overprotective.”
I noticed the tattoo on his wrist was now just a faint silver outline. Keeping
still, I remained hidden in the shadows, letting their discussion continue.
“Our family is strong enough to overcome anything that we face. I warned
you when you asked my permission to marry Mara that the path before you
would not be easy. Find the resolve you had inside you then and trust me…trust
her.”
Putting his hand over hers, he said, “I love and trust you, Mae. I just can't fathom the thought of ever losing her. I really don't know what I would do without Mara.”
After a few minutes of their silence, I joined them. Nonchalantly, I grabbed
myself a cup of tea and pretended that I had just returned without having heard
their conversation. “It is so nice outside tonight.”
I set my mug down on the table next to Gram and put my arm around her in a
half hug. Gram held my arm as if hugging me back and I slipped the remaining
portion into the pocket of her sweater. She patted my arm, letting me know she
understood.
“You both missed a beautiful night sky. The stars are so bright, and the moon
has a devious smile,” I said, sounding wistful.
When I sat down at the table, I noticed how much everything was distressing
Cole. His eyes were dark, and he was not full of the sunshine that I usually felt radiating from him. It worried me.
“We had a busy day. Cole, you look so tired. Why don't you go get ready for
bed? Sleep will make you feel better,” I suggested.
Looking haggard, Cole hesitantly agreed. As he walked past me, I grabbed
his hand and kissed the inside of his wrist. He wearily smiled at me.
“I love you, Mara.” Then, with a soft chuckle, he added, “Mae, I love you,
too.”
Gram shook her head at him but grinned, nonetheless. “Off to bed, young
man. You look like you haven't slept in weeks.”
Waving her off, he climbed the loft ladder. Once I knew we were alone, I updated Gram on the path I took as I sprinkled the potion. Afterward, I decided
to share my fears with her.
“Why can’t I feel the elements anymore? Why couldn’t they stay?” I
questioned, trying to hold in my frustration.
“Mara, I told you, they were sent to guide us, so we could find our inner connection. We are the protectors of the magic,” Gram said, enunciating the we.
“Stop blocking what you have inside you. When you were young, you could
control the elements on your own. You didn't need to find your connection. You,
most of all, just needed to learn to control it, which they taught you how to do.
Even when you were not aware of the magic, it was still within you.”
She stood up and went into the pantry. When she returned, Gram carried a
four-wick candle. Placing it in the center of the table, she said firmly, “Light this
candle.”
I started to stand up to go get matches, but my grandmother put her hand on
