At first, she heard only garbled noises and chatter from the other side. As Magda had taught her to do in her daily practice, she imagined an old-fashioned radio, and when she had it clear in her mind, Amelia began to tune the dials, separating the voices from each other.

Every time she did, a part of her hoped her birth mother would step forward, so she could talk with her and learn all about her, but she never had so far. Magda said she was confident she would one day when the time was right.

Once the many voices spoke as one, Amelia opened her eyes and held there for a moment to make sure her connection was strong.

We are here to help you, the voices said. At the other side of the circle was a row of different-sized stones. Concentrating on the biggest stone first, and with the strength of the countless witches that came before her, she lifted the stone and moved it through the air and placed it on one of the symbols drawn within the casting circle.

Amelia was getting faster at this and tuning in more easily. The more she practised, the more second nature it would become, Magda told her, and she was right. She lifted the next couple of rocks to their places with ease.

She felt so calm and at peace with the world when she took part in her practice. Amelia delivered the next couple to their places, and when she brought her eyes front again, she saw a pair of legs and a walking stick.

Amelia gasped in fright and looked up. It was the Grand Duchess standing in front of her. “Lucia?”

Lucia smiled. “You’re getting good at this. Very good progress, just concentrate a bit more, or you won’t keep me here.”

Amelia took some deep breaths. She wanted to keep the Grand Duchess here. “Why—”

“Am I here? I check in on you and Byron often. Congratulations on baby Debrek.”

Amelia smiled. “It was a surprise.”

“Nothing is truly a surprise. Things generally turn out how they are meant to, as long as there is no interference from darker forces. But you, Amelia? You are everything I thought you would be. You are the life force of the Debreks, and between you and Sera I hope we will have many more Debreks.”

“I think there are too many women out there for Sera to settle down,” Amelia joked.

Lucia raised her eyebrow. “You think so? There’s a lid for every pot, Amelia.”

Amelia touched her stomach. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, of course.”

Lucia stamped her walking stick onto the floor. “Now, to business. We need you to be the voice of reason in the coming weeks and months.”

“What do you mean?”

“Life always gives you a chance to do better, no matter who you are, and for some it takes something extraordinary for that to happen.”