Chapter 22

My father took his time settling us down with tea and brandy before he steeled himself for the tale that he clearly didn’t want to tell.

His voice was slow and steady as he said, “Your mother was completely smitten with a young man from the county next named Jeremiah Freeman.  His family is as magical as ours, if not more so, but they do not agree with our policies for the use of magic.  They are also less cautious about concealing their abilities.  It is because of this that we separated from them when we formed the society.”

“It’s my understanding that you and a few of your peers formed the society,” I said.  “Was it in existence when grandfather killed my father?”

He squeezed his eyes shut and made a guttural sigh. “That sounds horrific, but, alas, it is the fact of the matter… It is because of this horrible event that the society was formed.  It created a cover for those of