The day had been busy without being crazy.We were starting our closing procedures when my mom walked in.Declan was already here, keeping me company.
“There you are, darling,” she said, making a beeline for me.“Faith, dear?”She waved her over to us.
When Faith stepped up, Declan handed her one of the cookies he’d picked up from my studio.She grinned, biting into it.
“I heard from Malcolm Howe.He’s on the Panel of Five,” Mom whispered.“We’ve been invited to the upcoming Wicches’ Council meeting.It’s in San Francisco next week.”
“Great,” I said.“Good job, Mom.”
“It won’t only be us, though.”She glanced around the gallery that was emptying of customers as Carter walked around, letting people know we were closing.“They’ve summoned Bracken.It seems Catherine Swan has accused him of black magic.”
“You have got to be shitting me,” I said.
“Language, darling, and no.”
Faith looked like she was going to laugh out loud but caught herself.Yes.Even at twenty-eight, I was being reprimanded for swearing.
“And,” Mom continued, “she’s named you as a witness.”She looked ready to spit fire.
I leaned on Declan.“She came here intending to put me in her thrall and get me to recant, so her homicidal grandson can get out of jail.”
Carter closed the door after the last customer and then he, Frank, and Hester joined our group.
“She tried to—” Mom looked like she was going to explode.
“Wait until she tells you about last night,” Declan said.
I went over everything last night and earlier today for all assembled.
“She used black magic on you and Bracken and when it didn’t work, she accused him,” Mom said.She was past seething and was now calculating.“She has no idea who she’s dealing with, does she?”
I shook my head.“I told you, Mom.Too many people—some who should absolutely know better—think Gran had all the power and you were her assistant.The Swans think I was hidden because I’m a powerless embarrassment.”I shrugged.“I saw it in her eyes.She was positive she was going to enthrall me.There was even some pity there that we were going to be so easy to manipulate.She can come for me all day, but I don’t want her focused on Bracken.”
“Nonsense,” he said as he walked in the back door of the gallery.“Though I appreciate your concern.”He glanced at our group.“As you probably already know, I received a call from the Wicches’ Council to inform me that Catherine Swan has filed formal charges against me for using black magic on her.”
Mom nodded.“I was just telling Arwyn and Faith.Next week in San Francisco.”
“So I hear.”Bracken patted his pockets.“This is certainly one way to get back into the Wicches’ Council.Not the way I would have chosen.”
“We’ll come up with a strategy,” Mom said.“We’ll all think about how best to approach this.Can we all meet again to discuss?”
Declan nodded.“Monday.Come to our home.We’ll host.”
I looked up at him.“We don’t have a dining table yet.”
“That gives me a day and a half.”He winked.“No problem.”
There was a knock on the front door.
Frank went to answer it.“That’s probably our mom.”
“Wait,” Bracken called, catching up with him at the door.“I’m sure you’re right, son, but we have black wicches about.”He opened the door and smiled.“Elizabeth, so lovely to see you again.”
“Hey, Mom,” Frank said.
Elizabeth took in the tense atmosphere and asked, “What happened?”
Faith went to her and gave her a hug.“We’ll explain in the car.Is it okay if we go to Arwyn and Declan’s new place Monday for dinner?”
