~VANNIE~

Vannie beat herself up about what she did in the fields till the next day.

What had she been thinking, jumping from out of nowhere to his defense? He would have caught the blade if he really wanted to! But instead, he'd hesitated a second too long, forcing her hand. Testing her, she realized, because of how triumphant he'd looked when her hastily muttered spell kept the short blade in suspension.

Oh, what she'd do for a time machine.

And she absolutely ...