Sylviachuckled. “Alphas have some serious control issues.”
Inodded in agreement and followed Sylvia through the double doors of the giantbuilding. Two very handsome and identical twin warlocks bowed as we entered.
“Highpriestess,” they said in unison, bowing low and giving her a smoldering look.They looked about late twenties, whereas Sylvia was at least forty.
Sylviabatted her eyelashes. “Hello, boys. A pleasure as always.”
Igrinned. There had to be a story there and I was dying to know. But before Icould ask, I felt a large blanket of power saturate my body. I struggled tobreathe for a second.
Sylviapatted my hand gently. “Just a security measure. It will ease.”
Lookingaround the room, I was left speechless. We were in the opening of a grand circularconference hall. Black velvet drapes lined the windows, giving completeprivacy. Dozens of large round tables with black linen cloths dotted the openfloor. Above the tables, pink glass lanterns floated in the air. They weremagically suspended! I glanced towards the back of the room and saw an elevatedstage. Looking around the room, my gaze rested on hundreds of witches andwarlocks engrossed in conversation. Off to the right were merchant tables withtrinkets.
“Cool!”I told Sylvia, as she pulled me over to where the coven stood at a refreshmentline.
Sylviachuckled. “That’s nothing. Wait until you see the belly dancers perform.”
Myeyes widened. Belly dancers? This night was going to be so awesome. It’s justwhat I needed after being locked up on the mountain for months.
Aswe passed a group of witches, I felt a darkness come over me. A slight changein my mood and a subtle pressure on my skin.
“Half-breed,”one of them spat at me.
Mymouth dropped open but before I could retort, Sylvia’s hand flung out and whitemist hovered around the witch’s throat. She was gaping like a fish, but nosound came out. One of her friends glared at Sylvia.
“Thatwas uncalled for!” the friend told Sylvia.
Sylviashrugged. “It will wear off. Eventually.”
Isnickered as we met up with Gretchen and everyone. Half-breed. Ouch, that washarsh. I was tempted to go back and beat the shit out of her but thought betterof it. Now that we were farther from them, the dark mood and pressure on myskin was gone.
“Theyare from Prudence’s coven,” Gretchen told me, indicating the group.
Myeyes widened.
Sheput her hands out. “Don’t worry, she’s banned from attending. Anyone who openlydoes dark magic is banned.”
“Openly.”
Sheshrugged. “Others hide it but we know who they are.” She glared again at thegroup of dark witches.
“Hey,Aurora,” a familiar male voice said behind me. I spun around and saw Adrian.The warlock who was also a police officer and had helped me and Kai out of abind.
“Hey,Adrian. How are you?”
Hewore a deep green cloak. “I’m great. According to the palm reading I just had,I’m going to win the lottery next Thursday.”
Weall laughed.
Sylviarolled her eyes. “Who told you that?”
“Mary,”he responded.
Sylviachuckled. “She isn’t even a seer witch! How can the high council allow her torun a palm reading table?”
Adrianshrugged and eyed Maureen, a witch in our coven who had the affinity forAlchemy. She could turn any metal into gold.
“Noteveryone has an alchemist in their coven. We’ve got to make a living somehow.”His tone was respectful but slightly clipped.
