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ELSPETH
Iknow that there is a lot of explaining to do as soon as Gregory and Renna led me out of the vampire's club and back into the streets. But since they are silent for nearly the entire walk, with the occasional glare in my direction, I can’t quite muster the words to explain myself. Plus, I’m beside myself with worry for Lucian.
Finally, when we are a good distance away, I can't stand the silence any longer.
"Are we just going toleavehim there?" I blurt out. Obviously, I know that this is all my fault, but I am too agitated to filter my words or tone.
Renna is the first to whip her head toward me and glare at me like she wishes I would drop dead on the spot.
"Are you kidding me right now?" she snarls. "The only reason Lucian went to meet with Mickael was so he could negotiate peace with him. He had no idea thatyouwere being used as bait. It's your fault he's stuck with the vampires, all because he wanted to save your sorry hide."
Gregory bristles at Renna's choice of words, but I agree with her—if anyone has been foolish, it's me. I decide to keep my mouth shut for the rest of the walk, but I open it when I realize we aren't heading in the direction of Back Bay.
"Where are we going?" I ask, noticing the familiar city blocks. "Is this a shortcut to the werewolf den?"
Renna snorts and shoots a look at Gregory.
"Hell no," she says. "We're taking you back to your coven."
"My coven?" I'm not prepared to face the other witches.
When we reach the front door of the coven building, I feel my heart skip a beat. My nerves are clawing at my skin because I know I am about to get an earful.
"Hang on," I say as Gregory and Renna turn to leave. "Lucian gave you specific instructions to bring me back to the pack's territory and watch over me. At some point, hewillbe freed from vampire control and he'll resume his position as your alpha. What are you going to do when he finds out you defied his command and dropped me off at the coven instead?"
It's a longshot, but if there is anything that will give these two pause, it's the thought of going against their alpha.
Gregory glances over at Renna and then steps beside me to knock on the door.
"We aren't abandoning you," he says, even as Renna huffs and rolls her eyes. "But we also don't trust you enough to take you back to the den."
It's not exactly the result I was hoping for, but at least they aren't completely abandoning me. For some reason, I have a strange desire to keep them near; their presence makes me feel closer to Lucian.
Almost as soon as Gregory knocks on the door, it opens.
The stares that Sybil, Blair, and Isla give through the doorway are enough to disarm even these two ferocious wolf warriors. But as soon as they see me, the witches rush toward me and envelop me in a tight embrace. Even Blair, who is usually devoid of any emotion, holds onto me tight.
"Where the hell have you been?" Sybil demands. The sound of relief in her voice is undeniable. "We've been worried sick."
"And why are there werewolves with you?" Isla asks as the three of them finally let go of me.
"May we enter?" Gregory asks as he steps into the doorway.
Sybil nods her head and the three of us walk inside. I can already tell this is going to be quite an animated evening of conversation. I feel like I could drink an entire vat of wine and still not be ready for it.
As relieved as the other witches are to have me back safe and sound, they are also veryangry.
"How could youpossiblythink that going to the vampire clan's club alone was a smart idea?" Blair asks with a steeply downturned eyebrow.
I open my mouth to answer her, but before I can say anything, Isla cuts in.
"You're a green witch! Why did you think you could venture into vampire territory without an invitation?"
Her tone is easy to read, as is the meaning behind her words. She thinks I'm weaker than the rest of them and can't defend myself, and the others do as well.
I try to temper my frustration, but I can't. Leaving Lucian under Mickael's lock and key and being chastised by my coven sisters is too much. I want to prove to them that I can control my emotions, but the honest truth is that right nowI can't.
"How dare you speak to me like I'mlessthan the rest of you!" I lash out. "None of you have ever taken me seriously. The coven should have acted on the vampire threat alongtime ago. You are all fools to think the vampires haven't been looking for a way to tip the balance of power in their favor. Yet here you all sit in a frozen diplomatic stasis while chaos unravels all around us. We've been blind. If there is any weakness, it's our inaction. We'veplayed nicewith the vampires for far too long. And you can call me weak, or reckless, or downright stupid if you want to, but I refuse to sit idly by while the vampires try to take over the city, one faction at a time."
