“What did ya say to Cora, Da?” Euann stared at the stairs. She hadn’t come down. They had been working in the front hall all night, and he would have seen her. He watched and waited, thinking maybe she’d slept in because of the liquor. She was so close, and yet he hadn’t wanted to wake her. The couple of times he tried to check on her, he received a stern look from his ma and a new book would appear in front of him to go through. However as morning faded into the afternoon, he was starting to worry.

At one point in the early morning, Malina returning in a sparkly pink tutu. She pirouetted and leapt across the open stairway. It provided a much-needed laugh and made for an entertaining break from poring over old texts looking for clues as to controlling and understanding Jewel’s powers. Euann, of course, managed to record the dance on his phone before Kenneth had taken pity on their sister and broken her out of Jewel’s hold.

Lydia and Jane had gone back to the Victorian to meet with Trina before going to Jane’s nursery to check on the plants. The rest of them still scoured the books. Iain lounged in a wide chair, his leg thrown over the arm. Rory had made himself a bed of pillows. He lay on his side to read in what looked to be an uncomfortable position but one he had not left for hours. Erik read with his legs kicked up on an ottoman. Kenneth sat at a small table conjured by Margareta. She had not let her returned son out of her sight.

“Da?” Euann leaned to the side to get his father’s attention. The man sat across from him at the large table filled with books they had looked through and dismissed.

“To who about what?” Angus asked, distracted. He did not look up from his pages.

“Cora. She hasn’t come down, and it’s past noon. Ya were the last to talk to her.” Euann closed the book he had been scanning and slid it toward the center pile. “Nothing useful in those translations. I wish ya would let me digitize them. It would make them easier to search.”

“This is the way it’s been done for centuries. No reason to change it now,” Angus dismissed. “Easier does not necessarily mean better.”

“Old does not necessarily mean best.” When his father would continue reading, Euann placed his hand on the page to stop him. “And Cora?”

“I don’t remember what I said. Goodnight, most likely.” Angus lifted his son’s forefinger to pull his hand away from his work. “A lot was happening last night. This is family business. She is an outsider. I understand she needs to be here while the mark of the phoenix fades. It shouldn’t last forever, and then we’ll have to decide what to do with her.”

“We are not erasing her memories.” Euann returned his hand to the book, splaying his fingers so that his father couldn’t ignore him. “We all agreed that we would not do that anymore.”

“Except in extreme circumstances.” Angus glanced to where his wife sat with Kenneth. “I would say Kenneth’s return with a powerful child who needs our help qualifies as an extreme circumstance.”

“Need I remind ya of Helena and Charlotte? We wouldn’t be plucking one conversation. This would be days on the road being controlled by a child, enchanted tea parties and dances.” Euann could not take another woman being harmed because of something they did.

Helena met with the kind of mad-genius insanity only capable by those who were truly deranged. It had turned her into a wraith. When she was freed from her statue prison, she had almost killed everyone he loved.

Charlotte had lost her mind, nearly going down a similar path—an insanity filled with visions and voices that could only be contained by a padded room and the miracle of modern pharmaceuticals. Erasing too many memories came with a price—insanity and captivity.

If they took Cora’s memories, they would also be taking any chance she had at a life. She’d end up in a mental hospital. She wouldn’t remember him. The idea of that caused a sharp pain to shoot through his chest.

Margareta gasped and grabbed her chest. “What is it? What happened?”

Euann glanced at his ma and lifted his hand off the book. He pretended not to know what she spoke of as she glanced around the room. The last thing he wanted was to get into a conversation about his feelings before talking to Cora first. His family tended to go embarrassingly overboard when it came to such things, and this felt like a talk he needed to have with Cora when they were alone.

“Ma, ya should rest,” Erik said. “We will keep looking.”

“It is like none of our ancestors thought to write about something as important as phoenix magick, but we have an entire volume dedicated to the meticulous boiling of roots for changing hair color.” Iain threw another book on the discard pile. “The only thing I’ve found is that a phoenix’s years are not set in stone, and that was more of an offhanded reference example than an actual stating of facts.”

“Before salons, ridding hair of gray was great magick,” Margareta answered. “It kept some of us with food through some very harsh winters. Never underestimate a noblewoman’s vanity.”

“Hey, Ma,” Iain drawled, “aren’t ya a noblewoman?”

“I’m not too old to lock ya in a dungeon,” Margareta scolded, though they knew she was teasing. She went to the books they’d discarded and pressed her hand on them. “I’ll reshelf these.” As she pushed, they disappeared, and her hand lowered to the table top. “Keep reading. I think it’s time I used another tactic.”

“My love, no,” Angus denied. “Last time it nearly killed ya. Do not look to the future. We’ll figure this out.”

“Nearly,” Margareta repeated. “How many times could we use that word when talking about our fates? How many times in our years have ya been nearly killed, nearly maimed, nearly lost? We always find a way. What matters is that we protect our family.”

“I agree with Da,” Erik said. “There is no reason to divine the future.”

“Saving me almost killed ya,” Iain said.

“Nearly,” Margareta mumbled. “Almost.”

Kenneth looked as if he wanted to ask, but instead averted his eyes. He had missed much in his absence.

“I’m going to check on Cora,” Euann said. “It’s not her fault she was caught up in this. She’s a good person, and she deserves better than to be made to feel unwelcome.”

“Does she know?” Iain smiled.

“Know what?” questioned Rory.

Erik chuckled. “That Euann is lovesick over her.”

“I’m not lovesick,” Euann protested.

“Oh, that,” Rory muttered. Everyone ignored him.

“Euann? Why would ya keep such happy news from us?” Margareta rushed forward and grabbed both his hands to squeeze them tightly. “Five of my children have found their spouses, and the sixth is a father. This is an incredible time indeed.”

“She’s not my wife,” Euann disagreed.

“Not yet,” Margareta conceded. “But soon, of course. I have the perfect weddings designed. Just ask Malina. I think I remember her telling me one would be perfect for ya.”

That was one of the scariest statements Euann had ever heard. He’d done many things in his long life to prank his sister. Anything Malina said he wanted in a wedding would be just the opposite.

“Cora has been caught in this family’s drama,” Euann said. “I feel bad for her.”

“Told ya,” Erik said, not losing his grin. “Completely lovesick.”

“Indeed.” Angus nodded. “This does change things. I suppose there will be no reason to erase the memory of a new daughter.”

“Don’t forget to tell her she’s your match,” Iain said. “Women like to be in on the secret.”

“I guess there is someone out there for everyone,” Erik added.

Euann frowned at all of them and said the only thing he could think of. “Shut up.”

Laughter met his pouty demand.

Euann took the stairs two at a time to get away from them. He let their voices fade from his conscious thoughts as he neared his bedroom door. He placed his hand on the wood, feeling beyond the barrier where he couldn’t see. His fox senses tried to hear her, but they were unreliable, and he didn’t want to push too hard in case his face became locked in a partial shift again.

Euann knocked lightly on the door. “Cora, may I come in?”

Silence greeted him.

“Cora, I don’t know what my da said to ya, but…” His words trailed off. His senses tingled. Something was not right. “Cora?”

Euann used magick to turn the doorknob as he pushed the door open.

A cool breeze came through an open window. That should not have been possible. There was a protection spell around the mansion as well as a temperature control. No matter the weather outside, indoors remained perfect. How had Cora managed to break both?

“Cora?” He glanced through the open bathroom door on his way to the window. She wasn’t in the room.

Had she escaped? Climbed out of the window? But why take such a dangerous route? It wasn’t like she was their prisoner.

Or did she feel like a captive? They had told her she needed to stay because of the residual magick. No one had asked her what she wanted. They didn’t think to. They only did what they believed had to be done. That tended to be one of his family’s great faults. They sometimes forgot to ask the non-family member if they were okay with the course of action. When a MacGregor knew what needed to be done, they just did it.

Euann rushed to the window and peered down over the side. There was no evidence of someone having climbed down the vines that covered the stone of the mansion. The plant life looked undisturbed. If she hadn’t climbed down where did she go? She couldn’t have disappeared. Had she snuck out of the room without him noticing? That made no sense. He knew she hadn’t left because he had watched the door all night.

“Cora?” he whispered, leaning out farther. He tried to find evidence of where she might’ve gone. His eyes scanned the forest below. The trees revealed nothing. Louder, he yelled, “Cora! Cora!”

The sound of footsteps ran up the stairs as the others came to join him. His da burst into the room. “What is it, lad? Why are ya yelling?”

“She’s gone.” Euann gripped the windowsill. His mind raced as he tried to explain. “She came in here last night. The window is open, and she is gone.”

“There must be an explanation.” Iain pushed Euann aside to look for himself. “She couldn’t have gone out that way. The plant life is untouched. It doesn’t look as if anybody has scaled the wall.”

Rory pulled up the bedding and checked under the bed. “Maybe she’s hiding?”

“Why would she play games?” Erik asked as he went inside the bathroom to look.

“Play.” Euann tried to feel relief at the word. “Jewel. She could have done this. When Malina stopped playing with her last night, maybe she asked Cora to play with her instead.”

“I don’t think Cora would have said yes again,” said Rory. “She seemed relieved to be free of the spell last time.”

“Do ya have another explanation for it?” Euann demanded. “People don’t just disappear. Not without magickal help.”

Rory lifted his hand in a weak gesture to indicate he did not have an answer.

“Where is Jewel?” Euann left the room. He strode down the hall toward Malina’s bedroom. The sound of the child’s laughter stopped him. She was in Erik’s room.

Euann changed directions. He didn’t bother to knock as he barged into the room. “Cora?”

“No, silly.” Jewel giggled. She had picked up Malina’s British accent. Their ma would hate that. “He’s Uncle Raibeart, not Cora.”

Raibeart had on a larger version of the pink tutu Malina had been in before. A tiara and wings had been added to the ensemble and matched Jewel’s green fairy princess outfit. He sat at a small child’s table with a teacup in front of him. His knees were pushed higher than the tiny seat.

“Join us for tea, sir?” Raibeart asked in a staunch British voice. Jewel giggled again. “Or perhaps a crumpet.”

“What’s a crumpet?” Jewel asked, losing the accent.

“You have never had a crumpet?” Raibeart continued with his play voice. He appeared shocked. Jewel shook her head in denial and giggled again. Losing the funny accent, he leaned forward and said, “It’s like a tiny pancake, lass. I prefer the big pancakes myself, with lots of gooey syrup.”

“Like this?” Jewel waved the plastic princess wand in front of her. A giant stack of pancakes appeared on the tiny table.

“Where is she?” Euann searched the room. He pointed at the mirror. “Did she go through here?”

“Just us, lad,” Raibeart said. “Misplace your girlfriend, did ya?”

Euann looked under the bed. He found one of Erik’s dirty socks and pulled it out. He tossed it at Erik in the doorway. “Jewel, where is she hiding?”

“I was looking for that,” Erik said.

“Did someone say family Christmas card?” Rory asked, lifting his phone to take a picture of Raibeart. Their uncle held up the delicate teacup with two fingers and kept his pinkie out while Rory took the picture.

“Jewel, let him go. He doesn’t want to play.” Kenneth came into the room and walked toward his daughter. “I told ya, ya can’t keep using your magick to force people to your will.”

“Who’s forced?” Raibeart asked, lifting a fork and cutting into the pancakes. He paused long enough to gesture the fork at his teacup. “Need a refill, lass.”

“She’s not making ya wear that?” Kenneth watched his daughter wave her wand over Raibeart’s cup. “And do ya have my daughter serving ya whiskey?”

“Who invited ya to this party, anyway?” Raibeart waved an irritated hand even as he took another bite. “This tea party is invite only, and I don’t think ya have an invitation.”

“Yeah,” Jewel said before resuming her British accent. “This tea party is invite only.”

She waved her wand and pushed the intruders out of the room, all except Euann, who was not in front of the door.

“Jewel, please, have ya seen Cora?” Euann knelt on the floor beside the child.

“I haven’t seen her all night.” Raibeart tipped back his teacup to drink the contents and then held out the empty cup.

“I saw her.” Jewel pointed at the window. “She was flying.”

Euann placed his hand over the cup, stopping Jewel from refilling it. “What do ya mean flying? Is it another game? Is that why her window was open? Did ya turn her into a bird?”

Jewel giggled. “People aren’t birds.”

“Not true,” Raibeart disagreed. “Your uncle Iain is a bird. He turns into a giant chicken.”

Raibeart bawked like a chicken, much to Jewel’s delight.

“Raibeart, please, this is important.” Euann removed his hand from the cup.

“If your girl flew the coop, then she did it on her own,” Raibeart said. “Birds like trees. Ya should check the forest.”

“Damn it,” Euann grumbled in frustration.

“Don’t ya talk like your uncle Euann,” Raibeart instructed as Euann hurried from the room.

“Was she in there?” Erik was partway up the stairs. When Jewel ejected them from the room, she must have sent them farther than the hallway.

“No. Jewel said she saw her flying.” Euann rushed down the stairs. “I’m going to check the forest.”

“That’s not good.” Erik turned to follow him. Iain was standing in the front hall. “Iain, Euann needs ya. Cora was seen flying. Rory, check around out front. See if her car is missing. I’ll check the house top to bottom.”

Euann hesitated momentarily. When Iain shifted into bird form, his magick was contained in the body of a small, wild creature. It was easy for him to lose himself in the freedom of flight.

“Jane is my center,” Iain said as if sensing Euann’s thoughts. “I’ll be fine. If I become lost, I’ll always find my way to her.”

“We don’t know anything is wrong,” Erik said. “Jewel has a vivid imagination.”

“I know something is wrong,” Euann said. “I feel it. Something isn’t right.”

“Do ya feel it or do ya fear it?” Margareta rested her hand on his arm.

Euann didn’t know how to answer. He shook off her hand and ran through the house to the back gardens. All he knew is that he had to find Cora.