The Bitter Seed of Magic

But before we could talk more, loud barking cut through the air, and we both turned to see Andy’s green fur disappear beneath half a dozen goblins. A stream of water shot out of the fountain, drenching the tussle. No one was hurt, just wet and bedraggled, and I bit back a grin as Ana hurried over to impose efficient motherly order.

Then Fi

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Fi

‘I have to get back to Nicky,’ he said once the storm had passed. ‘Walk out to the car with me?’ We stopped before we reached the road and its rumble of traffic, and with the party buzz behind us, we were left in an oasis of quiet. He cupped my face with his warm gentle hands and kissed me. A hot, gentle touch of his lips on mine that sent my pulse tripping and thrilled me down to my toes.

After a while, he said quietly, ‘I’m going with Nicky, Gen.’ He paused, and gave me an echo of his old smile. ‘Come with us?’

For a long, heart-searching moment I imagined it … but much as I wanted to find out what was between Fi

I stood there long after his car pulled away, staring up at the lighted walkways of Tower Bridge, thinking of Fi

‘Och, doll,’ Tavish’s soft burr came out of the darkness, ‘di

He walked forward and took hold of my left wrist. I felt a pulse of warmth, and the beaded Charm spell bracelet appeared. The telephone box and the London bus were gone, removed by Ricou when Hugh and I had been plotting our master plan at Dead Man’s Hole, but the other charms remained, and glinting back among them was Malik’s platinum ring.

He’d given it back to me.But was it just a failsafe for if I was in trouble and needed to contact him, or something more? Part of me, a part I didn’t want to examine too closely just now, wanted it to be something more.

I frowned at Tavish. ‘You don’t sound like you want Malik to come back. But he tells me you’re his ally?’

‘Aye, so I am,’ his expression hardened, ‘until I’ve disposed of his Master for him, and then maebe we’ll see.’

Malik wanted Tavish to kill the Autarch? Now thatwas an idea I could get behind a million per cent— Except, troublingly, Tavish didn’t look like he could swat a kitten right now. Still, he looked way better than when I’d left him with a bull’s horn spearing his stomach. Hopefully he’d forgiven me …

‘Um, about what happened with the Morrígan,’ I said anxiously, ‘did you find a way to remove the protection from the Fertility spell and crackthe curse?’

‘Aye, doll,’ he said, his beaded dreads clicking firmly, ‘Ana came to an agreement with her, so di

‘Oh, good,’ I said, both grateful to Ana for whatever she’d agreed, and determined to find out what it was. ‘Um … what about the Chastity spell you taggedme with?’

‘It’ll wear off in time, doll.’ He gave an unconcerned wave that didn’t convince me one bit.

I frowned. ‘You do know the “horn in the stomach” bit wasn’t personal … ?’

‘Aye, and ’twas a guid trick you played on the Morrígan, and it’s all worked out for the best in the end’—he gri

Then again, he was a tricky wylde fae, so forgiveness was going to come at a price. I narrowed my eyes. ‘What does “make it up to you” mean?’

Just as he was about to tell me, Sylvia rushed up, her pink cycle helmet askew, and enveloped me in a cherry-blossom-scented hug. ‘Gosh, Ge

‘Wow,’ I said, stu

‘I kno- ow!’ Sylvia squealed in delight. ‘The baby’s going to be a Christmas seedling; isn’t that totally wonderful?’

It was utterly and unbelievably wonderful. And Sylvia’s news lifted a thousand-ton weight off my shoulders. Now the fae’s fertility was returned, and working, I wasn’t the one who had to have a child to break the curse. Relief overwhelmed me, and I made my excuses, then found a quiet corner to try and take it all in.

Tavish joined me, leaning his shoulder against the bronze-plaque wall, his expression curious. ‘I heard tell the witch knocked you out, then almost stripped you in her efforts to retrieve the spell?’

Well, that explained why my clothes had been trashed. ‘Good job I gave it to one of the vamps’— Darius, my fang-pet—‘to give to Sylvia then.’ I shot him a wry smile. ‘I wasn’t sure who else was after it, or for what.’

He traced the neckline of my T-shirt. ‘And I’m joyful tae see you nae wearing your friend’s pentacle, doll. It wasnae right tae hold her soul so long after its time.’

Tears stung my eyes—my own, this time. It had taken me a while to realise that it was Grace who was the one upset and causing me to cry, and that until I’d given the pentacle to Sylvia, Grace couldn’t move on. ‘I hope she’s happy,’ I murmured, ‘wherever she is.’

‘Well, doll, I’m thinking this will maebe cheer you up.’ He touched his hand to my forehead and muttered something under his breath, then pointed at Sylvia. ‘Look quickly now, for my loan of the sight’twill nae last long.’

Sylvia was surrounded by a soft sheen of magic, and within it was a beautiful, shifting pattern, like glossy leaves dappled with sun and shadow—her soul, protected by her aura, I realised in wonder. But the truly breathtaking sight was the radiant star of hot-gold light that graced her throat and trailed a stream of pure fire to the almost imperceptible glow flickering to life in her womb.

I stared in stu

‘Och, doll, there’s nae need for tears,’ Tavish’s soft burr came beside me. ‘’Tis the way of life for souls to take up with a new shell, and now you’ll ken where your friend will be.’

I brushed my hand over my face, wiping away the wetness there and smiled. ‘Thank you,’ I said, and kissed his cheek.

‘A kiss is fine thanks, but ’tis more than that I’m wanting.’ His mouth curved in a sly smile as he handed me a letter.