Obsidian Curse by Barbra Annino Page A

polka-dotted heels. She greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, tied a frilly apron around her waist, and opened the refrigerator. She reached in and took out a potato-and-sausage breakfast casserole.
    “What brings you by this morning, dear?” She peeled the Saran Wrap off the casserole, popped some toast in the toaster, and set the oven to 350 degrees.
    “I need to talk to you about a few things.”
    I checked Lolly’s coffee. It was nearly finished and from the glint in her eye, I could see that the motor was running, but the tank needed more fuel. I fixed her a second cup of Irish coffee and set it in front of her.
    Fiona was drizzling maple syrup on the casserole and since Birdie hadn’t come downstairs yet, I decided to ask Fiona about Thor’s behavior toward Cinnamon.
    When I was finished explaining his bizarre behavior, she thought about it for a moment, then waved her hand. “I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s natural for animals, especially one as sensitive as Thor, to guard the young. Even in the womb. I’m sure that’s all it is.”
    I was inclined to believe her, although there was a small part of me that feared for the safety of Cin’s baby. What if there was something wrong? I knew that my cousin never missed a checkup, but still, the way Thor was acting, it gave me pause for concern.
    “Would it help if I had a chat with him?” Fiona asked, catching the worry on my face.
    I smiled. “I would appreciate that.”
    She couldn’t actually have full conversations with animals, but they sent her messages, images that she would then transcribe into words on paper. It couldn’t hurt, I decided.
    Birdie came down the stairs, dressed in wide-legged paisley pants and a loose crocheted sweater. Her signature bangles dangled as she whisked into the kitchen.
    She looked up, surprise on her face. “Stacy, you’re here early,” she said in an upbeat voice.
    She poured a cup of coffee and joined me and Lolly at the apothecary table. She put her hand on mine then instantly snapped it back.
    “Something’s wrong. What is it? It can’t be a mission, because the Council hasn’t contacted me.”
    Fiona had just put the casserole in the oven. She was holding a pitcher of orange juice as she turned around.
    I looked to all three of them. Lolly’s circuits were popping, so I got right to it.
    “It wasn’t the Council who contacted me,” I explained. “It was Danu. She told me that you as the Mage would explain everything and I haven’t had time to look into the matter myself.”
    “Well, go on, girl, spill it,” Birdie said.
    “She said, ‘tell the Mage that the Leanan Sidhe has escaped. You must find and bind her. ’ ”
    Fiona dropped the pitcher of orange juice and I jumped. It splattered all over the floor and my boots.
    Lolly gasped, eyes wide, mouth agape.
    Birdie’s face slowly twisted into an angry grimace. She stood up and pointed to both her sisters. “I was afraid of this when you cut the hair of the harlot.”
    Fiona winced. Lolly just looked away.
    I grabbed some paper towels to quickly sop up the mess.
    Their reactions all threw me for a loop. They seemed spooked by this information. And it took a lot to spook these three. Suddenly my stomach twisted in knots. Who was the Leanan Sidhe?
    I dumped the broken glass and soiled paper towels into the garbage can and grabbed a sponge to wipe off my boots. They were suede, so they didn’t come clean, but I managed to lessen the damage.
    When I turned back around, Birdie was still steaming, Lolly looked guilty, and Fiona seemed nervous. I swiveled my head back and forth between the three of them. “Afraid of what? What is it?”
    They all hunched in a huddle, whispering.
    “Stop that right now! You worked long and hard to recruit me to the team, which means I’m in on all discussions. No scheming, plotting, planning, or spellcasting without me. I mean it, Birdie!”
    My grandmother popped her head up and something about the look on my face made