Page 169 of Whispers and Wildfire

“Honestly, right now, I just want pumpkin spice everything,” I said. “Does anyone know if Angel Cakes has pumpkin spice muffins? We need Harper to get on that.”

“I think there are, actually,” Sharla said.

I grabbed Luke’s arm. “I know what I want to do after this.”

“What my girl wants, my girl gets.” He grinned at me. “Pumpkin spice it is.”

“Luke, can we do our play now?” Zola asked.

“What play?” Mom asked, looking curiously at Luke.

“Oh, it’s just a little something I helped the kids come up with,” Luke said. “Lucia, did you bring our scripts?”

“Yep!” Lucia held up a few small stacks of papers stapled together. “Got them right here.”

I nudged Luke with my elbow. “When did you help them write a play?”

He winked with a casual shrug and Lucia handed him the script. “There’s a part for you.”

“Oh yeah? Who am I playing?”

“Queen Ione,” Zola said.

“Of course. I should have guessed. Do I need to rehearse or are we just doing this?”

Luke gave me a copy. “Just read along. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”

There weren’t any lines for me on the first page, so I started to look through the rest of their script.

“Don’t read ahead,” Luke said.

“Why?”

“Because spoilers.”

“There aren’t spoilers when you’re in the show.”

“Just don’t.” Luke walked over to the other side of the picnic table. “Ready, girls?”

“Mom, take a video!” Lucia said.

“Got it.” Sharla held up her phone. “And… action.”

Lucia’s expression changed, her smile disappearing as she read from her script. “I am Princess Persephone, and my realm is threatened by the evil Queen Ione, who lives in the forest.”

Zola stepped up and twirled. “I am Princess Iris, twin sister of Persephone. My sister, we must find a way to stop the queen.”

“But how?” Lucia said, putting the back of her hand to her forehead. “She is too powerful. Our magic is no match for her. And her minions are pouring over our borders.”

“What does she want with our kingdom?” Zola asked. “She has her own realm.”

“I do not know,” Lucia answered. “But we must find a way to stop her.”

They paused, and everyone looked at me. I’d been watching them instead of reading along with the script. I turned the page and realized my line was next. “Sorry!” I cleared my throat and began in my Queen Ione voice. “The princesses are plotting against me. I must discover their plans so I may thwart them.”

Nico marched over to me and bowed. “My queen.”

According to the script, he had more lines. I paused, waiting to see if he’d remember.

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