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An image of Alexei’s bottomless gaze promising wicked delight flashed through me, along with the knowledge that most creatures in the room no doubt recognized me in my emerald dress from our scene on the balcony.
I recoiled, grateful the amulet couldn’t latch onto my current surge of alarm.
Hunt speared a glare at Grandmother. “Do we know what caused the spirits to suddenly amass in unexplainable force? Perhaps someone within your Coven with unmanageable magick?”
The werewolf alpha spun his ire on Ember, who huddled within Killian’s arms. Killian stiffened at the wolf’s bold accusation, but Ember held him back with a firm hand on his chest.
The pack stood apart from the witches, not daring to touch anything within our magical estate. Like the other shifters in the bayous, Hunt and the wolves distrusted witches nearly as much as witches disdained any creature without magick. But with Ember, Hunt’s hatred was personal.
“Are you accusing my granddaughter of something, Hunt? Or do you always speak in passive aggressive barbs?” Grandmother asked icily.
Hunt merely growled.
Returning to the matter at hand, Grandmother smoothed her hands down her dress, though she appeared perfectly in control despite the madness of the evening. “Everyone, listen carefully. We will work into the morning on cleaning up the unfortunate event, but it is more important than ever that we remain diligent in our order. We’ve come so far this year, and we won’t lose this tremulous hold over the city after one setback. Let us not lose sight of the purpose of the Council.”
The collection of creatures seemed to settle with relief as Grandmother continued to usher orders. From my vantage point near the window, I could just make out Fleur and Tabitha Harlow beside their father. All three possessed smooth, deep skin and white-blonde hair that glowed luminescent under the candlelight.
Tabitha caught my eyes and sneered. Once my best friend, the earth witch had become my greatest rival within the Coven once the pressure of High Priestess settled over my shoulders. She was clever enough to surmise that me or Ember were to blame for this latest crisis due to our spirit magick. My vulnerabilities were laid bare before her, and it irked me beyond belief.
As the estate emptied, I finally let my eyes drift shut. I leaned my head on Ember’s shoulder briefly, feeling the weight of the evening wash over me.
How could I have been so reckless? Wearing a cursed talisman I didn’t fully understand before the entire city? Almost kissing the rakish vampire, only to be discovered?
This behavior wasnotme.
“Jade, Ember. Follow me.”
Grandmother’s snapped order washed over me as I numbly rose to my feet. The amulet had drained me of much of my magick, but I forced myself to straighten my shoulders bravely.
As we wound up the creaking tower steps to Grandmother’s office perched intimidatingly above the rest of the manor, I tried to moderate my growing uneasiness. The maudlin, scowling portraits of my distant relatives hanging precariously from the twisting walls did little to calm my nerves.
Grandmother pushed past the white French doors of her office, lighting the collection of candelabras along her imposing desk with a flick of her wrist.She collapsed into her chair, the painting of my mother hovering behind her head.
In it, Helene sat as tightly wound as a marionette while Grandmother and Grandfather stood over her, their hands grasping her shoulders as if ensuring she wouldn’t suddenly jump from the chair and flee back into the garden.
I’d always hated that portrait, but somehow, I felt myself connecting with my mother in ways I had never noticed before.
“Which one of you was it?” Grandmother asked in a frigid voice tinged with weariness from her late hours doing both Coven and Council business.
I was thankful she didn’t outright accuse Ember, undermining her diligent work this year to master her magick. My heels clicked on the hardwood as I approached the small ornate couch opposite her desk. “It was me. I’m sorry.”
Ember released a breath from behind me, her hand reaching out to brush my shoulder in silent support.
Grandmother’s impenetrable gaze never left mine. “Ember, go and help the others with the memory charm while I speak with Jade.”
“I can stay,” Ember started, but Grandmother cut her off with a glare. “Okay, then. I’ll wait downstairs for you, Jade. Find me when you’re ready to go home.”
In the silence, we listened to Ember’s retreat, caught in a battle of stubbornness.
I smiled with bared teeth. “Well, what’s my punishment, then? I know you have something grim planned for me after blasting the city with spirits. Considering my continual disappointments this year, I would make the perfect scapegoat for the Council. Lay it on me, High Priestess.”
Grandmother’s face hardened. “Ishouldpunish you for your crimes. Do you understand the consequences your actions tonight could have reaped on our people? On the city? Forget the energy it will take to exorcise all the ghosts you awoke without a mastered spirit witch, but think of the mortals. We hang in the balance in this modern world, toeing the line between discovery and lingering in the shadows. And you almost blew our cover completely!”
My heart thudded, but I didn’t let the guilt show.
“Just tell me what to do to fix this,” I sighed. “Want me to present myself to the Council and beg forgiveness? Find a spirit witch from a Coven in Texas or Florida? I’ll do what I need to fix my mess.”
She shook her head, though not a tendril of her ashen blonde hair escaped her chignon. “If only Rosemary and Everett remained in the city, they could fix this by tomorrow evening with their spirit affinities.”
