Witch Way Did She Go (Silver Sisters #2)

by Jennifer L. Hart

“Self-pity isn’t a good look for you,” I told the woman in the mirror. “Don’t let that smelly fool in your head. He paid for dinner, not mental real estate.”

Some people might call it intuition, others instinct. I called it the knowing.

Fear had triggered my magic. The only thing I could do now was run and hope they returned to normal.

“Listen to me. There’s nothing he can do. There is absolutely nothing worse than worrying about someone you love being sick and being unable to do anything about it.” Tears sprang to my eyes. “You mean Aunt Jess,” she said softly. I nodded and sniffled. Alys pulled me into a hug. She wasn’t overly affectionate, at least not with anyone but Brock, but on the rare occasion she trotted them out, Alys gave the best hugs.

New witches like Siobhan and her sisters were dangerous not just to the fae, but to all creatures that wielded magic. The mortals and their weapons had grown into a real threat. If magic was discovered by the mortal governments…

She slid an arm around my shoulders. “It’s not your fault, Alys. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you’re responsible for everyone everywhere, that isn’t really true.”

“I already do,” Sebastian murmured. “However, regret is my long-time companion and I have grown fond of her.”

But that’s the kicker of life, isn’t it? You never win for long. I had those babies and now I couldn’t be with them for fear of putting them in danger. And my fear was the greatest threat to everyone I loved.

Different styles, different materials, different eras. None of it matched. It should have clashed, but it didn’t. These things belong here. As mismatched as they are, they belong here together. Intersectionality. That’s what the space was filled with. Things from all over the world, joining together at one point. A convergence.

It fascinated her how such mismatched stuff fit together so well. She called it “belonging design.” Things that shouldn’t go together but just do.”

“Stop,” I spoke the word out loud. “Feeling sorry for yourself won’t get you anywhere.”

This was my life now. Every day realizing what a challenge the simplest task presented.

I will stay the course and accomplish my goal

I got that sense that whether she was aware of it or not, Maeve knew what she was doing.

“You must first defeat your worst enemy before you can become whole.” I shook my head. “How can I possibly fight anyone? I barely made it here in one piece.” The snakehead hovered at eye level with me until we shared breath. “Look into my eyes and see. For you are the enchantress and the seeress who bleeds with the dark of the moon. Look into my eyes and see.”

“The enchantress is the key. Only she can save us all.” Maeve. “That’s why your healer wanted her to come here. To save you.” “Not just me. The world.”

Mother. Maiden. Crone. Three words drifted to me. The voice wasn’t the Mother Superior of Magic. It was older, wiser, and closer to the source of all I was. All I would ever be. Mother. Maiden. Crone. The triple goddess. The three faces of woman, three distinct stages of life.

I was my own worst enemy.

It’s my fault. I wish I had the power to get us all out of this.” You do. That voice whispered. You must embrace your enemy. Embrace my enemy? What the hell did that even mean?

Through tear-filled eyes, I saw Ms. Priss. Leaning on her cane. Bent and bowed from being so hated for so long. I struggled upright. Took a step. And then another. She didn’t strike out at me. Just watched and waited. I pulled her into me and held on tight. “I love you,” I whispered. “Promise, I’ll do better. For both of us. Even if Kal leaves, even if my sisters are gone. You’ve still got me. You’re not alone.” There was a loud crack. My heart stopped as what had been so carefully contained deep within broke free.

The enemy of my enemy can be useful.

Utter bullshit. Women who hated themselves were easier to market to. Easier to make money off of and convince to stay in their prescribed lane.

No one else gets to tell us how to live, Kal.”