Page 72 of A Bolt of Magic

“And?” Xander asks, lifting a brow.

“It’s as expected.” I shrug. “We can only access our powers when close enough to one another. It diminishes the farther apart we get.”

Xander makes a face. “That’s a pain in the you-know-where.”

“It is, indeed,” McColl says, taking a step back and then another. “I should go prepare for our journey tomorrow. There’s still much to pack and organize.” She gestures toward the cabin. “I wanted to get some laundry done today as well.” She looks up at the sky. “That looks like rain. Best I get going.”

She hurries away before either of us can say anything more, quickly disappearing behind the barn.

I watch her go, then turn to stare out over the lake, lost in thought.

“You know what you are planning is insane, right?” Xander says behind me.

“Which part of it?”

“The part where you walk into a coven of witches.”

I had a meeting with the others last night. We pooled our information. I told them about my plans to get the witches on our side.

“I’m hoping they will see logic. That they will see that I am not a threat. McColl’s mother is the head of the coven. I know that she and McColl don’t have the best relationship, that they don’t always see eye to eye…but I have to try, Xander. I have to win them over. If I don’t, then Snow might get to them first. They’re a group of powerful beings. We can’t have that.”

“What you are saying makes sense…on paper. But Kian, think about this rationally. You’re walking into enemy territory with no backup and no guarantee that they won’t just kill you on sight.”

“McColl will speak for me. She’ll—”

“I’m sure she will, but will it be enough? You just told me that she doesn’t have the best relationship with the coven leader.”

“Her mother.”

“Semantics.”

My jaw tightens. “McColl is stronger than she knows and certainly stronger when it matters.” I turn to face him fully. “I’ve seen her in action, Xander. When lives are on the line, she finds a way. I believe in her.” It’s something I’ve said all along, something I still stand by. Perhaps even more so now that I’ve gotten to know her.

I can see he wants to argue further, but something in my expression stops him.

“I know I can convince them. I just need a chance…that’s all.”

He nods a few times. “As long as you are sure. I would hate for something to happen to you. We only just found you again, brother.”

“I know, and I will make it out. I’m not worried,” I lie. I’d have zero self-preservation if I wasn’t worried to some degree. “If for whatever reason I don’t…make it back…don’t come after me. Don’t risk yourself or the others. You have to promise me.”

The words seem to hit him hard. “I don’t like you talking like that. It means you’re not nearly as confident as you’re making out.”

“It is a gamble, I will admit—”

He starts to say something, but I put up a hand. “It’s a calculated gamble. One that I am sure will pay off.”

“Take me with you!” Xander growls. “Let me—”

I shake my head. “No way. This is my decision. My harebrained scheme. If I am lost, at least it will just be me and not the two of us. We can’t lose two.”

“You just told me that the odds were in your favor; now you’re calling it a harebrained scheme. Which is it?” He makes a noise of frustration. “There has to be another way. Send an emissary, have McColl arrange a meeting on neutral ground—”

“They won’t trust just anyone. I am one of the seven fae kings. I can prove it.” I pull open my tunic, exposing the top of my royal marking. I shake my head. “It has to be me. And there is no neutral ground anymore. Snow has corrupted everything. The only safe places left are the protected enclaves like theirs…and ours.”

Xander stares at me for a long moment, and I can see him taking in the resolve in my eyes.

“We have to be willing to sacrifice everything if we ever hope to have a chance of beating Snow. It’s the only way.”

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