Chapter 6 #2
Circe sets her glass down and takes another bite of her salad, shaking her head. “No. We are maintaining the status quo of pretending we’re not related. It’s better for all involved. I have absolutely zero interest in repairing anything between myself and my so-called family.”
Out of everything that has been said here so far, that statement held the most truth.
Circe sets her fork down, dabs at her lips with a napkin, almost as if she’s composing herself, before she says, “And what’s new with you, Leonora? There are … rumors. Have your kittens become a bit too much to handle?”
Leonora doesn’t have the same stoicism that Circe does, and her eyes crinkle at the edges at the barb. Seems the sorceress’ head is not as deeply buried in the sand as Leonora thought.
Circe finishes her salad, outwardly unbothered by the icy stare of the goddess sitting across the small table from her.
Leonora smooths her features, relaxing back into her chair once more, swinging her crossed leg with a slow movement. Crossing one arm over her middle, she wiggles the fingers of her free hand in a dismissive gesture. “I have my kittens well in hand, thank you.”
Circe sighs, looking bored … except for how her toes continue to curl and uncurl under the table. “That’s good to hear.”
In the resulting silence, I wonder who would come out on top if these two women decided to go at each other. Sure, Leonora is a goddess, but Circe has magic the likes of which I’m not even sure has a limit.
A soft ting ting ting , fills the air as Circe taps her nail against the champaign flute.
She watches the bubbles rise and pop for a few seconds before saying, “You know you can reach out to me anytime … if you need anything; help or just someone to vent to. Being at the top can be lonely, and us women need to?— ”
“That’s most kind of you, Circe dear.” Leonora smiles, tossing her head which sends her long ponytail swaying.
Again, Circe doesn’t react to the slight, letting Leonora cut her off without so much of a twitch to her pleasant smile. Instead, she keeps tapping her glass flute. I find the sound almost meditative, and I realize my posture has in fact gone a bit slack, so I shake my head and straighten my spine.
Leonora glances at the guard standing statue-still at the doors before looking at Circe who continues to stare at the bubbles in her glass.
The Leo goddess opens her mouth, shuts it, opens it again, then grabs her own flute and tips it back, swallowing the entire glass in one gulp.
Seeing Leonora act so … human is amusing, but also unnerving.
It’s out of character, which means I have no idea what she’s going to do.
When Circe finally looks up to meet Leonora’s gaze, she lifts a brow in a silent question. Leonora narrows her eyes and says, “Why did you ask to come here, Circe?”
She dropped the patronizing ‘dear’ that time, which means Leonora is finally making her move. I shift forward on the balls of my feet, eager to see where this conversation goes.
Circe smiles with a dip of her head. “I understand the reflex to be suspicious, Leonora, but I really did just want to catch up and make sure you were alright.”
Leonora’s narrowed gaze doesn’t change, but Circe doesn’t push to reassure her further; she simply goes back to tapping her nail against her flute.
Ting ting ting
Leonora turns and addresses the guard. “Go.”
The hunter bows and walks down the hall without a word. Circe hums, still clinking her glass .
Ting ting ting
Leonora waves her hand over her empty glass, flicking her pinky finger as she presses the pad of her pointer and thumb together.
A second later, her glass refills. The liquid is a bit darker this time, but tiny bubbles still rise and pop and fizz.
The aroma floats on the air, and I crinkle my nose at the overly sweet scent, almost like strawberries on the verge of going rotten.
Ting ting ting
My beast presses her claws against my insides, and I jolt, carefully pushing myself away from the thick bunched stalks of the Bird of Paradise I was leaning against. What was I thinking, relaxing like that—I sniff the air a little more carefully …
and there, under the pulsing invasive press of Leonora’s magic, there’s a whisper of power that smells like Circe—like the ocean after a storm.
Is this a simple relaxation spell, or is it something deeper like a complacency spell or …
? I don’t think it’s anything more malicious than that, otherwise I’m sure Leonora would sniff it out in a heartbeat.
Ting ting ting
My beast nods at Circe’s tapping finger. “ There.”
And now that I see it, it’s comically hard to miss. The rhythmic rap of Circe’s nail against the glass is drumming out her spell. Is it hubris that’s keeping Leonora from noticing?
I clench my hand, letting a claw extend to poke my palm and keep me alert. I make sure not to press too hard to avoid drawing blood. Both women in the room would scent that for sure, even through the concealment spell.
Ting ting ting
Leonora leans back in her chair, looking more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her, and I smirk as she sighs.
I wonder if the Leo goddess has ever unclenched in her entire life?
That kind of existence must be exhausting, but I feel absolutely zero sympathy towards her.
Still, it is humorous to watch as Leonora takes a long deep inhale followed by a slow, almost sleepy exhale.
She says, “I do appreciate you reaching out, Circe. I don’t think I’ve taken the time to unwind in …
I don’t know how long.” Ting ting ting “And well, to be honest, it had crossed my mind to contact you. But you know how hard it can be to ask for help in our world. Like you said, especially for us females. The moment we offer up any perceived weakness, someone is there to swoop in to try to take advantage.”
Ting ting ting
Circe remains relaxed as she nods at Leonora’s words. I don’t know the sorceress well enough to know if her expression is fake or if she really is empathetic, but the way she keeps up her spell makes me think there’s more going on with Circe as she asks, “Is there anything I can do?”
Ting ting ting
Now that I’ve noticed it, the rhythmic clinking is no longer calming. In fact, it’s starting to grate on my nerves.
Leonora picks up her flute, takes a sip, stares at the fizzing bubbles, takes another sip, then says, “Yes. There is, actually.”
In my excitement, I take a step forward, but stop myself, forcing my legs to remain still. Circe’s posture and expression don’t change at all. She simply nods and says, “Tell me.”
Leonora takes another sip of her sparkling wine before setting the glass down. She rests her hands on the arms of her chair and says, “I have a witch problem.”
Circe lifts a brow. “Witches?”
Leonora nods. “Specifically, the Silver Thread.”
Shit. Leonora is going to try to take out the witches using Circe. Or at least subdue them. It’s a good play, and I need to warn the coven … soon.
Circe once more uncrosses, then recrosses her legs, her finger never pausing its tapping. “I wish you had contacted me sooner. Witches are my specialty. What has this coven done to you?”
“They are … meddling.”
Ting ting ting
A soft smile curves Circe’s lips, and while the expression is kind, there’s an underlying sharpness, like a cat that purrs before scratching the shit out of you. Circe says, “Are you referring to the matings?”
I almost bark a laugh at Leonora’s wide eyes. Seems Circe is much more informed than the Leo goddess gives her credit. Leonora is quick to smooth the surprise from her face as she takes another sip of her wine. “Yes. But it’s gone beyond that. They are plotting, poisoning my shifters against me.”
Circe nods along, sympathetic crinkles at the edges of her green eyes.
Leonora goes on with a wave of her hand. “Of course I could handle the witches on my own.”
Circe clicks her tongue. “Of course, but …”
Leonora rolls her eyes, sagging against the back of her chair. “But the Council. If an entire coven goes missing or turns up dead, and my magic is present … even in the slightest way … Well, let’s just say if I can avoid the ire of the Council, I will.”
Circe nods. “I understand.”
Leonora smiles, sitting up straight before leaning forward. “So, you will help me?”
Ting ting ting
Circe’s toes curl and uncurl under the table .
When the sorceress doesn’t immediately respond, Leonora adds, “I’ll be happy to … compensate you.”
My eyes pop wide at that. The fact that Leonora is offering payment for Circe’s help without the sorceress even asking … Maybe the Leo goddess is more desperate than I thought. Or maybe she just doesn’t like the idea of a debt being owed between them.
Circe waves her free hand, a melodic laugh lighting her eyes.
“No need.” Her smile drops as does her hand as she continues, “But the two witches who are already mated to your Leos, I can’t touch them, or more specifically, I won’t.
” Ting ting ting “Even I am not brave enough or powerful enough to go up against the Fates.”
A storm cloud darkens Leonora’s eyes, and she throws back the rest of her wine. She licks her lips, sets the glass down, and says, “Fine. That’s fine. I can deal with them. How much time do you need to deal with the rest of the coven?”
Ting ting ting
I grit my teeth against the incessant tapping, and my beast snarls. “I want to smash that fucking glass.”
Circe’s stretch of silence feels intentional, like she’s calculating how long she’ll need to wipe out an entire coven of witches—it’s terrifying, because I know she can do it.
But Leonora seems to take Circe’s silence as an indicator that she’s rethinking the whole thing because the goddess says, “I really am happy to pay you, Circe. I appreciate your offer as a friend, but it would make me feel better if there was something I could do for you in return for doing this for me.”
Ting ting ting