“Well,” I started.
“No being humble, Poppy. Or were the tales of Blood Witch Wanda exaggerated? Because I recall that she made…messeson occasion.”
I bit back a smile.Messwas the understatement of the century. Wanda didn’t always wreck her house in a fit of uncontrolled magic, but I had spent a few afternoons picking up after her. More than a few, if I were being honest.
“There,” Imani said with a nod. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Spill the tea, Poppy. What’s wrong? Other than the obvious.”
I sighed and trudged up the rest of the stairs. I felt a little lighter now that Imani had finally framed her request (or demand) the way she had. It wasn’t pity or charity. These weren’t just my fellow coven members. They were myfriends. As I’d always told Finn, friends always help out friends.
“I guess I think I’m arrogant. I’ve been defeated before, but this feels different. I guess… I guess I’m used to being strong enough to protect the people I care about. But that creature, whatever it was, was so small! Like how can I defeat a wendigo but not drop-kick a micro-dragon?”
Imani’s lips twitched. “Of course you’re arrogant. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be a witch.”
I might have argued that distinction a few months ago. I wasn’t a witch by birth. I’d been roped into a coven by necessity and a sense of loyalty to my best friend. She’d wanted to include me, which had meant the world to me then and now. Still, I felt like a counterfeit when I claimed the title. But when you looked at my abilities, at my (dare I even say it)magic, itdidseem to fit. When I’d joined the coven, I’d become something else, something more. Something dangerous. Something with a dark side.
“Am I being stupid?”
Imani wrapped an arm around my waist and gave me a squeeze. “No, honey. This thing invaded your house. This is your turf, and it’s perfectly normal to be upset that something attacked you and yours. I don’t think any of us could have done any better in your place.”
I wasn’t sure I believed that. All the witches in Wanda’s coven were beautiful, strong, smart, and magically talented. Still, it was nice to hear that Imani thought I’d done well. I might have leaned into her and returned the hug if Finn hadn’t rounded the doorway to my room. His hair was sticking up in every direction as though he’d spent most of the night tossing and turning. Shadowy half moons had settled beneath his eyes, but they brightened when they locked onto me.
Imani let her hand drop at almost the same instant that Finn began to run to me. I barely had time to brace myself against the wall before he hit home. His long, gangly arms wound around my neck and dragged me into a smothering hug.
“Mom!” he gasped.
“Hi Buddy,” I said, returning the hug with as much strength as I could muster. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Finn yanked his arms back a moment later, eyes flying open wide. “Oh no, your back! Did I hurt you?”
Honestly, I hadn’t even been thinking about my back. I was just so relieved to see him whole and healthy.
“I’m fine, Finn. I barely feel it.”
“Liar,” he said with a soft frown. “I know it hurts.”
“It’s not bad right now, I promise. I’m just so glad you’re safe.”
“What happened to your back, Poppy?” Imani asked, giving me a look that said I shouldn’t even try to downplay it.
I was spared having to answer when we rounded the corner and found another witch waiting for us. Indigo. She was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, shoulders tight.
She didn’t look up at us immediately. Her posture was defensive, rigid, almost as if she were bracing for judgment. The fluorescent light from the ceiling caught her sharp features and pale blue eyes, making her seem colder than she really was.
“Hi,” I said softly, easing into the hall as I wondered what she was doing here. Then I remembered she was sort of part of the coven.
Indigo’s eyes flicked in my direction, gaze wary, before she uncrossed her arms. Her posture made it look like she was ready to bolt.
“I just… wanted to let you know that I was… working on figuring this out,” she said, her tone clipped and borderline impatient as she rolled her hand in the air as if to say she was figuring out everything that was going on around her.
And then something occurred to me. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the Masked Lords, does it?”
I really didn’t want that to be the case, because they were like the worst of the worst.
A faint crease appeared between Indigo’s brows. “I would say not. If it were them, I would have expected a more demonic presence. The thing that broke in here wasn’t a demon.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Oh, well, that’s good.”
“You wouldn’t be a likely first target anyway,” Indigo continued, voice low and tinged with an edge of bitterness. “You wouldn’t be considered powerful enough to bother disposing of.”
