Her mother’s face fell. “The only thing good that came of that relationship was you. He left as soon as he found out I was pregnant. The last I heard he was wanted by the police for grand theft auto and trafficking illegal substances. He had a few redeeming qualities that drew me to him. He was funny, charismatic, and could sell pixie dust to a pixie. Before you ask, he knew nothing about the supernaturalworld.”
Anna felt Gustavo’s hand on her back. His touch kept her calm, though inside she felt a multitude of emotions, and none of them registered anywhere on the calmscale.
She squeezed her mom’s hand and smiled. “I think we got along just fine without him,”shesaid.
“As much as I love these tender moments … I’m being sarcastic just in case any of you didn’t catch that. We have to figure out a plan,”saidPeri.
Anna raisedherhand.
Peri gave her a look that made it clear she didn’t want interruptions. “Ask,” the high faesnapped.
“If you knew my mom all this time, how come you acted like you didn’t know who I was when you came torecruitme?”
“We didn’t want anyone to know you had any previous ties to the supernatural world. If someone had realized you were Jezebel’s daughter, they might’ve put two and two together and realized she wasn’t dead. And though I knewaboutyou, I didn’t actually knowyou. Your mom and I have had very little communication over the decades in order to protect herandyou.”
Anna nodded. “Alright, makessense.”
“Glad you approve. Now…” She resumed her pacing as she spoke. “We have some serious decisions to make. Volcan wants an army of witches. It’s already going to be next to impossible to defeat him. If he gets an army, it’s game over, good night, put the women and children to bed, stick a fork in us,we’redone.
“But…” She paused and looked at Jewel, a wolfish grin spreading across her face. “If… and this is abigif, we could make our own army of witches, then we might have a chance. We would need to alter their magic and use it against him. They would need to be pure of heart, and they have to fit into one of the familial categories we talkedabout.”
“Aren’t you forgetting about the willing sacrifice part?” Zasked.
Peri glanced over at him. “Youvolunteering?”
“I was kind of hoping to meet my matebeforeI died,” heanswered.
Peri froze and snapped her fingers. “Z, you’re a genius. Okay, not really, far from it, actually, but you did give me an idea. Sit tight.” She flashed from the room leaving everyone in stunned silence, except Z, who sported a look ofincredulity.
Anna’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Jewel. “Did you understand what sort of light bulb just went off in her head? Cause you look kind ofguilty.”
Jewel’s face reddened. “Did you know that Thomas Edison didn’t create the first incandescent light bulb? It was actually Warren De la Rue, but his design required a platinum filament which was way too expensive for people toafford.”
Anna continued to stare at Jewel as if she hadn’t just sputtered out a random fact about lightbulbs.
Jewel opened her mouth to speak just as Perireappeared.
“That did not go over well,”shesaid.
“What didn’t go over well?” Jewelasked.
“Well, I have ahunch.”
“Well get something else,” Anna said. “I don’t likehunches.”
“It will be more than a hunch once we know if it works. It’s going to take some time to get everyone on board. And we’ll need to get Thad to un-spell those missing pages.” She turned to Jezebel. “Do you think a female werewolf can be turned into awitch?”
“Bonded?”
Perinodded.
“I’m not sure. A bonded female is going to possess the magic of her mate as well as her own. That could affect thespell.”
Peri tapped her chin. “So many variables. Oh, and you two…” She snapped her fingers and pointed at Anna and Gustavo. “No biting, no sharing of blood. At leastnotyet.”
Gustavo growled and Anna placed a hand on his leg. “Could you at least give us areason?”
Perismiled.
