Page 59 of Summer of Sacrifice

Seleste chuckled. “Yes.”

“Until forever?”

“Yes, that too.”

She thought she heard a twig snap and noticed Cal’s presence was no longer lingering there. “Well, my dears, what say we make a lovely bouquet of flowers for Mademoiselle Becky?”

The girls squealed once more and jumped up, running for the garden. By the time Becky returned, she was looking much better. She thanked Seleste and took the girls into the kitchen to retrieve her tea. Seleste’s respite was nearly over, and the sky was growing dark with cloud cover, but she had just enough time to drop off the treats to Cal and at least see his face.

The rain began in a deluge just as she reached his châlet. He opened the door before she could knock. “Come in, you’ll get soaked!” he shouted over the hard pelting of rain.

Seleste handed him the basket of muffins and the jar of lemonade, shaking her head. “I have to get back.” His face fell, but she smiled. “I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise.”

She darted out into the rain, bent on making it back in time to change before she had to clean the parlour and tearoom. But someone caught her arm and spun her around. Cal dropped her wrist and wrapped his arm around her waist. Seleste sucked in a breath, the rain drenching them both. Before she could even think, his other hand came up to her cheek and he pulled her against him, his lips meeting hers. Instantly, she melted into him, her hands gripping his back, feeling his skin through his soaked shirt. Cal deepened the kiss, a sweet desperation clawing at both of them.

By the time he broke away, Seleste was breathless, her head swimming. His breathing was ragged as she looked up into those blue eyes, his lashes dripping with rain. “Can I see you tonight?” His voice was husky, and she almost pushed him inside the châlet right then and there.

But he was a lord. A future earl. And she was a maid, who was expected to be cleaning his house right now.

“Yes,” she breathed and ran for the house.

Chapter

Twelve

SELESTE

Perhaps it wasn’t that she was unsure which spell to use with Laurent and Chresedia’s twined blood. Perhaps it was that she knew exactly which one to use. And it conjured up too many dark memories to handle. Too many beautiful ones.

Litha came to land on Seleste’s shoulder, sensing her inner turmoil. Her wings fluttered against her cheek as she stared down at a spellbook she had no business having. Technically, she’d only borrowed it. One-hundred-and-fifty years ago. Never mind that the timeframe was more than one lifetime ago. It was only a third of hers thus far, and she’d always meant to return the spellbook.

With a slight tremble in her fingers, Seleste opened the cover to stare at the three names scrawled there. Her lips parted, and she drew in a deep breath, Litha’s wing caressing her face. Then, she steeled her nerves and flipped past the spells too dark to consider, landing on her only true option.

Taking the vial of blood between her fingers, she gently urged Litha away, turning the vial this way and that. She’d only used blood magic one other time. The thought of that other time made the contents of her stomach curdle.

“Goddess forgive me,” she whispered.

Her rooms felt stuffy all of a sudden, her dressing gown too hot. Leaving the vial on the desk, she discarded all but her thin chemise and opened the window. The breeze was warm, but it had the undercurrent of Autumn in its midst. A warning. She was out of time to dally with her options.

Resolute, Seleste strode back to the desk. Carefully, she moved all of her notes, spellbooks, the star map…everything to the bed. Save for the vial of blood. Satisfied, she summoned her favourite mortar and pestle, and her blackest cauldron. In the lavatory, she retrieved the herbs she had on hand, thanks to her Sister Spring:

• Mugwort

• Bay Leaf

• Sweetgrass

At her bedside, Seleste retrieved the crystals she had on hand, thanks to her Sister Autumn:

• Moonstone

• Lapis

• Labradorite

One by one, she summoned the items listed in the spellbook that she did not have.

• A silver candle

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