Sloane terrifies everyone—her own children included—so much that they bow to her will. She’s not a High Priestess; she’s a tyrant. She’s opposite of everything the Goddess wants in Her daughters.
Scared followers make a weak leader. Which means Twilight Grove can crumble from the inside.
Sloane moves towards the bed and clasps her hands together, the sleeves of her blouse billowing. “Morning, Miss Hargrove, and welcome to your new coven.”
Forty-Five
RYDER
Enteringthe town happens too easily to be a good sign, considering the magick coating it is meant to keep out all non-Highridge witches. The fact it let us pass through is surprising.
Just like the last time Carina walked us through the barrier, it washes over me in a cool wave reminiscent of her water magick. It’s the essence of my mate and something I might very well attempt to bottle before we leave because last night was a tease. I need a hit of her again.
Soon,I vow. Soon she’ll be back in my arms.
Behind me, Holly, who’s never felt the barrier before, visibly shivers. “That’s unnatural. How can they stand it?”
“Says the woman who turns into a wolf at will,” Conan remarks dryly. “I’m sure the witches say the same about us.”
“Both of you, shut it and stay alert.” We pass the town’s sign, with its lineup of tourists snapping photos, and then the first building—a motel. It’s only a matter of time before someone from the coven appears. “That barrier will have told them we’re here, and without Carina, doubt they’ll be friendly. It shouldn’t have even let us in, which means they’re expecting us.”
We make it another three steps, our eyes sweeping over the lineup of vehicles, when suddenly the area changes. Our steps go from sidewalk to road, the change in elevation throwing our balance.
In a blink, we’re in front of Carina’s house, standing in the centre of a circle of witches—most of the coven, if I had to guess. Their hands are a variety of glowing colours, though most being white.
Not only did they sense us, they prepared for us.
Xander growls and Conan’s feet shift into a defensive position. I gesture for them to stand down and remain behind me. “Do not fight. It’s the opening they’ll need and will happily take.”
Despite speaking low, Morgan overhears. She exits her place at the head of the circle. “Need?You have some nerve showing up here after Carina insisted on returning to you.”
It takes a lot to remind myself this is my mate’s mother, to not attack. Carina is who she is because she was kept alive by this woman—which makes her my greatest ally.
Morgan’s expression softens a beat as she glances over my shoulder, finally noting who isn’t present. “Where’s my daughter?”
“Taken. Twilight Grove came earlier this morning. Can we talk?” I make a show of looking around at the coven, landing on Jasper, Carina’s cousin. “Alone.”
“Not until you tell me why you dared show up here. Your pack is safe thanks to Carina. You’ve done enough.”
I haven’t donenearlyenough.
“I’m going after Carina and want your help. Directions, mainly.”
Morgan blinks, glancing to the couple standing beside Jasper. Indecision flattens her mouth as she twists back. “It’s a coven matter. Why would you?”
Behind me, the others rumble because it’s no longer a coven matter. They kidnapped an Alpha’s mate, which makes Carina our business. I have to tell her so they understand. So they’ll be willing to work with us. But admitting this also gives Morgan power over me.
“I promised her I would.”
Even Jasper catches my eye. There’s a slight tilt of his head as if he suspects the truth, and although I don’t know him, he’s always had Carina’s best interests at heart. Because of him, she returned to me.
For her, I need to tell them the truth.
“Shifters have two kinds of mates,” I start, my topic instantly raising the confused murmurs of a few—Morgan included. “Those we pick for ourselves and those we call ournîkâkîstis. Essentially, it’s our fated mate. The first time I met Carina, I didn’t understand my reaction to her; not until speaking with our elders did I learn that is what she is to me. Mynîkâkîstis.”
Cries echo through the coven, matched by my pack’s growls, but it’s nothing less than what’s expected, and honestly, would hope for. If I had a pup, and someone from another species was claiming ownership on them, fuck yeah, I’d protect them until my dying breath.
Morgan’s silent, a simmering rage combining with the uncertainty.
