As we stared in disbelief at the fading red taillights, I turned my attention back to Clayton and the wolf.
Clayton's shoulders were already settling to their normal size as he panted, dropping onto a bench.
The wolf paced nervously, snorting and swinging its head. It moved closer to the huddle of the Higher Order and my defenses shot high. I watched in surprise as the women loosened their circle around Hattie and Asher, allowing the wolf access.
Chancellor Kelly ushered Hattie out of the circle slightly, allowing the wolf to see her.
Instinctively, I launched toward them to protect her from his unpredictable jaws.
As I reached her, the wolf stepped back, observing the two of us.
My arms held Hattie tight as my mind spun out of control.
But before I could make sense of why the Higher Order placed Hattie in harm's way, my spiking adrenalin settled in my veins.
The wolf gazed on us with a look of kindness in its eyes. It soaked us in and shared its heartbreak and sorrow with us.
It knew us.
After a moment, it turned and moved toward the cover of the trees.
A strange urge inside me wanted to call it back. Its protective nature comforted me in a way I hadn't felt in so long.
Chancellor Kelly stepped closer to Hattie and me.
"Girls, he will wait for you," she said. "When the time is right, he will take you through the portal safely."
I turned to her, baffled.
Why would a wolf be our guide through a time portal?
She grinned and glanced at Clayton.
"As you have seen, Clayton is a shifter," she began. "His gift is in his ability to change form. To heighten his senses and his strength. It is quite profound."
I looked to Clayton in surprise, now that I had an official term for his condition.
He was a shifter.
Chancellor Kelly continued. "And Dominic Murphy is a shifter."
The name straightened my spine, and Hattie fidgeted in her stance.
"The wolf..." The chancellor glanced into the darkness of the trees. "The wolf is your father."
Chapter 16
The whir of the engine lulled me as I held Clayton in my arms, heading back to Hazeldene.
He'd protected Hattie and me from Laney's attack with the same energy as my own father.
The two of them in their shifted forms drove Laney away, removing her disturbing threats from us. The way she spoke so callously of my mother was enough to send both of them into a defensive rage.
"Are you okay?" I whispered in his ear.
He lifted his gaze to mine and nodded once.
His shame oozed from every pore, and I wanted to kill him for not feeling pride in his response.
"You are amazing," I said.
All I felt in the moment was joy.
I'd learned that my father was among us. He protected us from afar, but was still right there in my heart.
And Clayton matched his protective nature, proving his unwavering loyalty to my family.
Clayton's gift astounded me.
It was the most incredible thing I'd ever seen.
And now, to learn that my father and he shared a similar gift, filled me with incredible wonder.
My father had travelled through his own portal to protect Hattie and me—to usher us home safely. His wolf-form kept him hidden in this realm, allowing him to observe us and guide us.
Chancellor Kelly had known all along.
She knew my father and everything he was capable of.
I lifted my head from Clayton's shoulder and glanced at her in the front passenger's seat. Ms. Reed felt my gaze and took her eyes off the road for a second, long enough for the chancellor to notice. She hesitated for a moment, then turned back to me.
"I suppose you have a few questions," she said.
I huffed. "Um, yeah."
She smiled.
"No better time than now to hold the Ritual of Ancestors," she said. "We'll convene in the study at midnight."
And with that, not another word was spoken of the mind-blowing events.
I turned my focus back to Clayton and my heart swelled as I absorbed the intense heat that radiated off him.
Guilt ran through me as I thought of everything I'd put him through. I'd left him with uncertainty about his position in the coven until only recently. He knew he was High Priest now, but I'd made him wait so long, I was sure it left insecurity. But now, I understood my hesitation, knowing the designation could separate us forever. Two leaders ensured a coven would never be left without one—there would always be one to take the reigns if something bad happened to the other, or if one had to leave, forcing the other to stay behind.
My heart ached at the thought, particularly because I was sure he fully understood the expectations of his new role.
But before he had a chance to realize the nature of my delay in naming him, he still never faltered in his protection of Hattie and me.
And the coven.
His steadfast loyalty to us all was profound.
A chill shook my limbs, and I tensed my muscles to control the shudder.
But then I stopped resisting it and allowed the unusual sensation to run through me.
As we reached the iron gates of Hazeldene, I exhaled in relief of our safety.
The cars parked at a port hidden in the trees outside of the grounds, and we piled out. Pushing through the gates, we walked the rest of the way up to the manor.
Ms. Harrison straightened her jacket, preparing to head straight for the kitchen.
"I'll put on a pot of tea and make some sandwiches," she said, waving for Hattie and Asher to join her. "Sure, I could use some help."
The rest of us hovered at the porch, finalizing plans to meet at midnight for the Ritual of Ancestors.
As Ms. Reed and Chancellor Kelly moved into the study, the rest of us headed for the stairs.
Piper and Noah hovered a few paces behind Clayton and me, and I felt their uncertainty.
"What?" I said, feigning innocence.
Piper shook her head. "Never a dull moment," she murmured.
I smirked. "Yeah, I know. Sorry."
She rolled her eyes and reached her arm through Noah's. With a quick grin, she pulled him and they headed back in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Clayton and me alone in foyer.
I studied his disheveled condition and pushed aside the twists of hair that hung over his forehead. Heat continued to pulse off him and sweat shimmered on his brow.
"Come on," I said. "Let's get you cleaned up."
He followed me up the stairs and to his room, each step dragging more profoundly than the previous. He was heading into the depleted crash after shifting. I remembered it from the first time—his exhaustion was intense.
I grabbed his joggers and a sweatshirt from the end of his bed.
"Here. You need these."
He reached for them, but they fell from his grip and hit the floor.
He was shivering. Uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?" I felt his forehead. "Is it a fever?"
He was burning up.
In an instant, I reached around his shoulders and pulled him up to standing.
"Come on," I said. "To the bathroom."
I supported him as best I could as we moved down the hallway. As I pushed through the bathroom door, I clicked the light on, and moved him to a chair by the shower.
Reaching through the curtain, I turned the water on.
He slouched, glancing up at me with a gentle smile.
I tugged at the waistband of his quarter-zip jacket and pulled it over his head. His t-shirt clung to him, wet with perspiration.
"No wonder you're shivering," I said, pulling the shirt off him.
He lifted his arms, allowing me to remove it with ease and in an instant, the shivering stopped.
He smiled as his gaze softened on me.
"You like to keep me guessing," he said. "You know that drives me nuts."
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I grinned, knowing exactly what he was talking about.
But there was no more guessing. I'd named him High Priest and had no doubt in my mind that he was the one for the position. Yes, maybe I hesitated naming him because of the risk involved, but I had to admit, I was also afraid of my intense feeling for him.
I reached down and kissed him.
"I don't mean to do that to you," I whispered.
He reached his hand behind my neck and kissed me back.
Each second that passed brought more energy and strength back to him.
And before I realized it, he'd stood up and lifted me off my feet.
He stepped toward the shower, pulling me into it with him. Reaching into his pants, he grabbed his cell phone and wallet and chucked them onto the floor.
A small scream escaped my mouth as the cold water shocked me. But with a quick twist of the handle, he changed it to perfect warmth.
He moved my head under the water and watched as it cascaded down over me. My hair dripped over my face, and I licked at the streams that moved over my lips.
I giggled as my clothing became saturated, and he pulled at it to get if off me.
We wiggled together, struggling to remove the wet, heavy layers, and my joy hit new heights as his bare skin finally touched mine.
His hands moved over my body, sending a rush of sweet sensation through me, as the warm water tantalized me more. He kissed my neck as he pressed his body against mine. I reached my hands into his hair and gripped the twists through my fingers.
His heavy breath panted at my ear as his excitement rose. I pushed my hips into his, causing his breath to suck in, and he responded to the invitation with his entire soul.
"Shaye," he whispered.
As his voice resonated through the tiled space, it filled me with joy.
Then he stopped, and reached out of the shower. He pushed the chair against the door handle and then grabbed his wallet. Pulling out a foil wrapper, he glanced at me.
I snagged it from him and pulled him back into the shower.
Within moments, our synchronized movement returned as we danced together in the bliss of the warm water and our gliding bodies. My hands moved over every muscle, sending shudders of excitement through both of us. His hardness pressed against my hip as he kissed me deeply. My craving for him rose to the highest level as I ached for him to be inside me.
I lifted a leg around his hip and with a smooth motion, he connected deeply within me. Waves of pleasure surged through my mind and my body as we moved together in perfect rhythm. Gasping for air, I clamped onto him with all my strength, allowing every bit of him to take me over.
I'd given myself fully to him now, in every way, and just as ecstasy washed through me, dizzying my mind, I knew we'd cemented our union forever.
He gasped with every muscle tensing, holding me with the strength of the beast, and then relaxed in my arms as he trembled.
"You are my world, Shaye Murphy," he whispered in my ear. "Nothing can tear me away from you."
I closed my eyes allowing his words to fill me with happiness. But instead, they gnawed at a pit in my stomach, and fear filled me like insidious poison as I feared the day we'd be torn apart.
Lying in Clayton's bed, I watched him as he gathered his clothing for the Ritual of Ancestors. I had no idea why my gut gnawed at me still. My love for him was pure, and I had no reservations about how he felt about me. But still, something sickened the pit of my stomach.
Maybe it was normal to feel that way.
My feelings for him were so raw, so vulnerable. I supposed it made sense that fear would be a part of that.
And we were facing momentous occasions—ones that would determine the trajectory of our coven. I couldn't help but remain cautious in my emotions.
As he placed his clothing on the back of his chair, he came over to me and laid down by my side.
He wrapped his arms around me and snuggled in close. Burying his face near my chest, he listened to my heartbeat and relaxed in my hold.
I loved how he enjoyed snuggling with me. It was pure bliss.
"We only have a couple hours until midnight," he murmured. "I just want to stay like this."
I smiled, perfectly content to stay there with him for as long as he wanted. All night would be most preferred, but unfortunately, there was more to be done.
The Ritual of Ancestors would be the moment when the Higher Order revealed all. I'd been waiting for the event for what felt like a lifetime. I could hardly believe that it was finally happening.
Maybe that was the source of the pit in my stomach.
The gnaw had arrived as soon as Clayton made the comment of being torn away from me. It struck me now that I'd heard his words as ominous foreshadowing.
The Higher Order might tell me something that would cause me to pull me away from Clayton. It was my worst fear.
I swallowed hard, preparing to mention my discomfort to him.
"No," he whispered, sensing my rising angst. "Not a word. We'll get through this."
And he held me tighter as we shared each other's closeness in silence.
As midnight tolled, my coven pulled together in the darkness of the grand staircase. We appeared strangely rested, and I assumed we each felt the same level of excitement for what we were walking into.
I noticed the journals in Piper and Noah's hands and my head tipped.
"Ms. Reed told us to bring them," Piper said.
I nodded, suddenly realizing where the Ritual of Ancestors would be taking place. As my eyes widened, the others had the same unnerving realization.
Asher went rigid and shook his head. "We're not going into the catacombs again, are we?"
The shake in his voice matched everyone's gaunt faces.
"Quite possibly," I said, glancing at the books again. "But it will be different this time. Safer."
I struggled to believe my own words.
In silence, we moved down to the foyer, and quietly stepped into the study.
The Higher Order stood by the massive fireplace wearing long black cloaks. Heavy hoods fell over their heads casting ominous shadows. Their unique talismans hung from their necks, adding to the formality of the occasion.
Chancellor Kelly stepped forward from the center.
"Welcome, Mystic Coven," she stated.
Clayton closed the heavy double-doors behind us.
Candles burned in every corner of the room, creating an etherial atmosphere.
"Shaye Millicent Murphy," the chancellor continued. "Have you chosen your High Priest?"
"Yes," I responded in a formal tone. "I have named the High Priest as Clayton Xavier James."
"The third," Clayton interjected.
I grinned, and lifted my eyes to Chancellor Kelly.
She held a similar smile, and moved closer to us.
"Very well. Now that your coven is whole, you must understand the origin of our bond." She gripped her talisman and a subtle glow beamed through her fingers. "We must descend into the ancient worship room of our ancestors to finalize the ritual."
So, it was true.
We were going down to the catacombs.
My air purged out of me as fear settled in its place.
I glanced at the others and watched their faces go sheet-white.
Chancellor Kelly went on. "We will be safe in the catacombs. No harm will come to you."
Ms. Reed stepped forward. "And returning the journals to the archives is necessary for restoring the security of the covens."
Piper and Noah pulled the journals closer to their chests as we followed the Higher Order out of the study.
Silently, we moved to the basement door leading to the catacombs.
Memories of being locked down there flooded my thoughts, and my body resisted moving any closer.
Clayton subtly reached for my hand and squeezed it.
Without any additional words, the Higher Order unlocked the door, moved down the narrow stairwell, and waited on the
tiled pentagram.
Noah closed the door behind us, hesitating for a moment, as if expecting it to lock on its own. When only silence met his waiting gaze, he turned and followed us down.
More candles glowed from the altar, proving that the space had been prepared for us. Noah placed his books by the candles, and Piper did the same. Then, they joined the rest of us on the outer circle of the pentagram.
Chancellor Kelly glanced at each of us in welcome, and then continued the ritual.
"Here within the space of our ancestors, we honor them and commit to upholding the bond of the covens." She took hold of her talisman and lifted it. "The crystal within my amulet holds the truths of the Hazeldene covens. I invite you all to gaze into its mystery."
She held the talisman at the end of the chain, allowing the candles' glow to flood into it. The light projected through the center of the crystal, generating moving images, like a faint dream.
The six of us closed in around the dancing scenes of the amulet, and became lost in its intricate storytelling.
Mesmerized by the flowing images, I gazed at the movement until it created recognizable shapes of people and places. I stared at events, understanding them as they came together like a well-told fable.
Many of the scenes were familiar to me; my father building the portal, angry villagers casting accusations, local witches being hung and burned. But then there were images that were new to me; the Dark Witch haunting the town forest—abducting children for her own survival. A shadow man lurking to steal souls for his great hall.
My mind swam with the jumble of cut scenes as they swayed in the candlelight and re-shuffled their order. The story segments realigned in a new position and the history of the covens became crystal clear.
With a gasp, my hand flew over my mouth. I searched the others for their reactions, and their dropped jaws said it all.
We'd become enlightened.
Everything fell into place.
And now, we were left with the knowledge of what needed to be done.
I stepped forward into the center of the pentagram and faced the Higher Order.
"I accept our mission. We understand what we must do."
My words sent chills through me as I thought of the dangers that lay ahead.
Mystic Coven: Winter Wiccan (Supernatural Academy Graduates Book 2) Page 14
