Page 46 of Pure Magic
“I’m here. I’m well.”
Her calm voice in my head eases away all the tragedy I’d imagined. I take several long breaths before I stand and pull back the curtain.
Sara Beth and Jasper sit, drinking tea and eating cake as if all is good in the world. They look like old friends. Her dress is clean, and without a hair out of place, she looks content.
Feeling a bit rumpled, I run my hand down my shirt and trousers and use magic to clean up. A real bath and wash basin would be better, but this will do for now.
“Would you like some tea?” Jasper asks, taking a cup and saucer from the tray on the table.
“Thank you.” I sit beside Sara Beth and let our fingers touch under the table.
Smiling, she lifts her hand and cups her tea in both. “You slept well?”
“Too well,” I admit and thank Jasper for the strong, hot tea. “You are very kind, Mr. Lyon.”
“It’s Jasper, please. I rarely get company at all, and you have both been very nice companions today. One can only talk to animals for so long before people think you mad.” He lifts the plate with a slice of cake on it and passes it to me with a fork.
“Thank you, Jasper. Has Sara Beth told you more of our story?” The sweet light cake is divine.
“She tells me you rode all night and let the horses decide your path. I find it interesting that path led you to me.” He cocks his head.
“You suspect a deeper meaning than fate or good luck?” I eat the cake like a starving man and place the plate back on the table.
“I suspect Goddess led you to me for a safe place to rest and stay if you choose.” Jasper goes to the fire and adds wood. His shoulders lift and lower in a long sigh. “I wish I had more to offer you both, but what I have is yours.”
Sara Beth’s eyes are glassy with emotion. She leans toward Jasper, draws a long breath, and smiles softly. “You cared for the horses, gave us your bed, and fed us. It’s more than we deserve. Should you ever wish to move from this lovely place, you will have a home in Windsor, Jasper Lyon. You shall be as our brother if you wish it.”
Chapter
Fifteen
SARA BETH
My offer was genuine, but even I can’t believe how easy it came to me to offer a man I barely know a place in our coven. Still, I meant it, and Jasper would be welcome.
We were led by Goddess. There’s no other explanation for finding his home. Not only is it safe, but Jasper is an animal healer, and the horses needed his hands on them after such a ride. I suspect the days to come will be worse. “You have been more than generous, but you must realize we can’t stay. We are safe for now, but Ariana is strong and determined. She will find a way to locate her brother, even through your mother’s fine magic.”
“You may be right,” Jasper admits, but his brow is tight, as if he’s considering something. “Goddess sent another from Windsor here when I was a child. She was old and wise but needed my mother’s help.”
My heart beats faster. “Do you remember who it was or what she needed?”
He sits and stares over my shoulder, as if picturing the scene from the past. “She didn’t have a name. Mother called her Great Mother and spoke with extreme reverence.”
Meeting Adam’s stare, I hear his thoughts. “Perhaps Goddess did bring us here, but for what purpose?”
I wish I knew the answer. “The great mother is our treasure in Windsor. She never travels alone now, but perhaps she still did when you were a boy.”
“I think I was six or seven, and that’s twenty years gone by. Mother was honored by the visit. I remember her speaking of it for weeks afterward.” Jasper draws a long breath and looks at everything but us. His eyes are thoughtful, and he fidgets.
“Is there something else?” Adam asks.
With pupils fully dilated, Jasper looks from Adam to me. “She said someone would come, but she didn’t know who or exactly when. She believed there would be two, and they would need help. She hoped Mother would care for them and warn them that the fate of worlds rests in their hands. She said not even she would know when the wheels of peril would begin to turn. Only Goddess showing them the way here would be the sign that they were chosen. Goddess had tasked the great mother with putting in place the first of three tools the pair would need. The first is here.” Jasper rises and goes to his bed. He pulls a trunk from underneath and rummages inside.
“Beth, do you believe we are the pair, and this wheel of peril is my sister?” Adam whispers, but the house is so small, there’s little doubt Jasper can hear him.
“I don’t know, but here we are, and worlds are at stake.” My pulse is so fast, I draw long breaths to try to slow everything down.
“Wouldn’t the great mother have told us we had some kind of quest other than avoiding Ariana and Kaden for a few weeks?” Adam sounds angry, or maybe he’s fearful.
