Page 8 of Call of the Blood

“A loophole I’ll always hate him for. Since he was in the house and he has control over his son, he could guide him with the blood to bypass the Shroud and other protections. His son couldn’t find the house a second time, though. If the boy ever tried, he’d probably lose his mind. Figuratively…”

“Too bad it’s not literally. Him losing his mind for real would be pretty nice. Don’t like that guy… maybe the witches could add it.” I grinned at him, hoping he’d crack a tiny smile. He didn’t grin. I would think a grin would look strange on him, but he had a small smile, a tiny thing that changed his entire face, turning it from carved sculpture to something more real and warmer.

He did, but it was gone as quickly as it came, a single moment of him indulging the thought, then moving on from it, dismissed from the possibilities. That single moment, though, made my heart thump in my chest.

“The coven cast it as a group, and it’s limited in scope.” He sighed heavily. “It knocked many of them out when it was originally cast. I was there since my blood was integral to the initial casting. I don’t think they could make that change.”

“Seriously?” I couldn’t believe that. He gave his blood to no one.

“Blood is the requirement to be added to the protection, and during the original casting, mine was also used to help power the spell. And tonight, I’m going to ask them to add you.”

That surprised me.

It feels… permanent. It is permanent.

“Really?” I said softly, staring at his profile as he drove.

“While you are in my home, no one could have tracked you because the house also has layers of protection of its own. That’s why Isaiah feels safe to visit. Even those who know him well, enemies who can afford the best of witches or fae to try finding him, wouldn’t be able to find him when he’s in my home.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “But I want you to be able to really live in Savannah. You like seeing the city. You have a right to fresh air and exploration in the city you reside in. So, I want you added.”

“And it’s permanent. I’ll always be as safe as I could possibly be in Savannah.”

“Yes… So, even if you leave one day, you can come back, and the protection will still be yours to claim.”

“Thank you…” That felt important. Special.

Alexius only nodded, not saying anything in return.

After a minute, I spoke up again.

“Names?”

“Ah, yes. Names. The oldest matriarch of the coven is Nancy Palmer. She’s the most powerful right now, though at her age, using her full power isn’t… safe for her. She’s ninety-three. The Palmer family is a core family. So are the Campbell family and the Walker family. Those three founded the coven, and each has their own matriarch. Those matriarchs make a council. Each generation, if there are three girls close enough in age, one from each family, that’s the next ruling group. Currently, there are three of those groups. The elderly matriarchs. The experienced mothers. The up-and-coming younger women, around your age. It’s good that there are three right now.”

“Why three?”

“There’s something about powerful things coming in threes,” Alexius said, his shrug nonchalant. “Now, onto the other women you need to know.”

From there, I was absorbed in names, some of them sounding like they came out of some Antebellum-era film, screaming that there was old money and a problematic history to contend with when we got there.

Aside from that vibe, I promised myself I wouldn’t judge. After so long—a year and four or five months—I was being fully pulled into the weird world of Savannah. I knew more people on the Tribunal than other supernaturals in the city I lived in. I knew that was unusual at best. Most supernaturals worked on a local basis, and the idea of knowing a Tribunal member was like being friends with the King of England.

“We’re here,” he murmured, slowing down to park in front of an old home, dripping with history and pointing to wealth.

It was beautiful. I thought so much of Savannah was beautiful, especially the architecture. It was lit up at night, the warm glow from the windows seeming inviting. As I got out and took it in, I saw the shadows of people moving inside. The wind blew gently, whipping my hair, and I felt Alexius reach out and tuck it back. I didn’t react, fighting not to embarrass myself before I had to meet new people.

“They have a nice home,” he said, knowing what I was staring at. “This is the main house, where they congregate and protect themselves if anything happens. I’m the only supernatural who can come to it without the spells stopping me, so long as my intent is good.”

As we approached, the front door opened, and an incredibly old woman walked out. She still wore heels. Her posture was perfect. But there was no mistaking that she was definitely at least in her seventies.

“Alexius. I hope the drive was clear.”

“Not a single bit of traffic. How are you this evening, Nancy?”

Wait. What? She’s the ninety-three-year-old? She looks twenty years younger.

“Good. It’s a good evening for a gathering.” She stayed in the doorway as Alexius took another step closer.

“Are you going to let us begin this meeting?” he asked, and I knew when he was cautious. It wasn’t often. It wasn’t something for me to ignore.