"Because I make you question?"

Dagon shook his head. "I do nothing but question myself lately."

"Then what have you discovered?"

"That I am going crazy. That I can't get the b.u.mbling witch out of my mind. That I think about her day

and night and in between. That my emotions are completely out of control around her. That I worry over her. That I ache for her. That I-"

He paused abruptly and stared at Sebastian.

"That you love her," Sebastian finished.

Dagon stood rubbing at the ache in the back of his neck.

"That pain won't go away until you come to terms with this issue. You refuse to face and accept the truth, or is it that you have and you don't know what to do about it?"

"I am not as stubborn and foolish as you when it comes to love."

Sebastian agreed. "That you aren't; if you were, this would be a whole lot easier."

Dagon scowled.

"Hey, pal, I didn't know the answer to that question when it came to me and Ali. I was also dealing

with the fact that she was a witch. You clearly know Sarina is a witch, perhaps not one that meets your rigid standards, but a witch. You also clearly know the answer to the question. You simply refuse to act on it."

Sebastian paused, grinned, stood, and walked over to him, slapping him on the back. "I guess that does make you stubborn and foolish when it comes to love."

Dagon rolled his eyes. "Advice from a mortal, what is this world coming to?"

"Witch, witch," Sebastian corrected. "Want me to prove it?"

"No," Dagon said, but too late. The crystal decanter filled with brandy floated in the air . . . upside down.

Eighteen.

Sarina sat with Sydney, Ali, and Margaret at the kitchen table enjoying a pot of chamomile tea and light chatter. Ali had mentioned upon entering the kitchen that Dagon and Sebastian were deep in discussion in the study. Sarina needed no magical skill to tell her that she was the topic of conversation, or that Sebastian was probably presently defending her actions to Dagon. A friend would do that.

A confrontation with Dagon would come soon enough, and she actually hoped to delay it at least until tomorrow. She was completely worn out and tired from head to toe, body to soul, and that depth of tiredness left one vulnerable. Not a good place to be for an unskilled witch, especially when confronting a powerful witch.

"Deep thoughts?" Sydney asked of Sarina.

"Too many thoughts of late," she admitted freely.

"Love does that to you," Ali said, drawing all attention to her. Ali sighed dramatically and shook her head. "It's obvious Sarina is in love with Dagon, why should we all deny it?" It was Sarina's turn to be the center of attention with three questioning glances falling on her. She was about to dispute it when she realized there was no point in denying the truth any longer. She simply shrugged and said, "I'm a fool."

The three women laughed.

"Love does that," Ali a.s.sured her. "Love makes you feel and act foolish. You do and say things you never imagined you would. Love robs you of your sensibilities. You don't even know who you are."

Sydney continued from there. "And that's the best part, you get to discover a knew part of yourself. You don't look with the same eyes, hear with the same ears, feel with the same senses. Your awareness takes on a new more deeper awareness. That is why pa.s.sion usually rules early in a budding relationship.

The senses are aware much sooner than the people themselves."

"And still we doubt," Sarina said.

Ali spoke. "You must remember that love tampers with all the emotions because it is the highest of emotions. Love cannot flourish if it does not integrate with all that is part of you."

"Which is why love drives you crazy," Margaret offered with a smile.

Sydney and Ali nodded their agreement.

"I foolishly thought it would be easy to love," Sarina said.

"Love is easy," Ali said. "It's the falling part that's hard."

"Love is part of all of us," Sydney explained. "It is when we reach out to share that love on a deeper, more meaningful, and intimate level that it becomes difficult, but yet remains simple."

"We make it difficult," Sarina said with a smile. "A wise witch once advised me on love," Sydney said. "Her words were not profound, yet they were meaningful. She told me that love is simply love. If we demand or expect too much from it, we lose the very essence and purity of its being. Love is and always will be, it is up to us to simply love."

"And yet love remains elusive to many," Margaret said with a sad shake of her head.

Sydney responded. "Because they expect too much, demand too much of themselves and others. They never simply love for the sake of loving. They always want more when they already have an abundance,

but then greed always leaves one feeling dissatisfied." "What do you plan to do about your love for Dagon?" Ali asked. Sarina thought of her dilemma and how Dagon could possibly be the one to help her. She had searched far and wide, and every time she had met someone, she had thought of her problem but never of love. Only since meeting Dagon did she begin to think differently and now her only desire was to love Dagon whether he could fulfill the spell or not.

She answered Ali with a generous smile. "I plan to simply love."

Ali clapped her hands. "The poor man doesn't stand a chance."

They all agreed with a hearty laugh.

"I thought I'd find you here," Sebastian said to his wife upon entering the kitchen and walked over to

give her a kiss.

"A late cup of tea, small talk, and good company," Sydney explained.

Sebastian stood behind his wife with his hand on her shoulder. "Sounds like fun and mischief in the

making."

Ali dramatically pressed her hand to her chest. "Are you implying that we're up to something?"

He leaned down, placing his cheek to hers. "Sweetheart, you're always up to something."

She squatted playfully at him as he backed away from her.

Sarina yawned, the long day catching up with her. " Excuse me, but I think it's time I said good night."

She had thought perhaps that Dagon would request to see her, but Sebastian made no mention of him,

and she did not intend to pry into their meeting. "I agree," Ali said and stood, bidding all a good evening and latching on to her husband's arm to stroll out of the kitchen like two lovers intent on a pleasurable night.

Sarina attempted to clean up the table, but Margaret stopped her. "You've done enough work for one night. I'll see to this." Margaret shooed her from the room, ordering her to get a good night's sleep. Sarina did so gratefully, yawning as she waved good night to both women.

"Did it turn out as you had hoped?" Margaret asked in a whisper. Sydney produced a smile of pure satisfaction. "Better than I expected."

"Then Lady Lily made her entrance at a good time?"

"Couldn't have been better."

"And I suppose Dagon is presently wondering how you can right Sarina's wrongs."

Sydney filled her teacup once again. "I imagine he does, poor dear. He doesn't realize Sarina had

nothing to do with tonight's fiasco, therefore, it was simple to right my own misdeeds. The spell cast on Sarina is much too powerful for my meager skills to correct."

"Yet you interfere."

"I think a little interference is necessary at times."

Margaret once again whispered, as if fearing to be overheard. "You don't fear retribution?"

Surprisingly, Sydney lowered her own voice. "I think this spell on Sarina was cast in haste, not intentionally."

"I must admit and with regret that while Dagon is powerful, I fear he is not powerful enough to handle a

spell of this magnitude."

"I've given that thought myself," Sydney said with concern. "But Dagon possesses an arrogance of pride and determination that is rare. And if anyone is capable of confronting this power, he is, and of course a little help goes a long way."

"Little and limited," Margaret reminded.

"A little can go a long way."

"Soon, I hope."

"My sentiments exactly," Sydney agreed. "Time is of the essence here."

"You thought tonight would see them united, didn't you?"

Sydney raised her teacup. "The night isn't over yet."

Sarina expected sleep to claim her as soon as her head hit the pillow. That was over an hour ago, and she remained wide awake. Lady Lily slept comfortably on the pillow beside her as if she had not a care in the world.

A strong wind whistled outside her window, and a chilly draft filled her room. She snuggled more deeply beneath the blanket, glad for her white flannel nightgown and thick cotton socks.

She a.s.sumed it was the night's unexpected chaos that kept her mind fertile. She had played the scene over and over and over again and still could not understand the sequence of events. Two things continued to trouble her about the evening. One was the way she remembered Lady Lily twirling like a top toward Janey's feet. At first she thought it was her imagination, but she recalled it too clearly to doubt her own eyes. The other was the fact that her wrong was made right. There was simply no one present who was powerful enough to right her wrong, which led her to believe only one thing. The unfortunate incident was not her fault to begin with.

But if not her, who? And why?

She had been so embarra.s.sed she could barely look at Dagon, and while he appeared furious with her, she was momentarily stunned by his desire to once again protect her, to rescue her from herself, to ease her hurt, her pain, her disappointment. But then she would do no less for him.

She turned over on her stomach, burying her head beneath the pillow, attempting to shut out her thoughts. Her defensive action did little good. Her incessant musings continued to plague her; actually Dagon plagued her. She could not chase him from her thoughts. He was always there in some shape or form, and admitting his constant presence in her life made her realize just how much she liked him there.

Perhaps that was why it was easier to admit her love for him. When Ali had questioned her, her first instinct was to dispute her claim. But how did one deny the truth? It was not possible and denying it to others when it was so obvious was just as wrong.