Chapter Forty-One
The Were emissary arrived at exactly midday, just as Wyn said she would.
‘Emily Bell,’ she said, looking surprised when I opened the front door myself. ‘My name is Cerian Price. Do you know why I’m here?’
‘I know why you think you’re here,’ I replied. ‘Won’t you come in?’
She was alone and while she was on her guard, she wasn’t afraid. She truly believed she was on the right side of a fight that needn’t exist.
‘You’ll forgive me for not offering you a drink, I’m a little pressed for time,’ I said, arms folded as she scanned the house, mapping it, just in case. ‘I imagine you also have places to be.’
‘Six feet under our patio,’ Ashley commented as she, Lydia and Jackson all emerged from the parlour and flanked me on both sides. Our small but perfectly formed army.
‘This place is something else,’ Cerian said, craning her neck to get a better look at the third-floor ceiling. ‘Can’t imagine Wyn in a place like this.’
I flinched at the sound of his name and she smirked.
‘I can’t imagine you walking out with all your bones intact, so whatever you came here to say, say it.’
Lydia moved forward to stand right beside me and for the first time, Cerian looked concerned. She took a step back towards the door as the house closed it, locked and bolted, with all five of us inside.
‘Another witch,’ she murmured. ‘How?’
‘God forbid women have hobbies,’ Lydia replied with a theatrical sigh. ‘Did you really come here for story time or do you have a message?’
‘You know why I’m here.’
She was thrown but not so much she couldn’t recover, even though she wasn’t pleased to take this message back to the pack. Her stance, solid, feet hip-width apart, hands behind her back. Show no fear. She almost nailed it.
‘The Witch known as Emily James Bell hereby stands accused of the murder of Cole Evans, initiated Were, son of pack leader, Pamela Evans, and member of the south-eastern pack,’ she declared. ‘Your trial will take place tonight, one hour after moonrise in Morrell Park, Savannah, Georgia.’
‘That’s it?’ I looked over at my friends, feigning disappointment. I hoped she couldn’t tell how much I was sweating under my black shirt. ‘Honestly, I was expecting more fanfare.’
‘Right, shouldn’t she have a trumpet or something?’ Ashley agreed. ‘At least a fancy scroll.’
‘You are permitted to choose a second,’ Cerian continued, frustration turning into anger. ‘Should you be unable to stand trial for whatever reason, they will take your place.’
‘Guess that’s my cue,’ Lydia said as she took another step forward. ‘It’s your lucky day, a try-one-get-one-free deal on witches.’
‘One more thing,’ the young Were said casually. ‘I need an offrian.’
‘A what?’
I scowled at my surprise when her face opened up into a beautiful, brilliant smile. She’d caught me off guard and she knew it.
‘An offrian. An offering. Witches can’t be trusted. We need to take something that will guarantee your presence. More specifically, we need to take someone.’
‘You already have Wyn,’ I snapped. ‘Isn’t that enough?’
‘Do we? I wouldn’t know about that.’
Her poker face was flawless and I couldn’t tell whether or not she was lying. She brushed her hair over her shoulder, allowing it to cascade over the front of her plaid shirt. ‘Guess he forgot fill you in about the offrian … or maybe we forgot to tell him.’
‘You knew,’ I said softly and she laughed. ‘The pack knew about us.’
‘Are you really so arrogant you thought we might not?’ she replied, a sickened expression written all over her pretty face.
‘The pack keeps tabs on new members, especially new members who run away not once but twice to visit some girl down in Savannah where your sick magic still thrives. Fair to say we’re a tad more diligent when it’s the pack leader’s son.
Only son, thanks to you. Wyn knew what we wanted him to know.
It was a test and he failed, so you won’t be the only one on trial tonight. ’
‘A mother wouldn’t punish her son for falling in love. He hasn’t done anything wrong,’ I said, rage burning inside of me. ‘You can’t punish him for walking into a trap you set.’
‘Oh, honey, you don’t know Pamela Evans. You couldn’t possibly understand, there is nothing she won’t do to protect her pack.’
She was wrong. I did understand. I might not know Pamela Evans but I did know Catherine Bell.
‘Boy, was his grandpa wrong about you. Not nearly so smart as he thought you were.’ The sneer on Cerian’s face was full of disdain, not only for me but the wolf she felt had betrayed her too. ‘Things might go easier for him if he came willingly. Not that exile is ever easy.’
‘What do you mean, if he came willingly?’ Jackson cut in, one hand on my shoulder. ‘You already have him.’
‘What?’
‘You took him last night,’ I said, and the colours of the wall shifted from peach to pink to red. I was barely able to restrain myself. ‘Or Astrid did.’
‘Astrid? Your so-called lone wolf? You can quit with that story now; we’re not buying it. If there was a lone wolf in our region, the pack would be well aware.’
‘Tell that to Ileen Stovell,’ Lydia said, but I held my arm out in front of her, cutting her off before she could launch at the Were. She was telling the truth.
‘I don’t have time for these games,’ Cerian declared. ‘We’ll catch up with Wyn one way or another. Now nominate the collateral before I take someone whether you like it or not.’
‘I’ll go.’
The speed with which Jackson put himself between me and Cerian knocked the air out of my lungs.
‘No, you can’t.’
I thought of the promise I’d made to Virginia, Lydia whimpering at my side as he nodded at the two of us.
‘Has to be me. Can’t be my grandmother, and I’m not going to stand idly by and let Ashley volunteer as tribute.’
‘And to think you call yourself a feminist,’ Ashley clucked, but her voice broke as Jackson crossed to stand next to Cerian, as though we were setting up a game of Red Rover.
The Were snatched up the collar of his shirt despite the fact he went voluntarily and I knew he would never try to run, even if it meant his life. She had no idea what honour meant, not like Jackson.
‘It’s all good,’ he said, staring hard at me and his sister. ‘I was only going to be in the way. Tell Grandmother not to worry, I’ll be back tonight.’
‘We’ll see about that,’ Cerian said, yanking him towards the door like a dog on a leash. ‘Be seeing ya.’
‘Wait!’ I rushed at Jackson and threw my arms around his neck, pressing my face close to his. His captor looked away in disgust but Jackson only nodded when I pulled away.
We let them go, Lydia, Ashley and I, standing firm in the foyer as she marched Jackson down the steps, the darkening skies turning all the oaks of Lafayette Square into sinister silhouettes.
‘That wasn’t part of the plan,’ Lydia said shakily, a tease of thunder cracking in the sky. ‘We can’t let them take him, Em, we can’t.’
‘The plan has changed.’
I opened my fist to reveal Jackson’s silver chain and their mother’s opal ring.
‘What is it?’ Ashley asked, plucking it from my palm to inspect the stones.
‘Our advantage,’ I replied. ‘We just got it back.’