Tarot grinned at the King. Finally! Someone who knew the significance of the blood-light test.
She looked up with confusion. "How did you know?"
Cedric came towards her and dropped a kiss onto her forehead. Then he turned back to the young male.
"Tarot. Do it again, but this time, with me." He commanded, holding out his palm.
Tarot grinned and placed his palm onto the King's much larger hand.
As before, a golden light transferred from Tarot's hand over to Cedric. At the moment it passed through Cedric's hand, the light changed to red and began pulsing. Suddenly, there was a repelling force which flung their two hands apart.
"Owww!!!" Tarot cried out as his arm was flung backwards.
Even Cedric winced, slightly rubbing his shoulder.
"Heavens! You're a very strong witch. Ease up on the power or you'll throw your arm out of your socket."
Tarot blushed. "Sorry."
Talia looked back and forth between her mate and the young man who identified as her brother.
"What—happened?"
Cedric turned to her with a wide grin.
"Your brother did a witch spell that does one of two things. It allows for family members to identify each other, and it repels those who are not from the same bloodline."
"I see. So when we touched palms, nothing was supposed to happen."
"That's right." Tarot nodded.
She turned back to Cedric. "You, obviously, are not part of my bloodline."
Cedric laughed. "That is a good thing. You are my wife, not my sister."
Talia gave a slow nod, trying to absorb it all.
"So if you and I were to try this same thing," she glanced at Cedric.
In answer, he held out his hand to her. "I'll do it gently, Love. Just so you can see how this blood-light test works."
With a bit more hesitancy, Talia reached out. Cedric met her half-way, touching her palm with his.
A yellow light passed through his palm, surging into hers. At the moment of contact, it glowed a red and separated their palms as if two magnets of the same polarity were placed next to each other, not allowing them to touch.
"See?" He smiled and turned to Devin who was playing with his bear on the sofa. "Come here Devin."
The little boy looked up at his uncle, scooted his butt off the chair, and ran towards Cedric.
In minutes, Cedric had done the same test between himself and Devin and proved satisfactorily that they were, indeed, blood related.
"It is interesting that it even works with a niece or nephew." Talia mused.
"It goes as far as grandparents to their grandchildren. Beyond that, it gets less and less effective." Cedric explained, rubbing at Devin's blond head.
Turning to Tarot, Cedric cleared his throat.
"So, Grand Duke Tarot. Were you supposed to give me some important message? Or was the important message the fact that my mate is your sister?"
Tarot shook his head. "The important message comes from the High Seer of Faria, Sibyl Belladonna. She says she has information regarding your sister, Viviene Blaxtone."
Cedric's eyes widened.
"Speak!" He commanded.
Tarot reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter.
"Perhaps it's better if you read what Mother wrote. She is the High Seer." He rolled his eyes. "I'm just your wife's brother."
Cedric closed his eyes and exhaled.
"You're right. I'm sorry. You're a family member and should be treated as such. Thank you for bringing the letter, Brother."
Tarot grinned and handed Cedric the letter.
Cedric stared for a few moments at the envelope with the official seal of the High Seer Sibyl Belladonna.
He'd chased so many dead-ends and dangerous traps in the two years he had been searching for his sister that he was afraid this would be another fruitless trace, leading him to yet another bitter disappointment.
Finally, with a snarl, he ripped apart the envelope and began reading the letter with fierce eyes.
The more he read, the larger his eyes grew.
"Is she certain about this?" He looked back at Tarot.
Tarot shrugged. "I haven't read the letter. I don't know what it says."
"I need to talk to High Seer Sibyl. Please invite her into the palace."
"For dinner." Talia added quickly. "We would like to invite the High Seer into the palace to join us for dinner."
Tarot nodded turning back to his sister. "When do you want her to be here?"
"Tonight?" She looked back at Cedric, who nodded quickly.
Talia turned back to Tarot. "Send her a message and ask her to please come to the palace. We would like to have dinner with her and speak about…many things."
Tarot nodded.
"Send your attendant back with the invitation." Cedric said. "I have to get back to work but you and Talia should spend some time together. Talk and get to know each other."
Tarot again nodded.
His Brother-in-law was a bit brusque, but still quite nice.
Once Cedric left the room, the siblings looked at each other and grinned.
"So you're a witch." Talia prompted.
"Yeah, but I'm still in training."
"Is it something you enjoy or was it just something that you did because you were born into a witchy family?" Talia wanted to know.
Tarot laughed. "Most guys my age are training to be warriors or advisors to the king. I'm serving tea and pastries to women all day long."
"Are you enjoying your work?"
"The serving part is minimal, but what's interesting is that all the witches come there to give and take gossip. Since I'm just a young server, nobody really pays much attention to me and that allows me to listen in on their conversation."
"So you're a spy." Talia raised an eyebrow.
"I am." He cracked a mischievous grin. "What information I gather goes to Mother so she can do what she needs to do."
"What exactly does Mother do?"
"She is a High Seer. Back in the days before we were born, they were called The Seven Witches of Chartreuse."
He began listing them on his hand.
"Beatrice, Monique, Julie, Sonia, Ingrid, Lucile, and our mother, Sibyl."
"I would add Mathilda to the list, but she's been training with Lucile and Mother for over two decades and she can barely do much of anything."
"Why is that?"
He scratched his head. "You are either gifted with special powers or you're not. Even with excellent training, if you don't have the natural abilities, you can still do a few simple witchy things but you will never be a full-fledged High Seer."
Talia nodded. "Tell me more about the seven witches."
"The seven witches of Chartreuse were a coven that had been set up by the first Queen of Faria, to protect the Kingdom from external threats."
"They each had various special abilities so that they could be the eyes, ears, noses, and mental sensitivities of the Kingdom—that's why they're called High Seers."
"Like a magical secret service for the kingdom?" Talia asked.
"Something like that." He nodded. "Sadly, some of the witches began to use their powers for personal gain and they overstepped their bounds."
"There was no check or balance to the seven?"
He shook his head.
"They were trusted to check and balance themselves, but that's like trusting the fox to guard the henhouse. Some of them began to accept bribes and did shady things for wealth or power. They became corrupted."
He pursed his lips with disgust. "One of them even used her witchy abilities to persuade the former King of Faria to marry her."
Talia's eyes widened. "The former King…that must have been Cyrus Blaxtone."
Tarot nodded.
"You're talking about Queen Ingrid, right?"
"Yes." Tarot grimaced. "She cast a sexual spell on King Cyrus. Combine the sexual spell with a glamour spell and it's a simple thing to make someone so bewitched, they will do anything for you."
"Queen Ingrid was the first one who left the Coven to become Queen of Faria. Once she left, that broke up the seven High Seers. This caused a deep fracture which still exists to this day."
"I see. But Mother is still considered a High Seer."
"Yes. Once a High Seer, always a High Seer. It's not an honorary title that's bestowed to someone. It's a job description."
"Would that make you a High Seer too since you are also a witch?"
"Who me?" Tarot laughed. "At best, I'm just a Low Seer."