Page 75 of The Witch’s Daughter

“Shouldn’t I be out there with them?” I asked sweetly, glancing over my shoulder to see Jaxon hurrying to join the formation.

His dark eyes found mine and I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my lips. Was he my mate? All this time? I almost didn’t want to believe it.

“I think you’ve already proved your worth, wouldn’t you agree?” Vincent said.

I whipped around to find he’d stopped walking and was watching me.

Crap. I smiled bigger. “Not really. My magic… It feels like it’s back. But I can’t test it unless I’m around others.”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. “I assumed Earth magic would do better if you were alone with nature.”

“You would think that,” I hurried to say. “Except in my case, I work better in a group.”

Was that a good save?

Just go back to Kera now and admit you were wrong.

“Fascinating. And here I thought you didn’t want to be part of a coven.” Vincent folded his arms over his chest and waited.

Had he heard that? I was sweating bullets. “No… I don’t need a coven… It’s just that… My magic came back during the trials, so I assume that’s why. Being around all these other witches and warlocks helped shock my system. I think.”

Even my wolf cringed.

Vincent continued to study me as if I was a puzzle he couldn’t solve.

Same, dude. Same.

“Tell me, Tisiphone,” he broke the awkward silence. “How close are you to your Alpha?”

I’d already fumbled my way through one lie, so I tried to stick closer to the truth. “She’s my aunt, but she’s an Alpha and I’m a beta wolf, so we’re practically a different species. Plus, I’m the only wolf-witch in our pack.”

“But she comes to check on you personally.” Whatever he was trying to decide on seemed to work itself out. “We might have use for you yet.”

“Hold up, what’s that supposed to mean?” I called after Vincent, but he was already walking. His long legs ate the distance back to his camp.

And if that wasn’t the rudest thing.

I stayed on his heels, but my beast grew more frustrated with each step.

I don’t know what else you need to see here. We already can tell he’s nuts.

We need proof someone is crazy before we call them out, I told her, like talking to my wolf this much was sane.

Vincent stopped so abruptly that I almost crashed into his back. “Your magic is personal. I suggest you stop relying on others if you want to get in touch with it again. That’s probably why it weakened in the first place.”

“You’re right.” I nodded, biting my bottom lip so I wouldn’t reveal more than I should.

“I’m always right.” He sighed. Could his head get any bigger? “Go in there. Get centered with yourself.” Vincent moved to the nearest tent and pushed open the flap.

I really was an awful spy, because I didn’t even recognize the area we’d ended up in, not that the outside of any of these black tents looked much different.

“What is this place?” I stepped past him.

There was no answer as the flap closed, blocking out the sun, and he was gone.

I peered into the darkness, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light of candles burning and the thick smoke of incense that hung heavy in the air.

Incantations and chants drifted from one of the darkened corners, mixing with the soft sounds of voices that seemed to come from everywhere. An old woman’s laugh. A young woman sobbing. Children singing.