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“Gemma.” I nodded. I wasn’t entirely sure what to say, but if there was one thing I knew about her, it was that she would loathe anything she considered pity.
There were powerful witches in this coven. A few of them had good contacts within other paranormal factions. If Gemma had wanted to live, she could’ve. The fact that she was dying simply meant she was ready to go.
I wouldn’t ignore that informed choice by weeping at her side. Even if a lump was forming in my throat at the thought of the world without the cynical, sharp-tongued witch in it.
She’d raised me after my mom had taken Danica and fled. Sure, Gemma had had the coven to help, but all final decisions regarding my upbringing had been hers. And for a kid who’d continually felt abandoned, I’d still had an almost idyllic upbringing.
However, I couldn’t help but ask… “Are you sure about this?”
I’d expected her to scowl. Surprisingly, a smile lit up her face. “I’ve never been more sure. Extending my life is a waste of good power. I’m old and tired. My bones hurt.” She eyed me. “Why did you come?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Marie snorted. “If Evie is here, it’s because she wants something.”
I didn’t flinch, but it was close. No, I hadn’t visited much since the coven was attacked. Since Brooke and the others were murdered. Since Gemma told me I could no longer be a member of the coven. The people hunting me were too much of a threat.
Slowly turning, I met Marie’s gaze. “And how many times have you guys called me? When have I been invited back? You chose to kick me out of the coven. I haven’t exactly felt welcome.”
She planted her hands on her hips, opening her mouth. But Freya shot her a look.
“She’s right,” she said. “We don’t get to pretend like Evie doesn’t care. We’re the ones who told her to leave.”
From Marie’s sneer, she didn’t agree. I ignored her and sat on the floor next to Gemma. She’d closed her eyes when we were sniping at each other, but now she opened them once more.
“You have a new family now,” she said. She didn’t say it in a mean way, but I hunched my shoulders just the same. Gemma shook her head at me. “The wolves will keep you safe. And you will keep them safe. As it should be.”
The breath left my lungs as I watched her. Gemma regretted kicking me out. Oh, she’d still justify it until the moment her heart stopped, but that was coven business. It wasn’t often that I could separate the coven leader from the woman who’d bandaged my scraped knees, but in this, I could see it.
But she was right about the wolves. They would face any threats together. And I’d be right there with them, fighting for all I was worth.
“Tell me why you came,” Gemma said. I sighed but didn’t bother arguing.
“We’ve found HFE’s labs. We’re going to take them all out. At the same time.”
I didn’t worry about one of the witches opening her mouth to someone she shouldn’t. Everyone here hated HFE for what they’d done.
“Who iswe?” Noelle asked from where she was sitting next to Gail on the other sofa.
“The unseelie, the wolves, the demons, and some of the seelie who are loyal to Aubrey. We’ll also be including the FBI for cleanup.”
Interest sparked in Noelle’s eyes. The witches had joined us in the battle against Lucifer—the covens allying for the first time. I saw longing on enough faces that I knew at least half of them wanted to join the fight.
But it wouldn’t happen. With Gemma on her deathbed, no decisions would be made. And once she died…
I sucked in a breath.
Technically, Gail was next in line to be coven leader. But that would never happen. She was frail, lost in grief over Caroline and now Gemma, and wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
Prickles of dread danced along my nerve endings. While it would be nice to imagine that Gemma had prepared for this, it was more likely that she’d accepted the power vacuum that would occur when she died. She had always been extremely pragmatic when it came to infighting in the coven. Growing up during the Decade of Despair had hardened her, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d chosen to die without an obvious replacement to ensure the most powerful witch rose to the top.
After all, she wasn’t going to be around to see the fallout.
No, the witches wouldn’t be helping us. They’d be too busy with the internal drama and power struggles that would happen in the next few weeks.
“I will speak to each of you separately,” Gemma mumbled, her eyes closed. It was clear that so much talking had exhausted her. “Then I will die alone.”
She held up a shaking hand at the instant denial from every corner of the room. I kept my mouth shut. No part of me was surprised by her choice. Gemma had once told me that death was a solitary experience. No matter how many people were at your side, you took that final trip alone.
