Chapter Nineteen #2
Sera’s brow hiked up. ‘You don’t consider calling on deities, demons and other dark beings foolish?’
Emberlyn tossed Sera a bored look. ‘If you do, it’s astonishing that you came to me asking to be taught how to summon them. And when I refused, you tried invading my mind to steal the information from me.’
Shane went motionless. ‘I did not hear of this. People gossip about pretty much everything around here, but not even a whisper of this traveled through the grapevine.’
‘The coven as a whole are aware of it,’ Emberlyn informed him. ‘They’re aware of a lot of things that you won’t have heard about.’
As Ripper, Shane and Carver looked at the High Priestess, she gave a defensive shrug and said, ‘You do not announce clan matters to the entire town. Why would you expect me to share coven business with one and all?’
Ripper winged up a brow. ‘Is that why you kept what Sera did quiet, or is it because she’s your niece?’
Reena looked away. ‘We’re getting off topic.’
‘Not necessarily,’ said Shane, folding his arms. ‘You say there are some in your coven practicing magick that you don’t condone. Going by what Sera did to Emberlyn, she may very well be one of them.’
Reena shook her head. ‘I have questioned her over the curse jars; I am satisfied by her answers that she had no involvement in that.’
‘I’m not,’ Ripper told her.
‘Emberlyn’s manipulating all of you,’ Sera stressed, ‘and you’re letting her. She has sold every piece of her soul, just like Millicent did.’
Kage threw the witch a hard glance. ‘If you really thought that, you wouldn’t test her so much.’
Sera’s face turned to stone. ‘She’s your friend, so you have a blind spot where she’s concerned. Like it or not, she does the devil’s bidding to feed her power, just like Lilith did.’
Gasps tore out of many other witches.
‘Sera!’ reprimanded Penelope in horror.
Sera scoffed at her mother. ‘Oh, come on. Everyone here knows that the most likely explanation for how the first witch and first werewolf came to be is that they made a pact with dark beings.’
None of the coven spoke up in disagreement, but none nodded along either.
‘I didn’t ask Emberlyn for help conjuring them because I wanted to do it,’ said Sera. ‘I was trying to gather evidence to prove that she did it. That’s why I tried punching my way into her mind. Look past the smiles and pretty face and fancy clothes. That woman is hollow.’
Ripper ground his teeth, ready to verbally tear into her . . . only to realize that Emberlyn didn’t seem at all bothered by her words. She was eyeing Sera curiously.
‘It’s interesting just how intent you are on keeping the conversation focused on me,’ mused Emberlyn. ‘It’s also interesting how Tyra keeps whispering things into your ear, clearly feeding you things to say.’
Tyra squinted at Emberlyn. ‘I am not goading her; I’m attempting to calm her down.’
Ignoring that, Emberlyn added, ‘I could almost think that the two of you don’t want what happened to Lincoln to be discussed in more depth.’
Sera’s eyelid twitched. ‘No, I just refuse to sit here while you turn three werewolf clans against my coven. They should know the truth about you.’
‘The truth as you see it, you mean. Not everyone will think as you do.’ Emberlyn glanced at the other witches. ‘Hands up anyone in the coven who thinks I’m innocent.’
Many arms limply jerked up like they’d been yanked by strings.
The owners of said arms gasped and then held the limb to their chest protectively.
The twins chuckled while Kerr caught Ripper’s eye and smirked with a shake of his head.
Emberlyn offered Sera a pleasant smile. ‘Did you see that? Such a vote of confidence, wouldn’t you say?’
‘You made them do it!’ Sera accused, her cheeks scarlet.
Emberlyn ran her gaze along the benches of witches. ‘Were any of you forced to raise your hand?’
None responded, averting their gazes.
‘They’re afraid of you,’ Sera bit out.
‘Because they’re smart, unlike you,’ Ripper cut in. ‘Now pipe down.’
Sera’s nostrils flared. ‘If you weren’t sleeping with her, you wouldn’t be so blinded by her.
I’m telling you, there’s something wrong with Emberlyn.
Always has been. Her own parents knew it.
Look how easily her dad skipped town and left her behind.
Her mother didn’t even fight her heartbreak to live for her daughter.
Michael all but abandoned her. Millicent didn’t give much of a crap about her, either, and the twins only befriended her for protection.
There’s a reason Emberlyn has no one, you’re just not seeing it. ’
A growl vibrating in his chest, Ripper leaned—
Emberlyn let out a dark, flat, drawn-out laugh that somehow rang with power.
Many witches cringed away from the sound. Those sitting near Sera edged along the bench, creating distance from her – even Tyra.
Cocking her head, Emberlyn raised an index finger. ‘Can anyone else hear that? A little tinkling sound?’
Actually, Ripper could. It made him think of a small bell.
Emberlyn lifted her purse onto her lap, opened it up . . . and a ginger tabby feline head popped out. ‘Hey, pretty girl,’ she cooed as the cat climbed out of the purse, leaning into her strokes. ‘You sensed I needed a cuddle, didn’t you? Look at her, Logan. Isn’t she just adorable?’
His lips twitching, Logan read the tag on the collar. ‘Bessie. Nice name.’
Sera pushed to her feet, her brow creased, her eyes narrowed. ‘Bessie? My Bessie?’ She gawked at Emberlyn. ‘You – I – that’s – Bessie, get over here!’
The cat spared her owner an aloof glance, rubbing herself against Emberlyn.
Sera fisted her hands. ‘What have you done?’
‘The same thing I could do to the familiar of every witch in this hall if I so pleased. Familiars aren’t mere animals,’ Emberlyn told Kerr, her tone conversational.
‘They are guardian spirits in animal form. They come to serve, guide and protect the descendants of the first coven. Descendants of Lilith are their particular favorites. If called on by who they believe to be her strongest living progeny, they’ll go to that witch’s aid. ’
In other words, Emberlyn could call every familiar to her and keep them up in her manor should she so wish. As the truth of that hit the hall, a hush fell over the coven; their expressions ranging from shock and alarm to displeasure and apprehension.
As for Ripper’s clan, they were grinning in amusement, looking quite impressed. Aside from CeCe, her friends and Neal – they were all stone-faced.
Reena pressed a finger to her temple, clearly stressed. ‘Sera, leave. Do not say anything else, just leave.’
Her niece gaped. Spluttered. Scoffed. She looked to Tyra, as if for backup, but the redhead didn’t meet her gaze.
None of the other witches did either, not even Penelope.
Realizing she had no support here, Sera cursed and scooted to the end of the bench.
Sparing Emberlyn a withering look, she then indignantly marched out of the hall.
Emberlyn carefully placed Bessie in her purse, upon which point the feline disappeared.
‘So many outbursts here tonight, Reena,’ Shane remarked. ‘No wonder there’s a rebellious faction within your coven. You have little control over your witches.’
‘Agreed,’ said Ripper. ‘I doubt we’d otherwise be having this meeting.’
Reena shifted in her seat. ‘As I said before, I will identify and deal with whoever is responsible for these crimes.’
‘And as we made clear before,’ Carver put in, ‘the clans will also be looking into this.’
Reena stiffened. ‘It is my right to punish my own.’
‘Only if you find them first,’ said Shane. ‘So you had better hope that you do.’
Ripper let his gaze touch on every witch in the crowd.
‘No Rabid will again be used, and no further moves will be made against Emberlyn Vautier,’ he asserted, menace heavy in his voice once again.
‘By all means hold onto whatever grudge you bear, but keep it at that. Or risk my clan coming down on your head. Though I’d imagine that what we do to you will be nothing compared to what she’ll do. ’
Shane stood. ‘This meeting is now over.’