know your fate.”
To Seraphina’s surprise, some redness crept into Easton’s cheeks.
“Your fortune, my lady? Only three coppers.”
Her heart sped. This could give her the answers she was seeking. Her hand flew to her pocket before she remembered that she didn’t have a coin in the world.
“Here.” Easton handed him the coppers. “Tell her, please.”
Chapter Five
THE MAN IN the cloak leaned in. “What you want is close. What you need is even closer. Good luck.”
“Wait.” She grabbed onto his cloak. “You’re talking about my sister. Where is she? Please!”
He pulled away, shaking his head. “I don’t See. I only know which words to say. But have these last words—what you need, you already have.” With that, he slipped into the crowd.
Seraphina was left to stare after him. He didn’t make sense. What she needed was Arabella.
“I’m sorry I had you throw your coppers away,” she murmured. “What a load of rubbish. I guess we’re just as gullible as the rest of these tourists.”
Beside her, Easton was strangely quiet. There were some more performers, though she found it difficult to concentrate on their talents. All she could think about were the blue eyes of her sister. She should have asked so much more. Was Arabella safe, at least? How close was she? Seraphina scanned the crowd, though she knew that was pointless. That cloaked charlatan just knew the right words to say to milk coppers out of people—it wasn’t like Arabella was right here in Wolfsbane. Unless she wanted to track that man down and wrestle Easton’s coppers back, there was no point in brooding at the moment. Sighing, she turned her attention back to the performers. At least they displayed real magic.
The sun was reddening as a musician came out, lugging a tall stringed instrument that she didn’t recognize. Seraphina sat straighter. Were they going to reopen the dance floor?
But no, the musician set up right in the middle of it. Pulling out a bow, he ran it across the strings. Seraphina gasped. Not only was the sound lovely, but light also burst forth with the music. The musician held a purple note, making it deepen in color and leap into the sky. All around, the crowd was silent. He had their undivided attention.
The bow skipped across the strings, colors melding and curling to form pictures. Seraphina leaned forward, wondering whether everyone else was witnessing what she was. She could actually see the music.
The musician leaned into the strings, his bow biting and gliding in turn. A fox formed, circling outward until it trotted into the crowd. A child leaned down, trying to pet it, crying out when his hand went through air. The fox gamboled around them, jumping up on people’s laps, snapping playfully at their feet.
With three short strokes of the bow, three tiny chicks bounced onto the ground. The musician paused with a flourish, and the fox turned around. It leapt toward the chicks, snapping at them. But the musician took up a lively tune, and the chicks moved to the beat, dodging the fox so that it just missed them every time.
The crowd laughed as the birds ta
unted the fox, appearing to be perfect morsels but then ending up between its ears or riding its back. The fox, in a frenzy, circled around and around until at last, the piece ended with the fox flopping on its back and the chicks nestling into the fur on its belly.
They didn’t even have time to applaud as the musician moved into his next piece, where he painted a full and gorgeous picture of summer turning into fall. Seraphina watched as fields of lavender and lush grass gave way to red leaves. It was so calming to experience.
For the finale, the musician played them a story of first love that made tears well in her eyes. The pair met in a burst of gold, were separated in deepest blues, then descended into darkness. Silence hung in the air, which was punctuated by numerous sobs from the audience. But then there were hopeful notes of light, and the couple found each other again in a swirl of color. They embraced, together forever. When the musician pulled his bow across the strings for the last time, Seraphina let out a long breath. She had almost forgotten that she was herself, not part of the music.
She looked over the crowd, seeing faces that were still just as enraptured as she was. It made her ache that her magic couldn’t be like this—an art, not a weapon. She wished people could see her magic in the same way they saw this show of light and music. Fire didn’t have to bring fear.
Something boomed above them. Without thinking, she clutched Easton’s hand.
“Fireworks,” he said as explosions of red and white went off above them. “They scared me out of my skin when I was a pup.”
She followed a spark as it rose in the air, ending its life as a purple star burst. This time, she was ready for the boom. That didn’t mean that she wanted to let go of Easton.