No one speaks, and I nod my head, enjoying the submission.
“Now, I’ve run through the financials, I’ve spoken to involved pack members, and I’ve come to some conclusions. First and foremost, this pack is running dry on funds. I will be using my personal finances to get this pack on track, but that requires hard work and dedication from everyone. If you are a business owner, I would like you to schedule an appointment with me to discuss your current business model.
“Second, I hear we have a problem with the local supernaturals in town…”
That one has the volume rising as pack members lean into one another to whisper and discuss the ongoing problem.
“While I’ve been advised that peace is not possible, I’d like to see for myself. I’m going to be holding a meeting with the leaders of each clan in the area. Witches, werewolves, and even the vampires.”
“There’s no point!” someone shouts from the back of the hall and I lean into the podium.
“Know thy enemy and know yourself,” I say, quoting general Sun Tzu. “I understand that I haven’t grown up here, that you don’t know me. But what you will learn to understand is that I’mdedicated to making this pack what it once was. If we can’t come to an agreement with these other beings, then I have no issue keeping them our enemies.”
There are chants of excitement, and it’s clear the hatred runs even deeper than I realized for the other supernaturals.
What the fuck have I just gotten myself into?
Chapter 6
Iarrive at my grand-mère’s home wearing black boots, a fit and flare black dress, and a cardigan. I'm already about to chuck off with this heat.
Louisiana clearly has not gotten the memo that it’s October.
Her porch is laden with pumpkins, skeletons, and fake cobwebs as I enter the front door, my iced coffee nearly spilling as I step inside.
“This is honestly a waste of time, the only reason I’m even entertaining this meeting is to get a good look at this new so-called Alpha,” she says, speaking to her sister, Daisy, who has never spoken a single word since I moved here fourteen years ago.
My great aunt gives me a small smile and a wave. I move to stand by the chair she’s sitting in at the window. She’s older than my grandmother, but you would think she’s far older than her actual age. Time has been hard on Daisy, her hair is thin, her face is gaunt, and I wish I knew why she was withering away. Most witches are able to keep their youth for a considerable amount of time. Supernatural beings, especially ones with magical abilities, are able to live longer and healthier lives.
Every diagnostic I take of her says she’s healthy, yet she doesn’t talk, and she continues to read by her window daily. Though I always enjoyed the books she would give to me to read, it’s almost like she intrinsically knew what I needed to study. I kiss the top of her white-blonde head as my grand-mère’s heels click against the tile.
“There you are. We must be going,” she says. I put the iced coffee straw in my mouth and suck as much of the liquid in as I can before I take her hand and she teleports us to the meeting place.
I adjust my dress and take a deep breath, wishing she didn’t want to bring me with her.
My magic is solid. I’ve chosen the healing path, which my grand-mère was less than enthused about, but it’s where my magic guided me. Casting healing charms, doing diagnostic spells, it comes naturally to me, and I love it. It’s just not the typical calling of a High Priestess.
Which is completely fine with me, but not to Aster Delvaux. I should be fluent in every type of magic, which I am. I can handle a potion, but not as effortlessly as Iris. My elemental magic is decent, but nowhere near as fantastical as Ember’s.
I love healing magic and everything it encompasses. The only thing that semi keeps her off my back is that no one else in my generation has had the calling to medical magic, so I’m necessary—I’m just not extraordinary.
“You will follow my lead. You’re here as a sign of strength, that we have a succession in place whilst this folly of a pack changes paws every turn of the moon.”
A blacked out sedan pulls up. The back door opening to a man in a luxurious black suit, popping open a black umbrella. His hands are covered in gloves and his eyes are shielded by sunglasses.
“He invited the bloodsuckers,” she whispers, grabbing my wrist to tug me inside of the out of the way seafood restaurant.
It’s a neutral place, owned by a human who knows about the things that go bump in the night.
There’s a massive crawfish statue wearing a bib and holding a fork and knife in each hand. It feels cannibalistic and tacky, but I shrug it off as she leads us into the event space.
Each seat has a place setting based on which group you're from and we take the two Celestial Coven seats.
I glance over at the vampire in the expensive suit and he smiles at me, his white fang nearly sparkling in the tasteless overhead lighting.
“You know, I could use a witch,” he says.
My grand-mère taps her golden wand with thorns and roses against the table. “The day one of my coven helps you is the day I’m rotting in my grave, Warin,” she says.
