"Guess that explains why we're taking the scenic route," Liam grumbled, still unconvinced. "But if I don't see a coven full of powerful witches soon, I'm going to start questioning your sanity."
"Fair enough," I conceded, my fingers tightening on the steering wheel. "But trust me when I say that Audrey is more than worth the detour."
The silence between us stretched once more, but this time it was tinged with anticipation rather than anger. I could feel Liam's eyes on me, no doubt trying to piece together the puzzle that was Audrey and our shared past. But for now, some secrets were best left unspoken.
"Alright, I'll bite," Liam said, his voice cautious but curious. "How do you know Audrey so well? What's your history with her?"
"Ah, that," I sighed, my knuckles going white on the steering wheel. "Audrey and I met through my work for the Conclave."
"Conclave?" Liam raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. He knew I didn’t talk much about my time with them. My father had said it would do me good to learn from the illusive Alchemists and find out about other species and such. I’ll admit, it certainly was enlightening. "And how did Audrey fit into all of this?" Liam asked, his gaze fixed on the winding road ahead. I hesitated, wondering how much to reveal. But considering the circumstances, perhaps the truth would serve us best.
"I was sent to hunt down a rogue witch who had been using her magic for dark purposes. It turned out that the witch was Audrey. She'd been led astray by a sorcerer with malevolent intentions." Liam looked at me, his eyes wide with surprise.
"You hunted her down? And she's still willing to help us?"
"Things weren't exactly as they seemed," I admitted, remembering the state that Audrey was in when I had first met her. Her own mother had kicked her out of the coven and then she met her fated mate. I hated that damn sorcerer more than almost anyone in the world. "I discovered the truth about the sorcerer's manipulation and helped Audrey break free from his control."
"Sounds like quite the story," Liam mused, his scepticism fading ever so slightly.
"It is," I agreed, swallowing hard. "Audrey truly turned things around after that. She ended up working for the Conclave herself for a time. When her mother died, she returned to the coven and took on the role of High Priestess."
"Wow," Liam breathed out, his expression softening as he considered my words. "That's... quite a journey you two have been through together."
"Indeed," I murmured, my heart swelling with pride at the woman Audrey had become. "She holds a special place in my heart, despite the complicated nature of our relationship."
The night grew darker as we continued down the winding road, the heavy silence only broken by Liam's shallow breaths as he drifted off to sleep. I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile at the thought of seeing Audrey again. Despite the tension that had threaded through our conversation, it felt good to share some of our past with Liam, even if it was a mere sliver of the truth. Eventually, we arrived at the security location around 10 pm. The barrier appeared before us, a seemingly random obstacle in the middle of the road. A small office stood next to it, from which a man stepped out. I rolled my window down, feeling the chill of the night air nip at my skin.
"Mr Pierce," the man nodded, his expression neutral. "You were expected."
"Of course," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the anxiety that threatened to creep in. "We're here to seek passage to the Willowvane Coven." He nodded again and directed us through the barrier. I drove slowly, feeling the invisible magical barrier pressing against me like an intense pressure popping in my ears. Liam startled awake with a growl, his eyes wide and confused.
"Easy there," I laughed gently, patting his arm. "It's just the security portal."
"Feels... weird," he muttered, rubbing at his ears.
As we came out on the other side, the scenery mirrored what we had just driven through. Another man, identical to the first, stood outside a second office. He held a spade in his hand and gave me a knowing nod. I slowed to a stop and rolled down the window once more.
"Safe travels," he said, holding out the spade. I took it from him, my confusion mounting, but said nothing. He turned and disappeared back into the office.
"Uh... what's with the spade?" Liam asked, eyeing the tool warily.
"All will become clear," I replied, grinning as I handed it to him. "Trust me."
"Fine," he sighed, clearly not convinced. But he took the spade and cradled it in his lap with a bemused expression.
"We've still got around six hours to go. You should try to get some more rest." I said to Liam as I pulled away from the gate house. He shook his head and gave me a determined look.
"No, I'll drive. You need some sleep, too."
"Alright," I agreed, not wanting to argue with him. We pulled over and switched seats, and I settled into the passenger side, making myself comfortable.
"Promise you'll wake me up if you need anything?" I asked, trying not to sound too worried.
"Sure thing, Damon," he replied, rolling his eyes. With that, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift off to sleep.
“Damn it.” Liam's voice jolted me awake. “Damon!" My heart raced as I blinked against the sunlight filtering through the car window.
"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
