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The other elders barely looked at her, but Ana frowned. “Rose, think carefully before you act.”
“This is over,” Rose said. “You’ve gone too far this time.”
“Your potential is undeniable, Rose. Don’t throw away your position in this coven for this.”
“We’re done here,” Rose said.
Cara couldn’t believe it. Her mother was always the staunchest of advocates for the elders’ authority. She believed in them above all else. Loyal didn’t even begin to describe it.
“You are not in charge,” Ana said.
“This is my home, and you are my guests,” Rose said. “Eric and I have cooperated with every request, but you will not endanger my family.”
“The void has twisted her around his finger,” Violet said. “The child is his puppet.”
“And I was yours,” Rose said. “No more. Let them speak.”
The elders were silent, and the heightened energy swirling around them began to ease. It didn’t disappear, but the stones lowered to the ground, and Cara felt like she could breathe again.
“We will not strike first,” Irina said. “But no void is welcome here. Go, and do not return, or we will retaliate with force.”
Nick clenched his fists, preparing to argue, but Cara saw their chance. They weren’t going to get another opportunity.
“We need him,” Cara called out, addressing the witches gathered around the front of the house. Her family, her friends, people she’d known her entire life. People who never imagined she would be standing beside a void in front of her family home.
And her mother, vouching for her against everything she believed in.
“We need allies now more than ever before,” Cara said. “Not more enemies.”
Among the crowd, she saw Jay, staring at her. The same person who hated Nick when they first met.
“The vampires are a threat to all of us,” Cara said. “Quinn and Julia are the first humans to be taken, but they won’t be the last. Do you really think the vampires will stop now? They’ve had a taste of power. They’re testing us. If we don’t act now, if we don’t show our strength, they’ll do more. They’ll take more innocent lives, more territory, more power. How far are we willing to let them go?”
She took a breath, and she suddenly realised that everyone was listening to her. Not just staring at her because she was speaking in front of a crowd. They were actually listening.
“The vampires broke the peace treaty. Henry was a witch hunter, but he was also human. They know what they did, and they’re already preparing for war. They took human prisoners because of their relationship with a witch from our coven. My friends. For the sole reason that they are my friends. What’s going to stop them from doing the same to any of you? Friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, anyone you care about. No one is safe.”
The elders touched hands briefly while the coven behind them exchanged worried whispers.
“We hear you, child, but why not wait until they destroy the void? It will give us more time to prepare, and remove a dangerous threat to our coven.”
“More time means more lives lost,” Cara said. “Innocent lives. And you want the void as an ally.”
“An ally? Centuries of our history says otherwise. It is not possible.”
Cara looked at Nick. “Now or never.”
Nick held out his hand, void lines covering his skin, and she put her hand in his. She felt her magic being tugged, but within moments it calmed, and she knew he was in control.
Cara lifted her other hand and closed her fingers into a fist, then she called her magic. It had never failed her before, but it never mattered as much as this moment. Her heart raced and her mouth was dry.
She uncurled her fingers, conjuring a bright, burning flame in her hand.
The witches gasped and spoke out, voices crashing together.
“He can be our ally,” Cara shouted over the noise.
Ana held up a hand, and the coven went quiet. “This is... unusual.”
