“Oh,” I said and then cleared my throat as I faced Fox and Taliyah, who still didn’t appear convinced. Taliyah reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, looking like she was counting silently to herself and praying for patience.

  At least she hadn’t gone for her cuffs.

  “I really do think I can be of some help to you,” Andre offered. “Though I might appear human, as I mentioned—I do possess magic.”

  “And he’s very good with magic,” I blurted with a quick nod at both of them, as if I were trying to vouch for my best friend to an overly grumpy teacher. “And if Fox says the Autumn Court isn’t behind all of these pranks, then Andre might be able to help us find out who is.”

  Fox raised an eyebrow at me that was only a little bit mocking.

  “Anyway,” I forged on, sheepishly. “I think we could use all the help we can get to figure this mess out.”

  There was a long, tense moment before Taliyah threw her hands up in the air. “Fine. Whatever. He might as well stay, at this point.”

  “If you ask me,” Fox started.

  “No one asked you,” Taliyah almost yelled at him as she silenced him with a look. “The Magician stays.”

  “You can call me Andre,” the man in question said with a smile. “‘The Magician’ is just so impersonal.”

  I couldn’t help my laugh at that and, in response, Andre turned to me with a wink that was cut short when Taliyah spun back on her heel and jabbed a finger in Andre’s direction. “I’m going to need all your background information right after the meeting.”

  Andre inclined his head with a faint smile. “Of course.”

  Slowly, the rest of the Council trickled in. There were some confused looks when people noticed Andre, but no one else really questioned his presence since Roy walked up and shook his hand and thanked him for coming.

  Once everyone was settled around the table, Fox immediately denied his court’s involvement in the fae ‘prank war’ that was plaguing the town. Laying his hands on the table, palms against the gleaming wood, he looked each and every one of us straight in the eye and no one gave him a hard time.

  “The simplest and fastest way to draw out whoever is behind this, is to set up a faerie circle,” Fox finished with a shrug.

  Roy frowned, probably thinking back to when Janara and her little posse had set up a circle to trap the town’s kids after abducting them, and been summarily stuck in one herself. “What’s a circle going to do?”

  “It traps faeries,” Wanda answered in a duh tone.

  “Thanks for that,” Roy said to her with another frown before turning back to face Fox. “And what… we just set one up and hope the fae behind all this stumble into it?”

  I had to say, I was expecting a little bit more from Fox than the fae version of a mousetrap.

  Fox shook his head. “You misunderstand. I’m not talking about a mushroom circle, but a true faerie circle. It’s the best way to draw in any other fae in the area.”

  “And why is that?” Lorcan asked, sounding bored.

  Fox faced him. “Because unless they’re High Sidhe, and part of the royal class, they won’t be able to resist the call. They’ll be compelled to the circle to dance, attend the revelry and make magic.”

  “And with two Sidhe setting up the circle,” Andre said as he motioned to Taliyah and Fox, all the while rubbing his thumb over his bottom lip. “It would act as a vortex of sorts, drawing in any lesser fae who might be trying to conceal themselves.”

  “So, any less powerful fae literally wouldn’t be able to stop themselves from coming to the circle?” I asked. “It would be like some sort of faerie homing device?”

  “Exactly.” Fox nodded.

  Fifi chewed her lower lip, her brows pinched. “Where would we even set something like that up? It sounds like it would be pretty obvious.”

  “We can’t just set up a fae dancing circle in the middle of town,” Angelo added. “We’ve got the mundanes to think about,” he further grumbled. “Unfortunately.”

  Lorcan nodded. “I do believe the mundane residents of the Hollow would have some questions if they caught sight of a faerie circle. Or worse, got caught in one.”

  Roy grumbled an agreement.

  “It doesn’t have to be in the middle of town,” Fox said, dragging his finger over the table. “Honestly, the best place to set it up would be in Poppy’s backyard.”

  I jolted, surprised. “My backyard?”

  “Think about it,” Fox continued. “It’s a large space, it’s at the edge of town and fairly secluded besides. Not to mention, Poppy’s house is right beside the woods, where the fae in question are likely to be hiding out.”

  “Your closest neighbors are all dead,” Wanda said, no doubt referring to the cemetery that separated both our properties. “At least there wouldn’t be any noise complaints.”

  “The magic of the dead would also help to aid the magic of the circle,” Andre said as he faced me and his serious expression softened slightly.

  “Could that be… dangerous?” I asked.

  “Magic always has a risk,” Andre answered.

  Everyone snickered at that. Except for Taliyah and Fox—there was no snickering from their corners (which were at the end of the table and as far away as possible from one another).

  “Alright—I’m fine with setting it up at my house if everyone else is,” I said. “But I wouldn’t want Finn anywhere near it.”

  “I don’t want Astrid anywhere near it either,” Wanda said.

  “Perhaps I could play sitter,” Lorcan offered. “We could ensure the two youngsters are safe in the coven house?”

  Of all places in Haven Hollow, Scapegrace coven house was the most protected with wards up the ying yang.

  “I’d be comfortable with that,” I answered.

  “Are you just trying to get out of fighting?” Wanda asked Lorcan, a smirk on her lips.

  “If you would prefer someone else watch the children?” Lorcan started, appearing slightly offended.

  “No,” I nearly interrupted him. “I trust Lorcan with Finn’s safety.” Truly, as a vampire, Lorcan was probably the most powerful creature in Haven Hollow—with the exception of Roy… possibly.

  Fox’s face remained in that politely neutral mask, but I couldn’t help but notice a certain light in his eyes. It wasn’t quite smug, but it was close when he said, “Taliyah and I will act as the focal point. As Andre said, with two royals creating the circle, it would be very difficult for any other fae to resist our call. We’ll be able to draw in many more fae together than either of us would be able to do apart.”

  “And I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that this also happens to be a transparent ploy to get me to work magic with you?” Taliyah said, her tone as biting as the frost that crawled over her clenched fists.

  “Yes, you should ignore it, because it’s not a ploy,” Fox managed, his lips tight.

  She glared back at him. “I still don’t know how to wield all,” she waved a hand in the air. “This. I’d be entirely depending on you to sort the circle out, and I’d have to follow your lead.”

  Fox actually smirked then, his gold eyes twinkling. “Funny how that worked out, isn’t it?”

  Taliyah’s jaw went tight for a second before she rolled her eyes and made a little disgusted huff in her nose. “I’ll do it. But only because these faerie delinquents are starting to really piss me off.”

  There was a bit of an awkward pause before Angelo broke the tension, or at least ignored the tension so hard it may as well have not been there.

  “That’s settled, then,” he said, clapping his hands together, a wide smile on his handsome face as he stood up. “Shall we get on with it? Because I have places to be and women to do.”

  “Ugh,” everyone grumbled in unison.

  “What can I say? The work of an incubus is never done,” Angelo answered on a shrug.

  ***

  While the Council existed partially to protect the supernatural citizens of the Hollow, and to keep their existence secret from the more mundane half, we didn’t really like to run roughshod over the rest of town, not like when Ophelia had been in charge. We were a lot more democratic about things now.

  And one thing Bea had pointed out was that, while she was the only Spring Fae in town, there were lesser fae, and even nature spirits living in town peacefully who deserved at least a head’s up before getting sucked into a faerie dancing circle. So, we spent the next day putting word out discretely, giving any citizens of the fae persuasion an advanced warning that they might find themselves drawn away from their other responsibilities that evening. From what I’d heard, most of them were absolutely thrilled at the idea of a faerie circle (the fae definitely enjoyed any excuse for revelry). A few ended up showing up before the circle was even laid down, acting a bit like they’d been invited to the party of the year.

  I’d taken the time to do a little bit of preparing on my own. I wasn’t a faerie, or a witch, or a magician. I was just Poppy Morton. But I was a Gypsy Traveller, and the one thing I was good at was making potions.

  So, I took some time to get out my supplies and get to work.

  And this time, work included: lemon and lavender, a few drops of rosemary extract, and enough mint to turn the entire concoction a vivid green. A few trailing sparks erupted from the finished potion, looking like motes of sunlight, and I wafted them towards me with my hand. Instantly I was filled with energy, and a smile stretched across my face that was wide enough to make my cheeks hurt. My mood lifted, happiness bubbling up like my blood had been carbonated.

  I swallowed back a giggle and carefully fitted the stopper in the bottle.

  Pan’s Delight was a good potion, but a pretty potent one. It was used as a way to lighten spirits and help people to enjoy festivities who might otherwise suffer with wallflowerism or for those who tended towards the anti-social side of things. Pan’s Delight was all the fun of having a couple shots of strong liquor, but without the risk of actually getting drunk or any chance of a hangover. I figured if we used it when Taliyah and Fox laid the circle, it would be an extra boost to help to draw the fae in and hopefully it might also encourage Taliyah and Fox to work together. As far as I was concerned, they needed all the encouragement they could get.

  I wasn’t entirely sure what the plan was for when we actually caught whoever was harassing the town, or what can of worms we’d be opening, so I grabbed a random assortment of other potions and supplies. I even grabbed the sad, fizzed clarity potion that had turned out more like confusion, figuring that if the fae wouldn’t talk to us, maybe this mess of a potion could mix them up enough that they’d spill everything they knew. Hey, I wasn’t banking on wishful thinking but it was still nice to hope.

  As I took an inventory of the potions I had on hand at the shop, I realized I sorely needed to build up my stock again. The store was selling faster than I’d anticipated, and that didn’t include the potions I used on my own time. What I wouldn’t have given to have a Fiery Command Potion on hand, or even a Silvertongue to convince whoever was behind all of this to knock it off and go away.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Outside in my backyard, closer to the woods than the cemetery, people were already starting to gather as I stepped off the porch.

  Andre was there and Wanda, and Taliyah. But also, Bea, and a few other fae members I’d seen before, but wasn’t too familiar with. I did recognize Rowan and her sister Aspen, two of the Dryads that had opened up a plant nursery at the eastern end of town. With them was Brooke, a nymph who worked for them at the nursery, though she specialized more in water plants. No one knew properties and herb care better than nature spirits and I was glad they’d decided to settle in Haven Hollow. Truly, with Fifi focusing on ‘the exotics’ as she called them—supernaturals who didn’t appear as human as other supernaturals, Haven Hollow was certainly becoming a melting pot of the paranormal and I liked it.

  Rowan waved at me, bouncing up on her toes and grinning. Her hair had faded from vibrant green to an orange red with the season. By winter, it would be as white as Taliyah’s. She and her friends looked pretty happy for a chance at late season merriment. I wondered if the nursery would stay open during the winter, or if the sisters would hibernate like trees going dormant. It seemed kind of rude to ask, though.

  The moon overhead was full, spilling silver light across the wilted grass until it looked almost like it had been touched with an early frost. I wondered if Fox had anything to do with the unseasonably mild temperature of the evening. Regardless, it was one of those perfect nights, where the moon hung low and heavy in the sky, and it seemed almost like I could reach up and touch it. The air was cool, but not so cold that I was uncomfortable in my red and green, holiday sweater. Yes, it was a little early for a holiday sweater but the Christmas season was already popping up in all the shops and I wasn’t immune.

  A breeze ruffled the leaves on the trees, the slightly spicy scent reminding me of cider and cinnamon and cool nights curled up in front of the fireplace. Truly, Autumn was my favorite season because the change of colors in Haven Hollow was remarkable—picture perfect.

  Wanda, Maverick, Andre, and Taliyah were all facing each other, working out the parameter of the circle they were going to create. It needed to be big enough to accommodate everyone without all of us tripping over ourselves and from what I could tell, based on the number of partiers who had already shown up, this was going to be the gathering of the year. I knew I should go over to them, bring them the bottle of Pan’s Delight that I was clutching to my chest like a kid with a teddy bear. But my knees had locked up when I’d caught sight of the faint outline someone had made on the lawn.

  It was silly. I knew that, but somehow, it didn’t help me shake the little touch of fear that skittered up my spine. It was just that the last time I’d dealt with a faerie circle, it had been used to trap Finn. I hadn’t known where he was, or if he was okay. And now… just looking at the silver shining outline laid out on my back lawn caused a ghost of that clawing panic to hang over my shoulder like a carrion vulture.

  It did help a little that Finn wasn’t part of any of this. Just as Lorcan had suggested, Finn was safe inside the coven house with Astrid. Lorcan had taken up his strict orders to keep an eye on the more vulnerable members of the community, though he clearly hadn’t wanted to leave Wanda’s side. Children seemed especially vulnerable to faerie magic, and while Astrid was eighteen now, Wanda and I weren’t exactly willing to take the risk. And I definitely wasn’t willing to take the risk where Finn was concerned. What was somewhat humorous about the whole situation was the fact that once Marty had learned what was going on, he’d wanted to ‘protect Finn’ so he was holed up in the coven house, as well. And you bet Lorcan had grumbled more than once about how he wasn’t just babysitting two children, but also a forty-eight year old ‘Nully’ as Lorcan referred to Marty.

  Wanda had put some kind of spell on the front and back doors of the coven house and when I’d asked her what the spell was for, she’d said it was to ‘encourage the kids to stay inside’, with a completely unrepentant smile.

  Finn, of course, hadn’t been happy. He’d wanted to help but thankfully Andre had backed me up, and told Finn that it was best if he stayed away, at least until we could figure out what was taxing his energy so badly.

  I was only a little miffed that Andre’s explanation had worked better than it would have if the exact same words had come from my mouth. But just a smidge miffed. Mostly, I was grateful for Andre’s support, especially when it meant Finn was out of danger, and also not likely to sneak out and get himself involved anyway.

  But I still couldn’t seem to shake the fear that had taken control of me. My breath was already backing up in my throat, trapped in my lungs. That little shimmery outline of the faerie circle looked more and more like a trap the longer I looked at it.

  In response to my fear, magic quivered to life inside me, roiling unsteadily. It was the same dark magic that had taken me by surprise numerous times over the last few months. My fear sparked it to life as easily as my anger did, apparently, because it felt like some creature raising its head to sniff at the air. It felt potent, maybe a little dangerous. Not to me, but to anyone who tried to trap me, to take what was mine and keep it from me.

  No, no, that wasn’t good. I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing. And when that didn’t work, I did the mental equivalent of stuffing a full suitcase closed by stomping on it.

  I didn’t need unfamiliar magic leaking all over the place when we were trying to pull off a plan.

  “It won’t harm you.”

  I jumped, but at least I caught the little yelp I made between my teeth before it managed to escape my mouth. At least when I whirled around to face him, Fox looked kind instead of mocking. More like the man I’d met before, and less like the untouchable Fae Prince.

  “Excuse me?” I choked out around the pulse thundering in my throat.

  “The circle.” Fox inclined his head to where the outline shimmered like cobwebs in the rain. “You were looking at it like it was going to bite you.”

  “Right,” I answered with a quick nod. “Let’s just say, I haven’t had much luck where fae circles are concerned.”

  Fox nodded, no doubt remembering the last time I’d dealt with one—he’d helped us trap Janara and her cohorts. “Just remember, Poppy, that faerie circles are all about intent. And tonight we only intend on having a light-hearted and fun time—to dance under the moon and draw out any faeries that might be hiding nearby.”

  “But the last fae circle,” I started.

  “Captured your son and the other children because it was meant to,” he interrupted as he turned to face me, and the moonlight shone on his auburn hair like a halo of silver flame. He reached out and took hold of my upper arm in a kind gesture, nodding as he looked at me. “Janara’s sorceress, Wren, wanted to cause fear and to keep people captive. She wished to sow misery on her mistress’s behalf, so she made her circle a trap and a prison. But this one is controlled by Taliyah and me. You can leave it whenever you choose to, Poppy. We would never try to hold you.”