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Chapter 1

OUR MOTHER WAS A WITCH, TOO, but she hid it better

I miss her

Not a single day goes by that I don’t wish for her guidance Especially about my sisters

Tess runs ahead of arden—our sanctuary, our one safe place Her slippers slide on the cobblestones, the hood of her

gray cloak falling to reveal blond curls I glance back at the house It’s against the Brothers’ strictures for girls to go out of doors uncloaked, and running isn’t considered ladylike But we’re concealed froes Tess is safe

For now

She waits ahead, kicking at the dead leaves beneath aat her lip with pearly teeth “It feels so sad”

“I like it” There’s so blue skies, the interplay of orange and scarlet and gold The Brotherhood would probably ban autumn if they could It’s too beautiful Too sensuous

Tess points to the cle up the trellis Their petals are brown and cruround

“See, everything’s dying,” she says mournfully

I realize what she intends a scant second before she acts

“Tess!” I shriek

I’ray eyes, and a moment later, it’s summer

Tess is an advanced caster for twelve— up, whole and white and luscious The oaks sprout new green leaves Magnificent peonies and lilies sway toward the sun, glorying in their resurrection

“Teresa Elizabeth Cahill,” I hiss “You put that back”

She se daylilies “Just for a few minutes It’s prettier this way”

“Tess” My tone doesn’t brook any argument

“What good is all this, anyway, if we can’t use it to s more beautiful?”

As far as I can tell, “all this” is good for precious little I ignore Tess’s question “Now Before Mrs O’Hare or John comes outside”

Tess mumbles arevertospell under her breath I assume that’s for my benefit Unlike me, she doesn’t need to speak aloud to cast

The clematises’ flowers droop on their vine; the leaves crunch beneath our feet; the impatiens fall to pieces Tess doesn’t look happy about it, but at least she listens to me That’s more than I can say for Maura

Footsteps strike the cobblestones behind us It’s a man’s quick, heavy stride I whip around to face the intruder Tess e to put e, but I’d keep her this way forever if I could An odd, pretty child is safer than an odd, pretty woman