I jump when the doors magically close behind us. My tail bristles. Every instinct screams that I don’t belong here.
The conjuring room steals my breath. Circular, with a domed ceiling high above us, constellations glow overhead, shifting and realigning as magic moves through the air. The room hums with energy, a vibration I can feel through my feet. Witches and warlocks of all ages are gathered in clusters, casting spells thatsend sparks and light across the space. Beautiful and terrifying all at once.
A group of witches in a corner stops and stares us both down with mean faces. One of them is Priya, one of Aaron’s students. She doesn’t smile when she sees me, just looks me over, cold. I am an intruder here, unwelcome.
Seth takes the stairs. “Follow me.”
I do, climbing the spiral staircase behind him, looking around as I go. Students in the lounge below are conjuring orbs of light, sending them spiraling into the air. I watch one witch flick her wrist and a book flies across the room to her hand.
I’m distracted by the magic I see from the other students, the sheer beauty of it momentarily making me forget my purpose. But I quickly refocus when Seth disappears at the top of the stairs.
When I reach the top, I notice that it’s a level exclusively for Blackwood witches. A long table sits in the corner covered in open spell books. Bookshelves line the walls, floor to ceiling. On the other side is a lounge with sofas, and another area where I already see two of the sisters standing over a hovering blue magic ball, casting some kind of spell. It’s Kiara and Samara, their faces intent with concentration.
My tail stiffens when I hear Tiana’s voice. She’s sitting on the sofa, though I could have sworn there was no one there a minute ago. The realization that she might have been watching me all along sends a chill through me.
Tiana looks up at me, her gaze sharp and assessing. Her hair is pinned up in a bun like her mother’s. I start to play with my hair, feeling self-conscious.
She’s dressed in a cloak, but it’s open over a fitted blue dress underneath. It’s short, hugging her curves, stopping just below her thighs. There’s a confidence in her eyes. In her scent. Theassurance of someone who knows exactly who she is and what she’s capable of. It makes me feel small in comparison.
Tiana shoots Seth a narrow look.
He smiles. “What’s up, sis?”
He walks over to Kiara and Samara, waves his hand, and the ball they were conjuring pops. They start arguing with him immediately.
“Seth!” Kiara snaps. “We’ve been working on that for an hour!”
“Seriously?” Samara adds, glaring at him. “You jerk.”
He chuckles. “Chill, sis. Alright, fine. I’ll help you make another.”
For some reason, when he says that, the frustrated sisters fall quiet. A smile crosses between them. They start the process of recasting the spell, and I watch in awe as the blue light gathers between their palms again. Seth joins in, his magic adding to theirs, and whatever they’re casting seems to have an even bigger effect now that his magic is included. The orb grows larger, brighter, swirling with energy.
Tiana stands up from the sofa. My tail goes alert. My ears stand up.
“Did you come here to watch us like we’re performers at a circus for your entertainment, or did you want something else?” she asks.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to stand taller. “I need to speak with you.”
I look to her sisters, who are clearly distracted by the spell.
“Just me, or did you need the coven?” she asks.
I’m confused. “Coven?”
Tiana groans and rolls her eyes. Then she looks around. “Where’s my brother?”
“I came alone,” I say, lifting my chin slightly.
She laughs lightly at that. “Hmmm. That’s interesting. Not sure if I can say brave or stupid, though.”
I flatten my ears at her.
“May I speak with you alone?”
Tiana doesn’t answer me right away. She looks at her siblings for a brief moment, then seems to come to a decision. She holds out her palm and runs her other hand over it. Blue magic comes out, and a mug appears in her hand. I can smell the coffee, rich and dark. Steam rises from it. Tiana also smells like coffee beans, the scent so similar to Aaron’s.
She grabs the mug from her palm with her other hand, then sits down on the sofa. She holds up her hand, and more magic comes out. A shield forms around us, shimmering and translucent. The sounds from the rest of the room fade, leaving us in a bubble.
