Chapter 23: Xander

I need to figure out what it is about my mother and sisters that gets Maeve to agree to spend time with them. I’ve been trying for days to get her to agree to spend time with me and she keeps pushing me away. It’s making me crazy. Einar is constantly on edge, always pacing around in my head. It’s gotten so bad, I can’t even focus on my schoolwork.

So, when I catch them heading outside, I take the chance that she’ll at least spend time with Einar. He finally relaxes a bit when she agrees.

We stop in her spell room. I’ve only been coming here because it’s practically the only way I can spend time with her. Although the smell has gotten easier to take over time, it still stinks.

When we walk in, my sisters cover their nose immediately.

“Phew, what’s that smell?” Quinn asks.

Maeve looks at them, frowning.

“What does it smell like?” She asks.

“Fermented earth.” Malin says.

My sisters turn and look at me. “Don’t you smell it?” They ask and Maeve looks at me.

“Of course I smell it, b