"Ah, Sydlynn." Odette rose smoothly to her feet, smiling as if nothing remotely nasty and conniving was going on. "So lovely of you to visit."

I glared at the pair of Hayle witches as I nodded curtly in return.

"Your messenger insisted," I said.

"We really must be going." Celeste bowed her head to Odette. "A pleasure, Ms. Dumont."

"Celeste," Odette took her hand and squeezed it. "Delightful." She turned to James who looked ill. "So charming."

The ...