Page 107 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

I thrust the box toward her. “Whatever it is, you plant it. I want nothing to do with this.”

She stepped back, holding her hands up in front of her.

“I can’t plant it. You’re the one with the gift of the green thumb. It has to be you for the spell to work.”

My suspicions were not relieved. “If you want me to plant it, you have to at least tell me what it is.”

Ari smiled and leaned in to whisper, even though we were alone and in no danger of being heard. “An enchanted seed. It should grow faster, larger crops in record time. The bigger your crops, the more excuses you will have to get out of the house and away from the evil stepmother. The two of you will never be able to eat it all. You’ll have too much to even give away. You’ll probably have to open a stand or something, and you’ll be able to get out of the house way more than a few hours a week.”

I smiled at her genius. “That does seem pretty great, if it works. But enchanted seeds? Are you sure it’s a good idea? Your magic…” I trailed off, trying to choose my words carefully. “It doesn’t always work out the way you intend,” I finished diplomatically. Have you tried this before? How do we know it’s not dangerous?”

“Oh my god, relax. It's a vegetable, not a land mine.” She rolled her eyes. “The truth is, I don’t know how it will work; that’s why for now, it’s just one crop. But, if this works, Maren, it will change so many things for you. Your life could get so much better. I promise.”

“Fine.” I sighed. “I promise to plant it, now tell me what it’s supposed to grow.”

“Green beans,” she announced proudly.

“Green. Beans?” I repeated slowly. I loved every vegetable under the sun, every single one, except green beans.

“Relax, you don’t have to eat them, just grow them.”

I curled my lip in disgust. “Couldn’t you have picked something less vile?”

“You think people come by every day just giving me seeds? It’s what I had. Plus, I understand they’re good for you. Next time, you can bring me seeds for the crops you want to grow.”

I frowned. Her reasoning made sense. Sort of. There were still some holes. “If it's all so wonderful and good and life changing, then why can’t anyone know?”

Ari nibbled her lip, shifting from foot to foot. “Grayson has been less than excited about the extremity of some of my new spells and has kind of forbidden me from practicing anymore until I master the more basic ones.”

I laughed loudly. “Now it all makes sense!”

Ari nodded. “Good. Now put it in your bag and let’s go back to the castle before he notices we’re missing.”

“Got it.” I tucked the box in my purse and patted it. “Your secret is safe with me… unless Grayson comes around asking questions, then all bets are off because that man is scary.”

“Pft.” Ari waved her hand as we exited the cottage and ran back to the castle. “He’s a big teddy bear.”

“Who’s a big teddy bear?” Grayson, her very large, very muscled, husband-to-be asked, surprising us as we rounded the corner near the front of the castle. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Where have you ladies been?”

“Well, you of course,” Ari said, answering his first question and ignoring his second.

Grayson smirked. “Teddy bear, huh? Care to explain to Maren why you are avoiding sitting down this afternoon?”

“Nope. I don’t. Sorry, Ogre Daddy, we have things to do. Bye!”

Ari grabbed my hand and dragged me away. All I could do was wave innocently at him and follow her lead.

Later that afternoon, back home, I snuck into my garden through the back gate so as not to call any attention to myself. Looking around, I tried to find a safe place to plant the seed Ari had given me. I didn’t want to wait and risk anything happening to it.

Ari’s statement about me being blessed with a green thumb was true. My garden was full to bursting with plants leaving little space for anything new. Locating a tiny spot close to the house, I grabbed a trowel and dug into the soil about three inches before pulling out the box. I opened it and the light from the seed shone like a tiny lighthouse. Quickly, I dumped the seed into the hole and covered it with dirt before it could… I don’t know… radioactively turn me into something.

I mean, I love Ari, but her magic…

The faintest of glows still shone through the dirt, but no one would see it unless they came into the garden and I didn't let anyone in my garden. After giving my new seed a little bit of water, I snuck into the house. The loud freight-train-like snore rattling through the house was a welcomed sound. My stepmother was already asleep which meant it would be a peaceful night.

I took a quick shower and got into bed, thinking about the seed I had just planted. Despite all the crap I had given Ari, I found myself more excited than nervous. I was hopeful that everything she said was true because I was fed up with life as it was and I was ready for a change.

Chapter Two

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