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  “Rise, my sisters,” she told them. “This Grove is mine. It is the oldest of them, and I am claiming it as my domain. Each of you will disperse and make sure to spread the word of what has transpired this day to our other Coven sisters who were too far away to come.”

  A young witch with brown hair and close-set eyes stepped from the others. “Will we continue the mission to find the bones of the First Witch?”

  “Aye, my child, we most certainly will. I will retrieve the next one,” Sybbyl said.

  “May I join you?” the young one implored.

  Three more witches quickly raised their voices, letting Sybbyl know they also wanted to go with her. Sybbyl had thought to do it on her own, but perhaps it would solidify her new station by proving she could obtain more than one of the First Witch’s bones. The fact that she wasn’t going after a bone but a person was something she would keep to herself for the moment.

  “Aye,” she replied with a nod of her head. “The four of you may remain and join me on my quest.”

  Just as she was about to dismiss the others, there was a shout and a struggle near the back of the circle. Sybbyl waited as the group parted, and two women hauled a third before her, throwing her down at Sybbyl’s feet.

  “And who is this?” Sybbyl demanded.

  One of the women, a portly older witch with thick, white hair and faded blue eyes, pointed a gnarled finger at the one on the ground. “She tried to sneak away.”

  Sybbyl bit back her grin. How many times had she escaped early when the elders had called them together? Too many times to count. But the longer she stared at the witch, the more she realized that wasn’t what this was about.

  She squatted down and waited for the woman to lift her head. When she did, Sybbyl looked into her brown eyes and moved a lock of the woman’s dark blond hair from her face. The witch was shaking, she was so terrified. Tears coursed down her cheeks, but Sybbyl wasn’t moved by them.

  “Were you leaving?” Sybbyl asked.

  The witch cried harder and attempted to turn her head away. Sybbyl stopped her with a finger to her chin and forced her face back to her.

  “Tell me,” she demanded softly.

  “A-a-aye.”

  Sybbyl was pleased with the truthful reply. “Now, tell me why.”

  The witch’s crying ceased for a heartbeat before she raised her bloodshot eyes to Sybbyl. “Why?”

  “I want to know the reason.”

  The witch swallowed loudly and pushed up with her hands to lift her torso. She looked at Sybbyl for just a second before glancing away. “I am terrified of you.”

  “As much as I like that sentiment, I do not think that is the entire truth.” Sybbyl looked at the two women who had stopped the witch. “What do you two think?”

  The portly one was quick to reply. “That she does not want to acknowledge you as our new leader.”

  “Do you?” Sybbyl asked the portly one.

  The woman jerked her chin up and stated, “Of course, I do. All in the Coven do.”

  “They hate me,” the witch on the ground said as more tears came. “I would not agree to stand with them against you. I decided to leave and return later to tell you.”

  Sybbyl touched the witch’s head for a moment then rose to her feet with the help of the staff. Sybbyl looked from one witch to the other. Not a word left her lips, but a moment later, both of the women were blaming the other.

  She touched first one, then the other with the staff. Both died instantly. As ash piled on either side of the third witch on the ground, Sybbyl offered her hand to help the woman to her feet.

  “All of you are aware that the only way to leave the Coven is through death. Once you are a member, you are one for life. I detested the elders and their rules, but I followed them,” Sybbyl said. “And while I am not the elders, I am now leader of the Coven. I set the rules now.”

  She looked at each of them, waiting to see if anyone else wanted to question her. When no one moved, she said, “Leave me.”

  When the witches started to leave, Sybbyl kept her hand on the witch to keep her by her side. It wasn’t long before all that remained in the Grove was Sybbyl, the four witches who’d asked to join her, and the blonde.

  “What is your name?” Sybbyl asked.

  “Avis.”

  Sybbyl touched the witch’s face. “You are a fair one, to be sure. I doubt there is a man out there who does not lust after you.”

  Avis’s smile was confident. “If there is a man I want, I get him either with my face or my magic.”

  “I imagine you do. There is a man I am sending you after. A warlock.”

  Avis jerked back, her brow furrowed deeply. “They do not exist.”

  “Oh, but they do.” Sybbyl shifted so that the other four could hear her. “The Varroki are real. This warlock is a Varroki, and I want him.”

  Avis seemed to think about it for a moment, then nodded. “Then I shall get him for you.”

  “You will know him by the staff he carries and his pale blue eyes that look almost white. He is to be mine. Find him and return him here,” she commanded.

  “I will begin immediately.” Avis turned on her heel and hurried from the Grove.

  Sybbyl then faced the remaining four. “The next part of the First Witch I seek is not a bone, but a person. A direct descendant.”

  The witches looked positively thrilled at the news.

  “You will accompany me when I set out for her. But understand that she is mine. We have a history, and I want her to know that she can no longer escape her destiny,” Sybbyl told them.

  She drew a circle in the ground with the end of the staff and laid it down before her. Then she got on her knees and bent over to put her hands on the petrified bone within the staff.

  Sybbyl focused her mind on Helena. The spell to find a person was normally fairly easy, but not so when it was another witch she needed to locate. Whether on purpose or not, Helena had put up wards to stop from being found.

  But that wasn’t possible. Sybbyl had located her days earlier. Why couldn’t she do the same now?

  Then she knew—the staff.

  Somehow, the ancient bone was now attempting to stop her from finding Helena. But Sybbyl wasn’t going to give up that easily.

  She summoned all her magic, including what the staff gave her. The force of the power straightened her back. She dropped her head back, her eyes closed as it welled within her. Sybbyl felt as if she were choking, but she didn’t stop saying the spell, over and over.

  Suddenly, black smoke poured out of her mouth and cascaded down her front. In her mind’s eye, it felt as if she were speeding over the countryside, faster than a bird. Everything was a blur. Then it stopped, showing her a dense forest.

  Sybbyl searched for trees or sights that she could later use to identify the location before the spell ended and she returned to herself.

  She reached for the staff as the last of the smoke fell from her lips. Once on her feet again, she walked from the Witch’s Grove with the four witches at her heels.

  Helena stoked the fire in her chamber. She couldn’t believe she had been so forward with Jarin, but she was glad she’d done it. Her breathing hitched when she recalled the hungry look in his eyes.

  She rose to her feet and spun in a circle, happier than she had been in a while. She quite enjoyed being at the abbey. It was too bad they couldn’t remain for another day or two. Everyone had been so nice. She really hadn’t expected that.

  Yet she was excited to be alone with Jarin. He claimed that his vow of celibacy had been broken when he went after a Coven witch, but how much did he know about what happened between a man and a woman?

  She was wondering if she could be bold enough to kiss him when her heart clutched painfully. Agony rushed through her body like fire licking at her veins. Her legs gave out, so she fell to the floor, landing hard on her knees. She fought to breathe and get the pain under control.

  As soon as the pain lessened enough that she
could breathe easier, she jumped to her feet and raced from the chamber and down the corridor. She had no idea where Jarin was, but she needed to find him quickly.

  She turned a corner and nearly tripped over Valdr. Helena righted herself only to crash into something hard. Strong arms came around her, steadying her.

  “Easy, Helena,” Jarin said.

  She looked up at him while trying to catch her breath. The pain was nearly gone from her now, but it still wasn’t easy to find the words to explain.

  His frown deepened as he gazed intently at her. “It’s all right. You’re safe.”

  She shook her head rapidly. “I’m not. We have to leave. Now. Right now!”

  “What happened? Did someone hurt you?”

  She shook her head again and tried to pull him after her. “Come on.”

  “Not until you tell me what is going on.”

  He was an unmovable force, rooted to the spot until she gave him what he wanted. Helena briefly closed her eyes, battling the scream of fear that threatened to erupt and spill from her lips.

  She opened her eyes and met Jarin’s. “I felt magic. It came straight for me.”

  “I felt nothing,” he stated and glanced around.

  Valdr stared off into the night and growled softly. There was a rustle of feathers before Andi came flying out of the chamber.

  Jarin looked at the animals then at her. “All right. Let me get my staff and bag and we’ll be off. After we inform Edra and Radnar.”

  “Fine,” Helena relented thankfully. “But we need to hurry.”

  He released her to rush back into his chamber and collect his things. His cloak billowed out behind him as he strode from the room.

  She fell into step beside him as they made their way to the opposite end of the abbey and knocked on a door. It opened almost instantly with Radnar filling the space.

  He looked at them, then said, “Edra. You should come.”

  The witch joined her husband and took in what Radnar saw. “You’re leaving.”

  “We must,” Jarin said.

  Helena swallowed. “I cannot explain other than to say magic found me.” She touched the place over her chest where her heart was. “The pain was...unbearable. It brought me to my knees, and I knew I had to leave. If I do not, the Coven will find this place.”

  “Come with me,” Edra said as she brushed past them.

  Radnar joined them as they walked to another chamber. Edra then handed her a new cloak, a waterskin, and a bag of food.

  “Good luck,” the witch said.

  Radnar gave a nod. “Remember, you are both welcome here.”

  Helena waved at them, then hurried from the abbey to put some distance between herself, the Hunters, and whoever was after her.

  But she knew who that was. Sybbyl.

  11

  Helena ran from the abbey and didn’t look back. She kept thinking of the children housed within those walls and how Sybbyl wouldn’t hesitate to annihilate each and every one of them, no matter the age.

  She had no idea where she was going. For all she knew, she was headed straight for the witch. Maybe that was for the best. The sooner Helena could face her nemesis, the better.

  “Helena.”

  She heard Jarin’s call, but she still didn’t stop. She couldn’t. There was too much at stake. Valdr ran slightly ahead of her, letting her know the safe routes and where she needed to jump.

  It could have been moments or hours that passed before Jarin’s arm looped around her waist and hauled her back against him, halting her.

  “We cannot stop,” she said, fighting to free herself.

  But Jarin was too strong, his hold unmoving no matter how much she wiggled and fought.

  “We need a plan,” was all he said.

  All the fight went out of her. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, her breath billowing out into the night. “It was wrong for me to go there. The children should be kept safe. They will never be as long as I am around.”

  “If Edra thought for a moment it was not safe for the bairns, she wouldn’t have allowed us entry,” he replied softly. “Everything Edra and Radnar have done and still do pits them against the Coven. Every day, they remain alive and stay in the fight, they win.”

  Helena closed her eyes as the fear that had gripped her began to lessen. Mostly because of Jarin. He was calm, as if it didn’t matter how bad the storm raged around him, he would never let it beat him down.

  If only she had that ability.

  She took a steadying breath as his warmth surrounded her. His arm was firmly in place, but not restricting her. Without even trying, she felt the hard sinew of his body. In less than a heartbeat, her fear was replaced by something stronger, something more primal.

  He leaned his cheek against her head. “Now that we’ve put some distance between us and the abbey, tell me what happened.”

  “It was Sybbyl.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I...” She shrugged, grateful that he had yet to release her. Whether she liked it or not, she needed the strength he offered. “I cannot be sure. Just a feeling I have.”

  His head lowered, putting his lips near her ear. “We will find a place to rest for the night and come up with a plan. At first light, we head out.”

  Helena shivered at the warm breath that fanned her ear and neck. She gave a nod, unable to form any words.

  For a heartbeat longer, his arm remained in place. Then, he released her and quickly took a step away. She stumbled back and righted herself.

  “Follow me,” he stated.

  Helena hurried after him when he began walking. She had been so intent on putting one foot in front of the other when they left the abbey that she hadn’t realized she’d taken them to the fringes of the forest.

  Thankfully, there was a steep incline that must offer some kind of shelter by the way Jarin made straight for it. By the time she reached the peak and saw the half-hidden entrance, she was out of breath.

  Valdr trotted past her into the dark. A moment later, there was a spark, and a fire flared to life. She caught sight of Jarin, who was staring at her, his face illuminated by the flames.

  As she entered the cave, she spotted Andi cleaning her feathers. That must be how Jarin had known about the place. Not that it mattered. Helena realized she would likely follow him anywhere.

  She sat near the fire and unclasped her cloak to lay it beside her. Her gaze went to Jarin when she saw movement. She couldn’t look away, watching the way his body moved as he set aside his staff, bag, and cloak. Only then did she realize the ends of his hair were damp.

  He glanced at her before he raked a hand through his locks, shoving the long, dark blond strands from his face. “I had just finished with my bath when Valdr started pawing at the door. He knew you were distressed.”

  “How?” she asked, trying to stop picturing Jarin’s naked body and the water moving over him. “I did not call out.”

  The warlock shrugged. “Valdr is a special animal. So is Andi.”

  Needing something to talk about before they went into what happened, she asked, “How did you come to have them as pets?”

  “I do not own them. They are free to come and go as they please. I rescued Andi from a baron who had captured her. She was still very young, just learning to fly. When I saw him about to sew her eyes shut to begin her training, I knew I had to save her.”

  Helena looked at the bird. She had her eyes closed, but Andi’s face was aimed toward Jarin. There wasn’t a doubt in Helena’s mind that the bird loved him.

  “When the baron refused to agree to my terms, I broke the tresses holding Andi, which allowed her to fly away. I, too, was content to leave, but the baron threw a knife at me. I easily dodged it, but before I could retaliate, Andi swooped down and clawed out his eyes, ensuring he would never imprison another bird.”

  Helena had new respect for the falcon. “I gather she has been with you ever since?”

  “Aye. I thought she woul
d return to her nest, but day after day I saw her flying above me. At night, she remained near me. She is the one who led me to Valdr.”

  With a smile, Helena reached over and ran her hand through the wolf’s thick fur after he’d settled between her and Jarin.

  “His mother had been killed,” Jarin continued. “Valdr was still a young pup and standing his ground against a boar intent on killing him. I got there in time, but unfortunately, he was the last of his litter left alive. I could not leave him on his own. I took him with me, feeding him until he was strong enough to leave.”

  “But he remained,” Helena finished.

  Jarin’s lips softened when the wolf looked in his direction. “Both animals recognize magic. I believe they feel it on a different level than either you or I. That could be how Valdr knew you were in trouble.”

  “Thank you,” she said to the wolf. Helena swallowed, the smile gone. “I joined you to fight the Coven, especially Sybbyl.”

  “Aye,” he murmured.

  She wrapped her arms around herself. “Yet, every time I think about facing her, I want to run the other way. Not because I’m afraid that I might die, but because I know she wants me.”

  “Because you escaped them twice?”

  Helena searched her mind for the answer but couldn’t come up with one. Finally, she shook her head. “I know not. It could be. I do not know any other who has escaped them twice. It is rare to get free the first time.”

  “How did you do it initially?”

  Images of that day flashed in Helena’s mind. She wanted to shut them out, but if she and Jarin were going to work together, then he needed to know. All of it.

  “I was very good at hiding my magic,” she began. “I learned early on that no one could know. My mother had magic, but she refused to use it, even when my father beat her. She feared for her safety as well as mine, so I made sure I was far from anyone whenever I tried magic.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Helena spotted Jarin’s gaze locked on her. The story was difficult enough, so she kept her eyes trained on the fire.

  “My father was a drunk and a brute of a man who used his fists instead of words. I lost track of the times I watched him beat my mother. If I made any noise that called his attention to me, Mum would make sure to turn it back to her. I begged her to stand against him, to defend herself, but she said we needed him. Without him, we had no one to provide for us, no one to protect us. I urged her to use magic, but she scoffed at me.”