Free The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* by Shannon Barczak

clutching and slowly peeled off the small bandage on the palm of my finger. The small cut I had gotten yesterday from cutting up chocolate for the ganache frosting was still visible. She muttered a few words and small warmth come over my hand. I watched in disbelief as the skin slowly closed up and disappeared.
    　
    “Holy-Moley,” I breathed. “That little parlor trick would've been handy in the third grade when I fell off the monkey bars and broke my arm."
     
    “I wanted too unfortunately all these people came rushing over before I could even try to throw a mist,” Cecily said disgruntled
     
    “What is a mist?" I asked
     
    “A mist is something we can create to surround us, like fog I guess so that we can hide our gifts or simply vanish from humans. It doesn’t last very long but it works in a pinch,” Cecily said
     
    “You’ve told me about Dad’s gifts,” I said shaking my head. “But you didn't fully explain yours to me. I mean, you can perform healing magic, are you a witch?"
     
    Laughing my mom said, “Well I guess you can call me a witch but we Gypsies prefer the term Casters."
     
    "Ok, Casters, then,” I said. “I guess I’m curious about what other stuff you've done. What spells and magic you had to perform or chant or whatever it is you do"
     
    My mother sat smiling for a minute before she answered, “Besides healing that you just witnessed, I've done spells to mask our scents, especially yours which is a little richer and deeper. I've cast protective barriers around our house and property every night. As well as our cars, the bakery, your schools growing up, and your friend's houses. I have had to try to cast out your magical energy so it wouldn’t rear its head at an inopportune moment. That was very difficult during the hormone fueled teenage years let me tell you. Every once in a while I also try to do a spell looking for any threats. I let that one lax though, otherwise we would not have been so unprepared tonight. It was utterly stupid and irresponsible of me.”
     
    “Wow,” I said. “I feel like the biggest idiot in the world or the most narcissistic one. How on earth did I not notice this?”
     
    “You didn’t notice because we did everything in our power for you not to be aware of these things. Honestly, I’m almost happy. I guess we did our job. We did what we set out to do, and that was to make everything normal and happy for you."
     
    “Yeah, I guess you did but...” I started, "Wait, you said they found us, what happened tonight? Was it the Rau? What do we do?”
     
    “Yes, they found us, or they caught our scent,” Cecily answered, “Your Father and I decided to take a quick stroll after dinner. I guess I was caught up in the romance of the night. The wine, the stars, and well you get the point. We were just turning a corner, and both saw them at the same time and sure enough there they were, two of them, about to head into a bar. Their heads quickly snapped up but before they could move your father teleported us all over town. Finally, we got back to the car and drove here as fast as we could."
     
    “All right so what do we do? Stay in for a few nights? Lie low?" I asked
     
    “No honey, there's no lying low, they will find us," my mom answered
     
    “But you said you do spells to mask our scents, how did they catch it?"
     
    “I don’t know. I usually do them every morning. It must have worn off a bit. Suffice it to say they caught it, and they will not rest until they find us,” my mom let out a snort. “I feel stupid, I can’t believe I didn’t think before we went out, I’m usually very vigilant and cautious. This lapse is unacceptable."
     
    “You’re not Superwoman or Supercaster Mom.” I said reassuringly. “Everyone makes mistakes and from the sounds of it you've been pretty vigilant for the past several years.”
     
    “You don’t understand Willa. They will not give up. They will find us. We are a Skye Gypsy Princess and a Faerie