I frowned.
“Everything okay?” Samuel asked.
I hesitated. “Yeah.”
Bo stared at the spot where the cat had been.
So, it hadn’t been a figment of my imagination.
Our escort led us up the stairs and down a corridor lined with more disapproving portraits that seemed to track our movements with their painted eyes. She stopped at a heavy oak door that bore the signCoven Headquarters Presidentand knocked twice.
A familiar, silver-toned voice tinkled in response. “Come in.”
The door swung open on its own.
The office was smaller than I expected and was packed with bookshelves, crystals, and various witch paraphernalia I couldn’t identify. Melody Flowers rose from behind a desk cluttered with papersand candles and a cooling cup of tea, her smile overly bright and welcoming.
“Samuel. Abigail.” Her voice was warm honey. “What an unexpected pleasure.”
Though she appeared calm, the fae-witch could not disguise her slightly elevated heartbeat, a fact I was certain Samuel picked up on too. My wolf suddenly straightened, her interest piqued.
My vision flickered before I could fathom why.
Melody’s facade shifted, like a mask being peeled back. Beneath it, the fae-witch was pale and drawn, her eyes red-rimmed.
It, whatever it was, only lasted a moment.
I blinked. Melody’s expression was perfect and fully composed once more.
Unease prickled my scalp. This was new.
My wolf’s silence was all the explanation I needed.
This had to be related to my newfound powers.
Samuel shot me a puzzled look when he picked up on my emotions. He focused on Melody and addressed the fae-witch in a carefully neutral tone.
“Thank you for seeing us on short notice.”
“Of course. Please, sit.” She gestured to two chairs that looked antique and uncomfortable. “Can I offer you some tea?”
“We’re fine,” Samuel said. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Something glinted in Melody’s eyes. She sat back down and folded her hands on the desk, her smile serene.
“What can I help you with?”
The faint scent of her annoyance reached me then. She wasn’t happy to see us.
“The Lincoln sisters,” I said steadily, deliberately ignoring the fact that I had likely just seen past Melody’s glamour. “They’ve been gone a while. We’re wondering when they’re coming back.”
Melody’s smile didn’t waver.
“As I’ve told the Alliance, Maude, Viola, and Petunia are on a well-deserved vacation. They’ve served this community for decades. Surely, they’re entitled to some rest.”
I caught the slight tension in her shoulders.
That was a lie and everyone in the room knew it.
