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“Mo to keep Dad’s secret—and mine She wouldn’t have been able to lie to you,” I said, bristling at the criticism Witches could smell another witch’s falsehoods with the sas could track deer “What did Grand up?”

“Oh, she was a fan of Dr Spock Mom didn’t worry too much about e did, provided we didn’t burn the house down,” Sarah said

This was not what I wanted to hear

“There’s no need to be concerned that your children ly “Bishops have been doing just that for centuries You should be thrilled they’re showing signs of aptitude at such an early age”

“But Philip and Becca aren’t ordinary witches,” I said “They’re Bright Borns They’re part vampire”

“Magic will out, vampire blood or no vampire blood” Sarah took another bite of shortbread “I still don’t see why you interrupted our vacation because Philip engaged in a little bit of ti I’m sure it was harmless”

“Because Diana’s anxious, Sarah, and she wanted you tothis was perfectly obvious

“Goddess save us, not again,” Sarah said, flinging her hands in the air in frustration “I thought you were over being afraid of ic”

“Maybe for myself, but not for the children,” I said

“They’re babies!” Sarah said, as though this were sufficient reason to cast worry aside “Besides, you have lots of space and too s So what?”

“Break things?” I was incredulous “I don’t care about things I’m concerned for their safety I’m afraid that Philip can see tiht line I’ht disappear and I won’t be able to find him I’m afraid that Becca will try to follow him, and end up in an entirely different place and time I’m afraid that Satu Järvinen will find out, or one of her friends, and deate this precociousback ather I’m afraid that Gerbert will discover that Philip and Becca are even ht be, and will become fixated on them”

My voice rose with each new fear until I was practically shouting

“And I a!” I finished

“Welcoatha said serenely She held out the shortbread “Have a cookie You’ll feel better Trust me”

I was a great believer in the power of carbohydrates, but not even Marthe’s baking—spectacular though itto solve this dilemma

—

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, the twins and I were playing on a blanket under the sprawlingthat was tucked into the corner where the moat curved around Les Revenants We had collected sticks, leaves, flowers, and stones and were arranging them in patterns on the soft wool

I watched, fascinated, as Philip selected ite to their textures and shapes while Becca preferred sorting her treasures by color Even at this young age, the tere developing their own likes and dislikes

“Red,” I told Becca, looking at a bright leaf from a Japanese htly furled rosebud, and a sprig of cardinal flower

She nodded, her face scrunched up in concentration

“Can you find more red?” I asked There was a reddish pebble, and some bee balm that was such a dark pink that it bordered on crimson

Becca handed reen oak leaf

“Green,” I said, putting it next to the rose Becca i another pile

As I watched the children play under a blue sky, thebranches sighing gently in the wind above us and the grass ht cushion under the blanket, the future seeatha I was glad the tould co was seen as a forht in The New England Prihted far more toward control than freedom

Still, I needed to help them find balance—not just between playfulness and discipline, but between the other opposing tendencies in their blood Magic needed to be part of their lives, but I didn’t want the device Nor did I want thee or power to hold over others Instead, I wanted theic with ordinary moments like these

I picked up a sprig of uet de bois The perfumed flowers of lily of the valley always reminded me of my mother, and their white and pink bells looked like ruffled caps thatface inside

The breeze set the s on their delicate stems

I whispered to the wind, and the faint sound of bells could be heard It was a sic—so s with the Book of Life

Philip looked up, his attention captured by the ical sound

I blew on the flowers, and the sound of bells grew louder

“Again, Ma her hands

“Your turn” I held the sprig between her lips and hed, and the sound of bells swelled and grew

“Me Me” Philip grabbed at the flowers, but I held on to them

This ti bells, the peals were even louder

Worried that the sound ht carry to warmbloods ould wonder how they could hear church bells so far away froround

“Floreto,” I said, sprinkling soer, and they craned upward Inside each bell the pale green staer pistil that made up its nose

By this point the children wereits leaves in welcome Becca waved back

Matthew appeared, looking concerned Then he saw the waving lily of the valley, and his expression turned to surprise, then pride

“I thought I s us on the blanket

“You did” The ste to wilt I decided it was time for the lily of the valley to take a bow and for ic show to end

Matthew clapped in appreciation, and the children joined in Working h, but on this occasion, it did

Philip went back to his smooth pebbles and velvety roses, while Becca continued to a around on the thick grass with unsteady legs Neither of them seemed to think what I’d done was cause for concern

“That was a big step,” Matthew said, drawing me close

“I’ll alorry when they dointo Matthew’s arms as atched the twins play

“Of course you will I’ll worry every time they run after a deer,” Matthew replied He pressed his lips against ood behavior for their children You did that today”

“I just hope that Becca waits before delving into spell casting and playing with ti wizard is all I can handle at the moment”

“Rebecca hter blowing kisses at a rosebud, her expression intent

“Today, I’ alar for al’s food bowl I wish I could freeze thisup at the white clouds scudding across a sky that was brightly blue with possibilities

“Maybe you have—in their memories, at least,” Matthew said

It was coht, a hundred years froic—just for fun, just because she could, just because it was a beautiful May day and there was roo to keep Dad’s secret—and mine She wouldn’t have been able to lie to you,” I said, bristling at the criticism Witches could smell another witch’s falsehoods with the sas could track deer “What did Grand up?”