Page 46 of Witch's Fate

“All right!” Lucy kept her gaze locked on shore.

Sofia couldn’t help but glance at Malcolm, but she tried to keep it at a minimum.

“You can stop here!” Lucy shouted.

Sofia cranked down on the throttle and they drifted to a stop. Waves rolled them lightly.

“All right, I’m getting in.” Lucy stepped up onto the deck and jumped off, clothes and all.

When she surfaced, she’d changed entirely. Her skin was a pale blue and her hair a bright green. Weeds, Sofia realized. Brilliant seaweed.

“Follow me. I’ll stay close to the surface. You should be able to see a bit of wake.” She set off, darting through the water, setting off a ripple that spread outward.

“Keep an eye on her and direct me,” Sofia said.

Malcolm nodded and Sofia started the boat. He held out his arm, leading her, changing it every so often when Lucy shifted direction.

Eventually, Lucy popped out of the water and waved an arm. They slowed to a halt beside her.

“There.” She pointed toward shore. “That’s the house.”

Sofia squinted, but saw nothing. Damn, the Salem Coven was good. It was easy to hide a place or building from mortals. But from Mytheans? Damned hard.

“I see it,” Malcolm said.

Sofia scowled, then pulled out her wand. She waved it in the direction of the land, focusing on her vision and clarity. The air shimmered, then a beautiful white house appeared. Two stories, with expansive decks and glittering windows.

Very different than the High Witches’.

“Thanks, Lucy,” Sofia said.

“Not a problem. I think.” Lucy rubbed her eyes with a pale blue hand.

“Can you drive a boat, Lucy?” Malcolm asked.

“Sure.”

“Can you take this one back to the Marina? Leave the keys near the wheel?”

“No problem.” She swam to the side of the boat, then heaved herself out. As soon as she was out of the water, her clothes returned. Her hair became blond and her skin pale.

“And you’ll forget about us,” Malcolm said. “You’ve never seen us.”

She nodded.

Sofia handed her the keys, then turned to Malcolm. “We’ll aetherwalk to the grounds outside, don’t you think?”

“Yes. Better to do it a bit farther away in case they are able to sense an outsider aetherwalking onto their property. Then we’ll walk there.”

“Good. Kitty!” she called down into the cabin.

Kitty bounded up the steps and onto the deck, then pressed herself against Sofia’s legs. Sofia held out a hand for Malcolm. He took it, then stepped so close that his body almost touched hers.

“I’ll take us,” he said.

“Okay.” She tried to ignore his warmth.

A second later, they stood amongst the scrub brush on the shore to the south of the mansion. Sofia could make it out far in the distance. Juniper scented the air. She nodded at him and set off, heading toward a copse of trees farther from the shoreline. Kitty led the way.

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