“The coven. Taliyah. Anyone magical who we can scrounge up that can add to the goddess-infused portion of my magic. We’re going to need all the help we can get if another alchemist is out there. I need someone to run to the store, someone to monitor me while I brew, someone to keep an eye out for the kobold, and someone who can explain the spells to me. Would you do the honors, Olga?”
“Ja.”
“I guess that leaves me to plan the party,” Wanda drawled, pulling her phone from her pocket. “One spur-of-the-moment mixer coming right up.”
Chapter Twenty-one
I’d give Wanda this much. She knew how to throw a damn good party.
Moonlight spilled across the counters and illuminated the ingredients and vials that had been scattered around the stove. A small cauldron sat on the burner, its surface catching faint reflections from the gold leaf I’d crushed into a fine powder and tipped inside. The scent of basil and cinnamon filled the air, sweet and sharp.
I’d arranged the rest of the ingredients on the counter: a sprig of basil to the north, a bay leaf to the east, a pinch of cinnamon to the south, a fleck of citrine to the west. In the center was a cup of honeyed wine, the liquid catching the flicker of the candle flame and reflecting it like sunlight.
I dipped a finger into the mixture and added a single drop of my own blood, the coppery scent mingling with the herbs. The cauldron hissed softly as I stirred clockwise, movements steady, practiced, precise, yet instinctive. The goddess had taught me at least that much. I had to stop doubting my inner power and accept that it was there. Power could hurt people. But it could also heal.
The flame flared suddenly, sending a shimmer across the walls. I gasped. The warmth wasn’t just from the fire, it was as if somethingalivehad entered the room. I felt it in the small of my back first: a presence that was both playful and immense, like sunlight brushing against bedrock. The goddess.
Gentle laughter, melodic and teasing, filled my mind.“My daughters. Fumbling. Eager. Young. Beautiful.”
I drew in a slow breath, feeling the goddess stirring in my house, in this room, and in each one of us. Every witch in attendance shivered, glancing around the room as I continued to stir my elixir. The mixture in the cauldron turned a pale gold.The shimmer faded, leaving the room scented with cinnamon and basil, honey and sunlight, and a faint residue of magic that made the air feel heavier, sweeter.
“That’s incredible,” Violetta said in an undertone behind me. I pretended not to have heard. Maybe then she wouldn’t notice the flush creeping up the back of my neck.
The living room buzzed with quiet music, laughter, and the soft clink of glasses. Everyone drifted in clusters, chatting over the finger food we’d been able to make on short notice.
I was lingering on the periphery, staying near the fire so I could watch over my elixir as I took in the atmosphere all around me. It was a truly joyous occasion, but with the undercurrent of something serious. Because we all knew what we were doing here—we were all hoping tonight’s regalia would lead to an apprehended kobold.
Wanda’s sharp eyes swept over Violetta’s elegant emerald dress, “That’s stunning.”
“I borrowed it from Louisa’s daughter. I think she wore it to prom one year.”
Wanda chuckled. “Well, regardless, it looks good on you. If you want something more formal, I can get your measurements. Or your daughter’s. You do have a daughter, yes?”
“I do, yes, but... Luna doesn’t come out much. She’s a nervous child.”
“It’s better if she gets to know us, right?” Wanda continued. “I mean… if you stay in Haven Hollow, we’re the only coven.”
Violetta’s face tightened slightly. “Yes, I know, but... well, it’s complicated.”
“Everything is complicated. That’s why it helps to have the backing of a coven.”
Violetta nodded. “My older sister, Isabella, doesn’t approve of Luna. Well, it’s more about Luna’s father. She believes I stoleher man and therefore she hates the fact that Luna even exists. So she cursed Luna when she was just a kid.”
Wanda’s eyes immediately narrowed. “Cursed her?”
Violetta nodded. “With nightmares. Sleep disturbances. Magical harassment.”
Wanda tilted her head, listening intently. “I’ve faced witches like Isabella before. She’s dangerous, but not invincible.”
Violetta’s shoulders eased slightly at the acknowledgment. “I… I wouldn’t ask lightly. But if you could offer guidance, protection… I’d be grateful. My sister is powerful.”
“So are we.”
Violetta smiled. “I know I’m not under your protection and neither is my daughter.”
“All children are under our protection,” Wanda nearly interrupted her. “And Luna is no different.”
Violetta swallowed hard, and I could see how much Wanda’s words meant to her.
