Near the edge of the forest, the sunlight clung to the trees like skin, and Ellis lifted her chin in pretend courage. Even with a sack of spells clutched to her side, her hands trembled when she stepped below the waiting branches. Her mind strayed to ghost stories. There were dozens of chilling tales to plague her thoughts as she delved under the sun-bright leaves. Lost girls, cursed children, mon...

Beatrice felt the sting of tears blur her vision as Fidelia was swept into the crowd of dancers. Her chest was tight, and she clutched at the wall for support. Anger curled her hands into fists. Selfish Fidelia, to leave her sister stranded alone at the ball!

The wall was too solidly close to the rush of dancers. Blindly, she felt her way along the edge of the room, desperate for air. For space. ...

Ellis was already in the field, waiting with an empty lantern in her hand, when the sun kissed the horizon. The fresh green on the vines grew mottled with evening light, dripping with the last dregs of early spring warmth. A chill gust of wind drew goosebumps along Ellis’s arms. She shivered, pulling her cloak tighter, and waited for the magic to appear.

It grew in clumps like stars, a bit of ma...

Relief weakened Ellis’s knees, and she slumped against the wall. Her mind reeled, unable to comprehend the victory she and Zeph had won, even as she sat in the midst of shattered glass and the flickering remnant of the witch’s dark magic. Her skin was feverish with spell-casting, and she brushed at tendrils of curses that clung to her skirts.

Pushing herself away from the wall, she trod with wea...

The paper wrapping crinkled under Ombra’s hands as she fidgeted. How long would it take to give the other twelve gifts? She paid no attention as the fairies presented magical items to the infant. Three gifts for childhood, three gifts for education, three gifts for marriage, and three gifts for the kingdom. Ombra had heard the gossip for weeks already as fairies prepared, crafting enchantments wit...

Ellis wound the thread of magic around her finger in a lazy spiral. It flowed bright as a sun, hot against her skin. For a moment, she let it linger, considering the possibilities. She could fashion a speck of good luck? Perhaps relieve an aching pain? Domerick Pice could use a bucketful of common sense, but she couldn’t fashion that out of magic.

The magic sparked, and Ellis felt an echoing pul...

In the morning, the snowflakes were salty. The deer knew it first, gathering in open fields and empty roads to lick up every delicious morsel. Farmers cursed as they tried to wrangle dairy cows in from the field. By morning meal, every child in Kinseddy had bundled up for sledding and snowball fights in the winter magic.

Ellis let the hood of the cloak shadow her face as she trudged to market. I...

Ophelia felt the magic brimming in her fingertips, hot energy making her skin itchy and tight. She rubbed her hands against her thigh and repeated Tutor Friedrich’s instructions. “Visualize your intentions.”

She squinted one eye at Zephyr, imagining. Perhaps long donkey’s ears? Blue warts on his face? A lizard tongue between his teeth?

His words on the playground rang through her memory. “Opheli...

Dear diary,

Mother says my gown needs three more flounces for the ball, but I think it needs four. I know for a fact that Valentina Hale has five flounces and I won’t be outdone by that little nothing of a countess.

I sent Cinders to the market for more fabric.

Much love,

Lady Beatrice.

Dear diary,

My gown has seven flounces and I can barely walk, but I won’t need to walk anyway. I’ll ...

Zephyr wriggled his nose, trying to chase away a sneeze. A stubborn feather clung to his upper lip like a moustache, but between the bulky supply bag digging into his spine and the golden goose he had pinned against his chest, there was no room left in the hiding space to even to lift a hand and brush the feather off.

The goose on his lap flexed her wings, and Zephyr tensed to keep her secured. ...