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card inside, flipping it open. It wasn’t a birthday card, or a bill. It was a summons.
“What is it?” asked Kitty.
Without looking up, I replied, “I’ve been invited to attend the Council summit.”
“Why?”
I scanned the neat type. “They are ready to elect a new leader. Did you know about this, Étoile?”
Étoile nodded. “I got my invite too.”
    “I don’t think you should go,” interjected Evan, before she could say anymore. His forehead knitted into a frown as he came over to stand by me, reading the invitation over my shoulder. When it came to witches, my boyfriend had mixed feelings. He loved me and tolerated Étoile, although he now counted her as a friend. He seemed to like Kitty well enough, and included my warlock friend, David Langstrom, among his friends, but that was as far as it went. It was mostly a trust thing. Evan was daemon, not exactly your average witch’s best friend, and certainly formidable to have as an enemy.
    Such prejudices meant nothing to me. I loved Evan unreservedly. I knew he loved me too, and it wasn’t just that he told me every day but I could see it in the sacrifices he made to stay with me. Although he travelled home to Texas regularly to confer with his employees face-to-face, I knew he was getting agitated about being so hands-off in his business. I was starting to worry that my desire to stay in Wilding wasn’t going to be good for us, long term.
    One day soon, I was going to have to make a decision, or offer some kind of compromise. I couldn’t continue to let Evan do all the running for me. I wasn’t being fair, and I knew it. The thought of it made me feel awful, but there were more pressing things at hand, as usual.
    “It’s a summit. Étoile’s going.” I knew I sounded petulant, but it slipped out anyway. I didn’t have many dealings with the witch community but I got the gossip drip-fed to me by Étoile and Seren, and even Kitty, if the dirt were particularly juicy. I’d always been hesitant to get further involved, especially while the Council was in such disorder from lack of leadership. Maybe it would have been different if I’d grown up knowing I was a witch, and understanding the subtle nuances and hierarchy of the community. Instead, I’d been launched into it, full pelt, a year ago. While I was taking to magic well, I didn’t think the magical community was taking to me quite as favourably.
    “Étoile is stronger than you and she’s been around this all her life. It could get dangerous,” Evan sensibly pointed out. “Some of the witches have been getting out of line lately. You’ve seen that.”
    “If I don’t get with the magic programme, I’m never going to learn.” I threw back even though I was still undecided. “Plus, how dangerous can it get?”
    “Georgia Thomas will be there.” Étoile looked a little pale.
    “Oh.” That dangerous. Well, that made things a little different. “Who’s with me for cake?” I asked, pinning a smile on my face.
    ***
    Settling into the desk chair in the little office Evan helped me set up in the sun room (or not-a-lot-of-sunroom as we currently called it), I switched on my laptop. I leaned back on the cushioned seat while I waited for it to power up.
    A month ago, Seren and David had surprised me by calling up and offering me a job. Turns out, they’d had more than enough of being pushed and pulled around by the Council too, and decided to open up a small shop and online business together. They were primarily targeting the witch community, who often found it hard to source the kinds of herbs and ingredients they needed for spellcraft.
    Seren and David’s set-up was simple: a small shop that sold herbs, homemade potions, gifts and other mystical new age items like candles and crystals that catered to the foot crowd, the non-magical patrons. They set up a warehouse in the back, where they stored the herbs they sourced and then shipped to customers, along with anything else the witch