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aggressive stance wavered. Its mouth closed. With careful precision and
focus, visualizing the strands of the world around her, she wove a new
attitude of calm for the bear. The animal rested all four of its limbs on
the ground. It sniffed at the air and gazed beyond Eva. She made the
bear disinterested.
She became aware of the tension in her legs only as they relaxed. She
softened her grip upon the knife.
“Wow,” Giancarlo whispered.
But then the bear refocused on Eva. Its eyes were suddenly keen.
It…smiled.
“Very good,” the bear said. Its form shimmered as it changed. “Very
good indeed.” Where the bear once stood was a gaunt, angular
woman. Nita, the Fae who had given Ted the head of a rabbit. With Eva
and Giancarlo were both outside the protective circle of chalk. Eva
forced a bow. “Well met, Nita”
“Well met, indeed.” Her long grey hair framed a face wrinkled with
sorrow. Even with the lines of age, she was impossibly beautiful. “Have
you brought me a present?”
“I have not yet had the opportunity. If you would give me but a few
minutes—”
“Then I shall choose my own present.” The Fae smiled and Eva
shivered.
“That’s not in the protocol.”
LE PORTRAIT MAGAZINE
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