“I promise.”

  He settled onto another stool. “Now, if only I could come and go as easily.”

  “If I could manage to perfect the invisibilis potion and spell, you could use that.” She laughed.

  “What kind of mischief are you up to making such a potion and spell?” Likely it was to spy and listen. Petra did have the ability to change her appearance to resemble anyone she wished. She was the only one with that power and had inherited it from her father’s side of the family, but she had been forbidden from using it since she was a child because it was deceptive.

  “It is not mischief.” Petra grew serious. “Once it is perfected, a vial will be given to each witch in our family. That way, if the witchfinders ever come around again, they simply need to drink, and they will never be seen.”

  It had been three years since their cousin Evander and his wife, Rhea, were killed by witchfinders, leaving their three young daughters orphans and the guardianship to Evander’s brother, Damon. When there were no more rumors of the witchfinders being around, Orion had relaxed, but it was not safe to do so, and his sister was wise in trying to create something to protect the women in their family.

  “Why do you not simply take a walk on this side of the grove and when you are out of sight slip between the boxwoods?”

  “Because Mother knows that I have already been there when I went in search of the lady in the grove. She does not know that I have returned or that I met Nina.”

  Petra’s eyes grew wide. “That is your true secret.”

  “Yes, and you must not tell anyone.” Orion blew out a sigh. “Though, it may be too late. Cassian came across us talking today and he may tell Uncle Richard, or maybe even Father. He only promised not to tell Mother.”

  “You sound like a schoolboy afraid of the strap for having misbehaved,” his sister teased.

  Sometimes his mother made him feel that way and it was ridiculous.

  “Well, I will tell no one,” Petra promised. “And I will think of ways in which you can visit.”

  “Thank you, Petra.”

  “Oh, one day, I will come to you with a request, and remind you of the favor I just granted.” She grinned.

  The scolding Nina received from Cassian last evening wasn’t so terrible. Perhaps he finally realized that she was no longer a child and could do as she wished so long as whatever she wished was confined to the grove.

  With a sigh, she settled onto her favorite reading spot within the temple where the sun warmed her skin. But the book did not hold her attention. Nothing that she owned told her of what was happening in the world now. Fictional stories were made up and the factual and historical books were at least twenty years old, and mostly older. What was happening outside of the grove? What were people doing at Nightshade Manor, in Bocka Morrow, London, or anywhere in the world?

  Was King George even the king any longer?

  There were times that she had asked Cassian what had become of France. He had only told her that the Terror had finally ended and that was all that mattered because the chateau that had been in their family for generations was no longer his. She’d asked what England was like and what he did when away from Nightshade Manor, but Cassian told her little. He said it wasn’t necessary that she know because she would either be sad that she missed the world outside or worry about the state of affairs in other places. He wished her sheltered without a care. In time, Nina stopped asking. She now regretted that she had done so and asked for more recent histories. Just because she was isolated didn’t mean that she didn’t wish to know of the world, and what was occurring now.

  “Nina,” someone called, and she turned to note a young woman walking toward her.

  Nina stood. “Petra?” she asked.

  The woman brightened and smiled. “You remembered.”

  “It has not been so long since we were introduced,” Nina laughed. “Why are you here?”

  The smile fell from Petra’s lips. “Would you rather not have a visitor?”

  “No, that is not it at all. I rarely have visitors.”

  “That is a shame,” Petra answered, then settled onto the steps of the temple. “Unless you would rather not have visitors. If so, I will leave.”

  “Please do not leave,” Nina blurted out and sat beside her. Was she so hungry for a conversation or even a friend that she’d resort to begging?

  She mustn’t let that occur because then Petra would feel sorry for her and that was the last thing that Nina wanted. However, she was grateful for the visitor.

  “I am very glad.” Petra’s bright smile returned. “For I would like to come to know you and perhaps we might even be friends.”

  “Friends?”

  “Unless you do not wish for friends, but it is better than having an enemy.”

  Nina couldn’t help but laugh. “I would rather have a friend. Thank you.”

  “Now, tell me all about yourself, Nina. I am certain my mother left out pertinent details.”

  Nina wasn’t certain what to say so she offered an abridged version of what she had told Orion a day earlier.

  “Have you tried to leave the grove?” Petra asked.

  “I am too afraid.”

  Petra leaned back, her lips pursed in thought. “I wonder if there is a spell or potion that could break the tie you have to the tree but not kill you in the process.”

  “I am certain that if there was such, your mother or one of your aunts would have used it.” Nina was only assuming such, but what if they hadn’t? What if they had simply accepted that her life was tied to the tree and had never considered finding a way to break it?

  “Just to be certain, I will ask because if they have not, then I will put my mind to it.”

  “Why? You do not even know me.”

  “I want to. I also assume that your brother would prefer that you were not held here either.”

  If she was free, then Cassian would be as well. He was here by choice, but Nina also knew that Cassian would not venture far so long as she was tied to the grove, as if he were paying a penance for the decisions that he had made as a little boy.

  “I will not hold out hope but appreciate your attempt.”

  “Do not give up,” Petra insisted. “I am seldom deterred in creating what I set out to do.”

  Nina longed for her to be successful, but also reluctant. “I am afraid that the only way that I will ever be able to leave is by the approval of the Goddess Gaia.”

  “Have you asked her?”

  Nina frowned. “No, but I also do not want to appear ungrateful. She had a hand in saving my life and I do not wish to offend her.”

  “Perhaps it was only to be a temporary gift.”

  That was something that Nina had never considered, but she would not dwell on the possibility. Entertaining ideas of leaving the grove and not dying would only lead to disappointment in the end. “I will think on it.” Besides, how could she even ask a goddess for assistance?

  “And I will see about brewing a potion,” Petra said as she stood.

  “I will await patiently,” Nina promised though she did not anticipate that Petra would have success.

  Nine

  Orion found Nina sitting on the steps of the temple, elbows on knees and her chin in her hands, staring out toward the sea. Today she wore various shades of purple, and not all of them matching, and as usual, her feet were bare. She did have all the appearances of a woodland nymph and if she possessed wings, he would assume she was a fairy. But Nina was a human living in a world inhabited by dryads.

  “What are you contemplating so deeply?” he asked.

  She startled and looked to him, then a smile burst.

  Yes, a beautiful woodland fairy without the wings.

  “Tell me of the world?”

  “The world? That is a rather broad subject.”

  “Yes, well, I have no idea of what is truly occurring outside of the grove.”

  “Do you not read the newssheets.”

  “Cassian has never provided those. Only books.”

  “Does he not tell you?” Orion questioned.

  “I used to ask, but he told me that it was not important as it mattered not here.”

  Perhaps it was to protect her so that she wouldn’t long for the world beyond, but Orion could not be certain. Still, she had a right to know.

  “Where would you like me to start?”

  She tilted her head and studied him. “With your family.”

  “You know my family,” he reminded her as he settled beside her.

  “I know the names of the family, but have only met the females and you.”

  “I have a brother and a sister,” he started.

  “Yes, I know that, but not about them. Cassian does not like to offer too much detail because it makes him feel like he is gossiping. That has never been my intention, but I cannot help but wonder about those who granted us both shelter and saved our lives.”

  “I have no trouble talking of my family.” Orion grinned. “Pierce, the oldest brother, is well, a stick in the mud, I suppose.”

  Nina giggled. “He cannot be so bad.”

  “He is the heir. All heirs are curmudgeons once they reach a certain age and realize the importance of their station.”

  “Yet, he has not married.”

  “No, which has my mother concerned. In his opinion, he simply hasn’t found the right witch.”

  “Witch?” Nina questioned.

  “As you know, only females of the Drakos bloodline are witches but no male ever inherits magical abilities,” he answered. “It is a rather strange phenomenon. I know families with witches, male and female. I know families with only a few witches, and where everyone is a witch, and I know families where it skips a generation. However, I know of no other family where they are only female.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “My aunts once explained that the Drakos line was very old and that their magic was tied to the earth, which pleased the Goddess Gaia. It is assumed that the gifts were bestowed on the women alone and it would remain as such for as long as someone with Drakos blood walked the earth. My father is a Drakos, and my mother was a Kotas, yet not even her sons could inherit her magical powers because she married a Drakos.”

  “Is that why Pierce wants to marry a witch? So that those with Drakos blood continue to walk the earth?” Nina asked.

  Orion chuckled. “It’s not a want but required,” he answered. “The decree is that a Drakos male must marry a witch. It is not only to ensure that the bloodline continues, but to offer protection, and provide a home where a witch could be herself without hiding her special gifts, and more importantly, could live without fear.”

  “Then you are expected to marry a witch as well.”

  He wished she wouldn’t have been so matter of fact and at least a little disappointed.

  What was he thinking? They had just met and were coming to know one another. Romance and courtship should not even be a consideration.

  “It is expected of me, but I make no such requirement for myself.”

  “What of your sister? Can she marry just anyone?”

  “Yes, but a witch must also be careful of who they wed, and so far, Petra has no interest in gentlemen who would accept who she is. Only one female cousin has wed and that is Thalia, which I am certain you already knew.”

  “Yes, Cassian has told me that she married a diplomat and is traveling to Ceylon, correct?”

  “Yes,” Orion answered.

  “But why?” Nina asked. “That was not explained, even though I asked.”

  Orion couldn’t imagine why the information would be withheld.

  “Her husband was joined with a group of men to negotiate with the Kandyan Kingdom for British Rule over all Ceylon.”

  Nina frowned. “Why must the British wish to rule everywhere?”

  “I cannot answer that, other than trade and control and to possess a large empire.”

  “At least in France, they only wished to bring an end to their rulers, not take over other countries.”

  Orion stared at her. “France is trying to take over other countries.”

  “How so?”

  “Do you not know of Napoleon?”

  Nina nodded. “Yes, he was chosen to rule France some ten years ago.”

  For all the reading Nina had done, none of it had apparently been more recent histories, and Orion set out to explain Napoleon and the war on the Continent.

  “Could he come here?” she asked with apprehension.

  “It is doubtful. He may have a desire to do so, but our navy will stop him.”

  “I should read the newssheets as well as books so I do not appear ignorant if Petra visits again.”

  Had his sister done as he asked?

  “She visited me earlier.” Nina’s smile was a little sad. “It was nice to have a discussion with someone new. I hope she returns before your family takes their leave of Nightshade Manor again.”

  He would have to thank Petra and encourage her to return.

  “Petra is also going to work on a spell to free me from this place,” Nina offered with a chuckle.

  Orion would have assumed that his mother or aunts had probably tried to free Nina already. “Then I will be certain to bring you newssheets so that you are up to date on all the news and gossip and not lost when you step from the grove.”

  She laughed, a tinkling of enjoyment. “We both know that it will not happen. But thank you for indulging me.”

  Orion reached over and grasped her hand. “We do not know that it is impossible.”

  “Do not hope for too much, Orion, for the disappointment is all the greater.”

  Such sadness, even though she said those words with a smile, and his heart ached for her.

  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the stars twinkled against the nearly black of the sky.

  Nina loved it here on the window seat where she could look out at the sky, or over the sea once the sun had set. Tonight, the moon reflected on gentle waves below and she couldn’t help but wonder what lay beyond.

  She had always assumed that on the few occasions that Cassian did share news of the world that he was also honest, such as when Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804. At least that was the way Cassian had told the story when in truth, Napoleon seized political power in 1799 in a coup d'état and crowned himself emperor. Cassian had also never once mentioned war on the Continent. It had been Orion who told her the truth.

  What else was happening in the world that she should know about.

  “A package from Orion,” Cassian announced none too pleasantly as he strode into the parlor and slammed down something wrapped in paper.

  Frowning, Nina rose and walked to the table. What had he sent her? He had teased about buying all the books in Pennick’s Bookshop, but the package didn’t look like it could contain books.

  She tore at the wrapping and was delighted to find a stack of newssheets and a note.

  Nina,

  This is all we had at Nightshade Manor, and some are not current, but I will send more as I gather them.

  Your friend,

  Orion

  “Newssheets! What do you need with those?” Cassian demanded. “Are the books I provide not enough?”

  The anger that had been simmering just below surfaced and she turned on her brother. “No, they are not.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” she nearly screeched. “Did you not think it important that I know a war was being fought on the Continent between France and England and…” she couldn’t remember who else was involved, nor had Napoleon limited himself to the Continent, but seemed intent on taking over the world.

  “It does not affect you here.”

  His answer was so simple, and it infuriated her.

  “How can you say such? The war may not be here, but I have a right to know what is happening in the country of my birth.”

  “Calm down, Nina. You are upset for no reason.”

  “No reason!” Her pitch was even higher now. “What else have you not told me because it does not affect me?”

  “You live in a protective grove where the world cannot touch you. I did not want you upset by the unpleasantness of the world.”

  “Either you wish for me to be ignorant, you think me a fool, or still consider me a child.”

  “I have explained before.” He held up his hands in defense. “I would not have you worry over things you cannot change. I would not have you upset and wished for you to live peacefully. I am the reason you are stuck here so I wanted to make it happy for you.”

  “You kept me ignorant,” she told him. “I felt the fool speaking with Orion today.”

  “You should not have been speaking with him at all,” Cassian countered, his voice rising in anger.

  “You wish to keep me sheltered as you have since I was a child. I am no longer a little girl. I am lonely. Do you not understand that?”

  “The dryads.”

  “They are decades…centuries older, and from a different world. They would coddle me as well and warn of dangers.”

  “It is because of him.”

  “No,” Nina answered quietly, suddenly exhausted. “Orion has nothing to do with this. I have been thirsty for the outside for as long as I can remember, otherwise I would not sneak out of the sacred grove and go to the water’s edge so that I can spy on the residents of Nightshade Manor when they are here.”

  Cassian sank into a chair. “I am sorry, Nina. I truly thought that I was doing what was best.” Cassian pushed his fingers through his hair.

  “I do not need to be protected any longer. I do not want to be coddled or shielded as if I were a wilting violet. I need more, Cassian.”

  He nodded and faced her again. “You do, and you will have whatever it is in my power to give you, even if it means Orion visiting daily, and any other Norcott, Drakos or Cardwell.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “I will enjoy their company until they leave again.”

  “Yes, they do tend to be gone for long periods of time.”

  “There is always correspondence,” she offered and hoped that her new friends may write.