Page 4 of Pure Magic
One step brings him inches from me. He takes my hand and bows over it. “I should have made my presence known immediately. I’m Adam MacNab. The great mother has been a friend to me for a year and invited me to Windsor, for which I am grateful. I didn’t come to you this morning because I wanted to make a few coins to pay for a room with a bath and have my clothes properly laundered before we met. I apologize, but I only wished to make a good impression.”
Smooth words are always a warning flag to me. I jerk my hand out of his. “Why?”
“Why?” He takes one step back. His russet brows dip to hood his eyes. “Why did I want to impress you?”
“Yes, Mr. MacNab, why do you want to impress me? What is it you want? I’m not a woman to be charmed and taken in by a pretty face and smooth words. I don’t generally wait to ask questions in my coven house for a more polite time. I just ask. Don’t think me rude.” I shrug. “Or do. It’s of no consequence. My purpose is to protect this coven, its witches, and the king of England. I have little time for niceties. What do you want?”
He looks at his feet, and his cheeks pale a little. “I had hoped to meet you and then find a quite time to discuss my past and my needs.” His shoulders rise and fall with a sigh.
Suddenly I feel the shrew. “Sylvia!” I call through the door.
She pops her honey-blond head in. “High priestess?”
“Can you watch my stove while Mr. MacNab and I have a talk in private?” I ignore her grin and wink, and without waiting for her response, turn my attention back to Adam. “Please, follow me, sir.”
The winter is mild, but still has brought a chill to the night. When we reach the hearth at the center of the large empty hall below stairs, I light the wood with a flick of my wrist. We are alone as all the other witches are in the gathering room doting on Prudence. I pull a chair from near the wall.
Adam takes it from me and gets another as well. He waits for my instruction and then places them a few feet away from the warm fire. Once I sit, he does as well.
“I was harsh, and for no good reason other than I’m wary of charming men. That wariness is not your fault, and if Prudence Bishop invited you, you deserve a chance and some politeness at the very least.” I fold my hands in my lap and clutch my fingers together because he makes me nervous for no good reason. I’ll not be turned into a ninny by a pretty face. I practically scream that in my head.
“Thank you.”
When he says no more, I prod. “You have my attention, and we are alone, Mr. MacNab. What is it that brings you to Windsor?”
Those green eyes of his meet mine, and it’s impossible to look away. I sense no magic. He’s just so damned beautiful, and there’s so much emotion behind his gaze. “My name is Adam, and you have brought me here, Miss Ware.”
Chapter
Two
ADAM
I thought I’d have a few days to work out how best to talk to the Windsor high priestess. I thought I could make her like me, at least. I see now that she is not an average woman or witch.
It’s probably wrong that I wish she were not so lovely. Even though her dark hair is pulled tightly back from her heart-shaped face, I can imagine it flowing around her shoulders.
To keep my thoughts on my need of a coven and not this woman, I stare at the floor, which has clearly been recently patched. In fact, it looks as if much of the coven house was recently repaired.
Laughter from the room above filters down the steps. The sunlight is waning, and other than the hearth fire, the room grows dark around us. The long, large room is much like casting rooms in other coven houses. Buckets of water and sand as well as chairs line the walls. The shades are open to the neighborhood, so these witches and what they do is accepted by those around them without magic. That’s unusual and says a lot about Sara Beth Ware’s leadership.
My breath shakes a little, and I try to shut out my nerves. “I came looking for a coven to accept me. I came hoping for a family.”
Pursing her full lips, she studies me with fierce dark eyes. “Have you no clan in Scotland? No coven?”
“My parents are dead.” There is so much more to tell, but when she knows of my family and all that happened, she’ll send me away. I have to prove myself before she can know everything.
The hem of her dark-blue day dress skims over my leg. “Mr. MacNab…”
“Adam, please.” I don’t like my begging tone. I hate needing more from people than quick applause and a few coins.
She lowers her gaze to her hands clutched in her lap. It’s the only outward sign that she’s the least bit frazzled. She looks up. “Adam, I need to know that you are a witch in the light of Goddess before I would ever even consider allowing you to stay in Windsor. You’ve won the favor of our much beloved great mother, and that is why you are still under this roof. If you want more from me, you will have to do better than the fact that your parents are dead. Please, try to remember that I’m a witch and a high priestess. I can feel that you have more to tell.”
I can’t divulge everything, but I can still be honest. “I have a brother who falters from the light on occasion. He caused my family to be banished from our clan and coven. My parents died because of him, though not by his hand. You’re right. There is a great deal more to tell, but I fear if I tell you all, before you know my character, you will send me away out of hand.”
Her deep breath forces her breasts to the edge of her low-cut dress. I’m not capable of keeping my attention from the sight, though I immediately return my gaze to her face. She raises a brow. “What is so important about being part of a coven? You travel from town to town and make your amazements for the coin of nonmagical folk. You get the girls to smile at you and bat their lashes. I’m sure you do quite well with both money and feminine favors. Why do you need a coven, and why Windsor?”
“Have you always been part of this coven, Sara Beth?” It’s forward to use her given name without permission, but I can’t help myself. Why does she have to be so pretty?
