Chapter 10 #2
Margaux gave me a desperate look. She knew she’d stuck her foot in it and didn’t know how to fix things. That she was looking at my awkward ass to smooth things over spoke volumes about her discomfort.
“Okay, but before we close the subject, I want to say that I agree with Margaux, but I also agree with you.” I squeezed the smooth rock, enjoying the feel of it against my palm. “And Maya. Everyone here has good reason to feel the way they do. We should all feel accepted and loved.”
Margaux glared at me. “Put the crystal down, Gandhi.”
I did as she said, and the difference in my emotions was instantaneous and stark. I hadn’t realized how agitated I was until I experienced the difference between my normal state and the peace-spelled one.
“I don’t blame you for what you did to me, Bronwyn, because when it came down to it, you did the right thing.
And because, in your shoes, I might’ve done the same.
So, it’s not as if you didn’t do anything wrong, it’s more that I understand why you did something not right.
” I snatched up the crystal again and drew the spell deep into me.
“Guess my default setting is forgiveness.”
Margaux glared at me. “You held a grudge against me for years and wouldn’t listen to any sort of reason. No matter how many times I explained that I’d had no control over what happened with Lila, you would not let it go.”
“I understand now, though. I understand everything,” I said dreamily.
She wrenched the crystal out of my hand and tossed it to Bronwyn, who dropped it into a desk drawer.
The mean, cold world returned. “Fine, you got me. My default setting is revenge. I just don’t feel the need to get revenge on Bronwyn, because I see her side of the story—and I did eventually come around to your side of things, Margaux.”
She folded her arms over her chest and harrumphed.
“We need a coven,” Bronwyn said, again without looking up from her book. The woman had a knack for sticking her nose in a tome and keeping it there.
“Going to need that crystal if we’re back on this topic again.”
“The Org isn’t going to stop, and although the pack is a good start, you need more protection. Forming a coven will add another layer. Just you, Margaux, and me combining our power for a greater good.”
“The greater good being keeping me from being murdered?” I asked wryly.
“Not only that,” Margaux said. “You’ve been supporting the medical needs of the residents of The Desert Oasis Senior Apartments with your magic as well as running your mobile home park, maintaining your garden, and leading the pack. It can’t be easy handling that alone.”
It wasn’t. There were days I felt like a wad of pulled taffy. “Thanks for stopping by to help with the seniors last week, by the way.”
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do to restore good faith between the shifter and witch community, after that greedy old codger Aldrich Redding hiked up our healing prices without telling me.”
“Bottom line is, you’re carrying a heavy load.” Bronwyn closed her book, set it on a stack, and grabbed another off the shelf behind her. She opened the dusty tome and started flipping pages again. “We could help.”
I rifled through the other crystals, but none of them felt like the pink one had. “I don’t want to lead a coven. I don’t want to lead a wolf pack, either. I barely want to run a trailer park.”
“Yet, that’s exactly what you’re doing.” Bronwyn ran a slender finger down one page, made a note on a pad of paper, and turned the page.
“Under duress.”
“Then I’ll lead the coven and you can join it,” Margaux said with an annoyed sniff.
“No offense, but I won’t join a coven I’m not in charge of. I have issues with authority and following it unquestioningly.”
“There’s nothing that says you can’t question the coven. Goddess, you are Lila’s daughter. Unreasonable and intransigent.”
“And you were one of her best friends, so what does that say about you?”
Bronwyn looked up. The tip of her nose was smudged with dust, and she looked tired. “What if we form a coven in tempus nexum?”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“It’s unorthodox,” Margaux replied—to Bronwyn. She ignored me. “But if Betty isn’t willing to form a true coven, it might be our best bet. We wouldn’t even need to report it to the witch council.”
I looked from one witch to the other. “Hello? What are you talking about?”
“A temporary magical alliance. We commit to one another, basically doing the groundwork for forming a coven, but break it before the bond is complete.”
“Okay, and don’t think I’m dumb, but what bond are you talking about?”
“Are you joking?” Margaux’s upper lip curled again. Her skin was going to develop creases there if she hung around me much longer.
Bronwyn said, “Calm down, Margaux. Her family avoided covens. It makes sense she wouldn’t know that we have bonds like the shifter groups—except ours are superior because we’re not ruled by pack dominance nonsense.”
“You’re hardly perfect. Need I remind you what happened to your last coven?”
Margaux wasn’t taking this well. She sprang to her feet and paced the tiny space to the right of the desk. “But this is Witch 101. Surely, Lila taught you some things about our kind.”
“Hate to pop your Lila admiration balloon, but the only thing Mom told me about covens was never to join one. I’m not sure she even knew much about them, since Abuela Lulu taught her the same thing.”
“Goddess save me…” Three steps forward, three back, repeat.
“While Margaux works out her rage about your ignorance, allow me to explain.” Bronwyn dabbed at the dust on her button nose with a tissue.
“A temporary coven is exactly like a true one in every way while it lasts. As Coven Mother, you’ll be expected to lead the group in power and protect us.
In return, we’ll protect and honor you with our magic.
” Bronwyn tossed her long braids over her shoulders.
The chair creaked as she leaned back and regarded me.
“A true coven is formed through a series of spells that wind into one, blending our magics and intention. Invoking one in tempus nexum holds off the covenant spell, the binding one that makes it permanent—in as much as anything in life and magic are permanent.”
“So, we’re magically edging?” I beetled my brows.
Margaux appeared revolted, though it was hard to tell since her normal expression was woman-sucking-on-a-lemon-wedge. “Because you’ll take lead, you’re the only one of us who can accept the covenant and the only one who can break it before the deadline we collectively establish.”
Shoring up the park protection spell meant my tenants would be safer. The boys, too. Was it selfish of me not to do this?
“Understand that this agreement is built upon our absolute trust in you.” Bronwyn set her pink-tinged, brown-eyed gaze on me.
The pink was her magic, and if it was in her eyes, she was magically charged and deadly serious.
“You’ll have our power and our loyalty, and we’ll be in limbo.
It’s not a situation I’m comfortable with, but if it’s all we can do, it’s acceptable. ”
“You shouldn’t do something you aren’t comfortable—”
“Oh, shut up.” Margaux stopped her pacing to snap at me then started up again.
“Hey! I’m not pushing either of you into—”
“Margaux’s right. You need to stop.” Bronwyn’s eyes shone brighter.
Her irises were like bright pink pennies.
“Stop trying to make everyone happy and safe and taking nothing in return. Betty Lennox, you play tough, but the truth is, the toughest thing a person can do is make themselves vulnerable to others. If Margaux and I are willing to trust you with our magic, you can at least be gracious and accept the damn gift.”
Whoa. I’d never seen Bronwyn so angry. Not even when she believed I was going to kill her. The witches were serious about this and my not taking it equally seriously was an insult to their honor.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This is overwhelming… Everything is so heavy and messed up.”
Bronwyn blinked, and the intensity in her gaze dimmed. “Mason told me that you took on the responsibility of destroying the files in Floyd’s office.”
“What else was I supposed to do?”
“Leave the job for Ronan when he eventually takes over. Or hand it off to one of your wolves.”
“No, I couldn’t do that.” I leaned back in the chair and stared up, for the first time realizing I couldn’t see anything but a gray, murky darkness. “Why don’t you have a ceiling?”
Margaux went back to pacing and muttering to herself.