Page 28 of Rogue Witch

“True,” he replies too reasonably. “But this isn’t about that. Modern technology alone is enough to get us noticed. Worse, we’re closely associated with one of the most powerful witches alive.”

I start to reply, but Blade says, “He’s right. Olympia is already suspicious.”

“Not of us,” I quickly put in.

“Of Miriam and Leilah,” Blade replies.

“I can’t argue with that. “When Leilah returns from the Reaping, we can take her somewhere far away from Olympia.”

“Run away with a High Potential who’s likely as powerful as Miriam?” Blade says. “And now that we know Miriam isn’t dead—”

“We don’t know that for sure,” I cut in.

“That doesn’t make the situation with Leilah any easier,” Blade says.

I scowl.

“This lifetime with Ciarah isn’t going to be as easy as past lifetimes,” Raith says.

“What do you care?” I snap. “You don’t want anything to do with her.”

He shrugs. “Fine, I’ll watch while Olympia begins to wonder why you’re interested in Miriam Crowe’s granddaughter.”

This is the old Raith. Though not quite. He’s too calm.

“Let’s worry about Leilah when she returns,” Blade says. “And keep something in mind, Ethan. She’s not ready to run off with any of us, much less all of us.”

“Raith isn’t going,” I shoot back, but I know I’m being belligerent.

“She’s not ready to run off with any of us,” Blade repeats. “We have other problems to solve. Now.”

“Yes,” I say in frustration. “Damien is on the hunt for his Demon Bride.”

Blade flashes a smile. “Right.”

Raith, Blade, Caleb, Matthias, and I weren’t alive when Atlantis fell. The best we can figure, we came into existence at relatively the same time, sometime during the height of the Mesopotamian empire. In the millennia since, Damien has made only a handful of appearances. The last sighting was over a thousand years ago. None of us have seen him. Few have.

“Is it coincidental that all this trouble comes to a head when Ciarah shows up?” Raith asks.

“She has nothing to do with Miriam or Tychon,” I say. “We all know that Olympia’s virtual world triggered the Reaping.”

“I imagine you blame her for the god of the angels being locked in Hell,” Blade says without a hint of amusement.

“Ask yourself why Miriam kicked Leilah out at fifteen,” Raith says.

“I would rather ask how she almost died while under your watch,” says a familiar male voice with a slight Eastern European accent.

Our attentions snap to the doorway.

Matthias stands there, hand on the doorknob.

“Well, well,” Blade murmurs.

Raith jumps to his feet, reaches Matthias before I can blink, then rams a fist into Matthias’s jaw.

“Raith,” I shout as Matthias stumbles backward into the doorjamb.

Blade and I reach Raith at the same time, but I pass Raith, grasp Matthias’s arm, and steady him. “Are you all right?” I ask, but immediately whirl on Raith. “What the hell is wrong with you?”