Agnes's cottage felt like stepping into another world. Dried herbs hung from weathered beams, their gentle fragrance mingling with the scent of burning sage. Crystals caught the morning light streaming through gauzy curtains, casting rainbow prisms across the worn wooden floor. Daisy sat curled in an overstuffed armchair, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea that tasted of memories and magic.
"Your mother knew what you were," Agnes said softly, settling into her own chair. The cushion exhaled beneath her weight, releasing the scent of lavender and time. "Even before you were born, she sensed the power in you. That's why she was so afraid."
Daisy's fingers tightened around her cup. "Afraid? Of me?"
"For you," Agnes corrected, her eyes soft with understanding. "She knew your gif
