“Well, you see, my soulmate was the Star Card and she saw in one of my dreams that I was contemplating reading Ms. Althea’s note…” He shrugged. “Threats were made, decisions were weighed, and promises paid.”
Cooper chuckled from the wall.
Thomas grinned. “I don’t even have to look or ask to know that was your Star Card. They think it’s real funny to watch.”
I threw my hand over my mouth to try and hide my giggling.
Saffie shook her head. “Thank you, Thomas. You may return to your wife now.”
He grinned. “Wait until I tell her she’s the reason I couldn’t help The Coven. I owe y’all one.”
Saffie tried not to laugh but as she lifted her hand a chuckle slipped out.
Thomas winked and then faded into nothingness.
Emersyn pursed her lips. “I liked him.”
“Of course you did, you like country boys.” Tegan winked.
Deacon cleared his throat. “Excuse me.”
Emersyn smiled at her twin. “I’m working on his hillbilly.”
“I’ll help,” I said and snorted.
Emersyn pointed to me and nodded. “She gets it.”
Saffie sighed and scrubbed her face. “Okay, who is next?”
Tegan looked down at the book. “Elena Stuart.”
We were only on the third Hierophant but I could see Saffie’s patience was already running thin. Not that I blamed her. I just worried what shape she’d be in once we got farther along in the list. But before I could voice my concern, Saffie already had her golden glitter covering the pentacle and her fairyflies swirling.
The pillar of blue light shot straight to the stars.
The blue haze shot sideways and for a moment I worried we’d summoned a house, but it was just the woman’s dress. Her flower printed gown poofed way out with one of those awful petticoats under it so she looked like an upside down wine glass. She wore one of those frilly white caps and her sleeves were all ruffled.
Saffie shook herself and cleared her throat. “Elena Stuart?”
“Good evening, Saraphina, Tegan, and Emersyn.” She smiled and curtsied. Then she waved to the rest of the group. “Hello to The Coven and friends.”
Saffie scowled. “You know who we are? Have we met?”
Elena shook her head, still smiling. “My apologies. Louise Bryant was my grandmother, she told me what you asked of her…and about Althea and Aurelia.”
“Oh.” Saffie glanced to Tegan and then Emersyn, then back to Elena. “So you know what we’re seeking?”
“Althea’s note on traveling to Seelie?” When we all nodded she sighed. “I wish I had looked now. Unfortunately we were all still too scarred from what we thought the twins did. I assume you are summoning each Hierophant since Elizabeth?”
We all nodded again.
“I might recommend skipping ahead a bit?” She grimaced and clutched her stomach. “I died during the American Revolution, and at the time The Coven was too occupied with that war to be dealing with the fae.”
Saffie sighed.
“And I happen to know the Hierophant after me did not read it either.”
Tegan scowled. “How do you know that?”
“Because he is my son, Phillip Bishop.” She rolled her eyes and it was the most motherly thing I’d ever seen. “I learned after he died of course, but he was but fifteen when he was Marked and like all Bishops went guns blazing into the war and died a few short years afterward. I asked him before you summoned me and he assured me the only thing he made time for other than war was…ensuring the Bishop line continued. As was his duty, of course.”
All the Bishops gawked – but they were trying not to laugh.
“And I would skip the one after Phillip as well.”
“Do I even want to ask?” Saffie grumbled.
“I have it on good record that you knew him, Ms. Proctor.” Elena smiled softly. “He was your nephew after all. Cyrus’s grandson a couple times removed but named after him.”
Saffie gasped. “Junior?”
Elena nodded. “He insisted that dealing with the Seelie was not Proctor business, for their Saraphina’s sake.”
Saffie’s eyes watered. “T-thank you.”
“Anything else?” Tegan asked with a wild expression.
“I do not believe so. But I wish you all the luck for you’ll need it if that’s where you’re going.”
Saffie closed her eyes and held her hand up. “Thank you, Elena. You may be at peace now.”
Elena held her friendly smile even as she faded into nothingness.
For a moment, we were all silent.
“Okay, that was sick.”
Everyone spun to look at me with wide eyes.
“What? Y’all, did you not see what I did?” When I got nothing but blank stares I threw my hands up. “We just got