Almost thirteen and a half years after The Enchanted Bird

Shortly after dawn on Longnight morning, an explosion shaking the townhouse jolted Wren from Hawke’s arms, her heart racing. What in the Goddess’s name was that? It had come from the direction of their twelve-year-old twins’ chambers.

She and Hawke burst from bed and bolted down the hall toward Kess’s and Perry’s adjacent chambers on the opposite end of the townhouse. She gasped at the smoky haze and the mess of books, toys, and clothes strewn across Perry’s floor. It appeared as if a fiery dervishwind had ripped apart his chambers.

His face stern, Hawke frowned at Kess and Perry, who were both in the middle of Perry’s chambers gawking at the mess about them. Hawke demanded, “All right, you two, what happened?”

The twins traded a nervous glance, then Kess replied, “We were arguing—”

Perry interjected, “Because you wanted to wake everyone at dawn to open your Longnight gifts. I said Mama and Papa wouldn’t like it, but you wouldn’t quit yammering.”

Kess scowled at her minutes-younger brother, flames sparking in her pale-blue eyes and auburn hair.

A chill skittering across her skin, Wren gaped at Kess. Why was their daughter emitting flames? Only fire witches did that. And neither she nor Hawke were witches, so ’twasn’t likely that their daughter should be one.

Still scowling and emitting flames, Kess snapped, “Perry’s grumbling made me so mad that it just burst from me and destroyed his chambers.”

Perry scowled back. “Including all my books. And I’d just found the most interesting tome on introductory magic too. I’d only had a chance to teach myself how to create a witchlight before you destroyed it, Kess.”

Her chill even colder now, Wren shuddered and gripped Hawke’s hand. Dear Goddess, their son clearly possessed magical powers as well. Why?! She’d always distrusted magic, especially after the troubles the charmed pen and the enchanted bird had caused her. And now her children were witches?

She and Hawke traded a glance, then she said, “I think we must visit the veiled witch at once to prevent this from happening again.”

As Hawke nodded, Kess pouted and asked, “But what about our Longnight gifts?”

Hawke gave the twins another stern frown. “After we visit the veiled witch and you two clean Perry’s chambers. Now get dressed, and wear your heaviest cloaks.”

Kess and Perry groaned but did as their father ordered.

Wren and Hawke returned to their chambers and prepared to leave as well. Then they hustled the twins into their carriage and headed to Rhiannon’s Veils.

When they entered the dim witch shop and called for the veiled witch, strings of starlights hung on the walls and ceiling burst into life, then the veiled witch sashayed through the glass beads over her rear door. “Happy Longnight, Lord and Lady Beza Hawke, Kess, Perry.”

While Hawke grimaced at his given name like always, Wren inhaled then said, “We’ve come about Kess and Perry.”

The veiled witch nodded, her tiny bells tinkling. “Quite powerful witches, aren’t they? Not surprising considering your magical powers and that they were conceived while under my glamour spell.”

Wren gasped, her heart freezing. “My magical powers?”

As Hawke wrapped an arm about Wren’s shoulders, the veiled witch nodded again and replied, “They’re why you’re so sensitive to magic. Humans without them can’t sense magic at all. Although since you distrust magic, you’ve suppressed your magical powers—magically, of course.”

Wren swallowed. “Oh.” If only she could curse without the twins overhearing.

A chuckle undulated the veiled witch’s black veils. “But now that your children’s magical powers have developed, ’tis time for you to acknowledge your own. Don’t fret; I’ll be glad to start training all three of you until your true mentors are ready.”

As Hawke squeezed her shoulders, Wren managed a weak smile. Magic lessons were not the Longnight gift she wanted to receive, although she’d little choice but to accept them. Possessing untrained magical powers was dangerous. And once she could control them, she could return to mostly ignoring them. She inhaled then inclined her head. “Thank you, madam witch.”