“I think you should leave now,” she said tightly.
Behind her, Melynda snapped, “That's what I've been telling them for the last half hour!” Melynda started muttering a violent explosive spell but Anita stopped her.
Jasynta flicked her finger at the front door to open it, but Camron waved his hand and slammed the door back shut. Melynda lunged forward, evidently with the intention of using physical, if not magickal, force to drag him out the door.
One of the warlocks at Camron's side moved forward to block Melynda, and the two of them became embroiled in a wand pulling, spell throwing brawl in a corner.
While Anita tried to break them up, Camron sat down on the sofa and stretched out his legs. Spreading out his arms lazily on the backrest, he asked Jasynta, “So, how is your potion for the Alpha's health campaign coming along?”
Jasynta opened and shut her mouth quickly. How did he know...?
Camron smirked. “I know people. People are like things, power and position. They can all be bought.”
Without waiting for her response, he shook his head with a regretful air and went on, “Really. Lucas Rieve is a fool. This health campaign is going to be a massive failure. The paranormal community is not going to trust an Alpha who can't even accomplish a small simple thing like a health campaign. Mark my words. There'll be a vote of no confidence against Lucas soon. And Lucas Rieve...will be out.” Camron leaned forward and smiled. “Together with all his PAC members.”
Jasynta forced her face to remain impassive even as she felt a cold fist slam into her gut. With his large number of coven members and his wealth, Camron could petition to move a vote of no confidence against Lucas. If the Alpha was voted out before his term was up, anyone could stand for election. Camron had been buying up support, buying people, power and position as he put it. He would oust Lucas and get himself elected as the next Alpha of the Paranormal Affairs Council. He would then replace all the PAC members with his own minions and supporters. Blake was one of Lucas's most trusted Council members. Camron would surely kick Blake out of the Council.
Jasynta balled her fists. She would not let that happen. Blake was trustworthy, capable and caring. He worked tirelessly for the welfare of the civilian population, both human and paranormal. He helped the Enforcers keep the city safe, and he was in charge of many Council and city projects. The health campaign was just one of them. But if her potion failed, it would sabotage not just the campaign but the Alpha and his Council members as well.
She would not fail. She would not fail Blake.
“Why don't you show me your potion?” Camron said smoothly, putting on his most charming smile. “I could give you some...friendly advice.”
Camron put particular emphasis on his last two words, forcing Jasynta to recall his parting shot to her when he'd left her that night.
The next time you're with a guy, ask for a share in the bet. Come on, what's with the scowl? I'm just giving you some friendly advice.
“Come on, Jasynta. What's with the scowl?” Camron was spreading his hands out and saying, “Show me the potion and...”
“What I'll show you—is the door.”
His cocky smile faded. “Is this how it's going to be, Jasynta?”
When she simply stood her ground and didn't answer, he stomped to his feet. “Fine. I'll have to simply order you to hand over the potion in my capacity as your coven Elder then.”
“You're not our coven Elder,” Melynda snorted, her red hair still smoking after her brawl with the scrawny, panting warlock who was holding his side and grimacing as he leaned against the wall. “Gran is!”
All eyes swiveled to Lucinda, who was still blissfully knitting away. When she looked up and caught all of them staring at her, she frowned and grumbled, “Turn off the telly, will you? The noise is deafening. How can you all carry on with so much trashy noise in the background? The violence and the language these days...” she huffed disapprovingly.
As Lucinda continued her litany of complaints against the television programs that were supposed to be educating and not corrupting young impressionable minds, Camron turned to Jasynta, Melynda and Anita who were all glaring at him, hands joined in readiness to fire off a shield magick to protect Lucinda and their coven.
“Under coven law—” Camron said in a tone no doubt meant to sound reasonable but which made Jasynta want to rake her nails across his smirking mien, “—I have the right to challenge your coven Elder for leadership and control of the coven. Coven law is simple. Winner takes all. Loser leaves the coven forthwith, and ceases the practice of magick altogether. He or she will no longer be a witch or warlock. Simple and straightforward. I announced the purpose of my visit clearly and cordially upon my arrival but my announcement was met with hostility from your mother and sister.” He turned to Jasynta with an aggrieved air. “They attacked me, hurling violent spells and hexes at me and my two assistants. I assure you that we did nothing to provoke such unwarranted aggression. We merely did what we could to defend ourselves.”
Jasynta snorted. “The lighting bolt I saw wasn't shield magick. That was combat magick.”
Camron shrugged. “The best defense is a good offense.”
Jasynta glared at him. No doubt he was applying this tactic to his political maneuverings as well.
Her sister, Melynda, stepped forward suddenly. While Jasynta was a brunette like their mother, Melynda was a pretty, curvy redhead. And she had a temper to match her fiery red hair. Jasynta was pretty sure that the first shot had been fired by Melynda. Melynda would most probably have hurled a hex at their heads the moment they announced the purpose of their intrusive visit.
Melynda stepped in front of Jasynta and said, “According to Section 66 of the Covens Act, a proxy may step in and volunteer to duel the challenger for and on behalf of the coven Elder. Once the proxy is accepted by the challenger, the proxy effectively steps into the shoes of the Elder for the purposes of the duel. I, Melynda Morgan, hereby volunteer as proxy for Lucinda Morgan.”
“Melynda!” Both Jasynta and Anita raised their voices and reached out to yank Melynda back. But the stubborn young witch dug in her heels and stood her ground, refusing to budge.
Melynda wouldn't back down, that was for sure. Jasynta gave up tugging at her sister's arm, and let her mother continue with the scolding and shoving. She looked at Camron, who was rubbing his chin and pursing his lips thoughtfully. His narrowed gaze fell on Jasynta, and in the instant their gazes collided, Jasynta read his intent in his crafty, close set eyes.
Camron wanted control of her coven to expand and cement his power and influence. He wanted to consolidate his influence and power to oust the PAC Alpha. He wanted her to fail in concocting an effective potion for the Alpha's health campaign. He wanted her out. If she was defeated in a duel, she would have to leave the coven and cease being a witch. She would have to abandon her potion, abandon Blake.
The realization sparked a roaring rage and resolve in her.
He wanted her to fail.
She would not fail.
Locking her eyes on Camron, she asked crisply, “Once you accept the proxy, the appointment stands, right? The challenger accepts that the proxy will represent the coven Elder in the duel and there will be no substitution of the proxy.”
“Yes. That is right.” His eyes glinted.
“All right.” Jasynta squared her shoulders and puffed out her chest. “Then I, Jasynta Morgan, hereby volunteer as proxy for Lucinda Morgan, Elder of the Morgan coven. Do you accept?”
“Jasynta!” This time it was her sister who cried out and tried to shove her back. “What the hell are you doing? Do you know what you're saying? You'll be...”
Jasynta ignored her sister's furious shrieks. Her mother had ran over to Lucinda who had fallen asleep in her chair and was drooling all over her knitting. Anita was shaking the older witch rather violently, trying to get her to wake up.
“I accept!” Camron declared, his voice cutting through the commotion. Melynda an
d Anita froze into silence immediately.
“No,” Anita whispered. “No.”
Jasynta caught the look of pain on her mother's face, and she had to look away.
Melynda raised her hand to fire off another hex at the warlocks. Camron jerked his head, and commanded, “Harry!”
The warlock to his left pulled out his wand so fast Jasynta had no time to freeze his hand with a spell. A green spark shot out from the tip of his wand and hit Melynda in the throat.
Melynda gasped, and opened and shut her mouth in shock but there was no sound. The warlock had hit her with a Mute spell. She wasn't able to utter her hex. In fact, she wasn't able to utter anything at all.
“Well done, Harry,” Camron complimented the bespectacled, dark haired warlock.
Harry nodded and sheathed his wand.
Camron turned back to Jasynta looking delighted. “Congratulations, Jasynta, you are now the proxy for your Elder. Three nights from now, we will have our duel. That will be the night when the moon is full and magick can be most easily assessed and manifested. Good evening, ladies. It's been a pleasure.” Camron bowed deeply and swept out of the house with his warlocks.
As soon as they left, Melynda's voice returned. Immediately, she thundered to the front door and screeched a few choice curses out into the street, shaking her fists and making highly creative gestures with her fingers. The warlocks would have long gone by now, but that didn't stop Melynda. Nothing stopped Melynda, except maybe a Mute spell. And that was only temporary.
Jasynta slumped onto the sofa, suddenly exhausted. Anita went to sit by her side, holding both her hands. They both jerked their heads up when Lucinda awoke suddenly, her silvery gray eyes wide open and shining as they focused on Jasynta.
Lucinda uttered just three succinct words before she blinked and her eyes became rheumy and sleepy again.
“The Moon Flower.”
Then she sighed and patted her tangled knitting absently as she drifted back to sleep. Jasynta opened her mouth to question her grandmother, but Lucinda was already snoring loudly.
“Wha—” Confounded, Jasynta turned to Anita only to see her frowning deeply.
Anita was muttering to herself, “Does she expect you to find the Moon Flower? She must be getting senile.”
“What Moon Flower?” Melynda demanded, stomping back to the living room, having slammed and locked the front door.
“The Moon Flower is a very rare, powerful flower. It blooms just once every hundred years, always in a different realm. But it always blooms near a Gateway,” Anita explained.
“A Gateway? The entrance to another realm? Like the door between the spirit and mortal planes?” Jasynta asked. Witches were familiar with the various realms and planes, and some ceremonial magick called for and invited entities from other realms.
Anita nodded, looking at her two daughters. Such beautiful girls, so strong, but so stubborn. “The Moon Flower draws its power from the Gateway, absorbing the energies that flow between the realms. The psychic and metaphysical forces radiating through the Gateway feeds the Moon Flower, nourishing it and giving it the power to bloom once every century. It is rumored that it will bloom in our realm in this century. Some ancient witches can sense when the Moon Flower blooms.”
Jasynta chewed her lower lip as she stared at her mother and sister. “Even if Gran can sense the Moon Flower blooming in our realm, what does it have to do with...?”
“Duh, Jasynta.” Melynda rolled her eyes. “The Moon Flower is like the most powerful flower ever. It's like the mother of all magick! If you get your hands on just one petal of the Moon Flower, your powers will be increased—” Melynda stretched her arms wide and gestured wildly. “I don't know how many fold,” she snapped at last. “But you'd be like invincible!”
“Oh, but the power will only remain in that petal if the Moon Flower is not destroyed,” Anita cautioned. “If the Moon Flower is allowed to bloom fully then wane with the moon, the power will remain in the petal. But if the Moon Flower is destroyed, and not allowed to complete its natural life cycle in this realm, the power will be destroyed together with the Moon Flower.”
Jasynta sat bolt upright, her fatigue and puzzlement evaporating instantly. “The Moon Flower...” she began.
“...will help you win the duel!” Melynda concluded. “I'll find this Moon Flower for you, Jas,” Melynda told her. “You'll be so powerful, you'll reduce that weasel of a warlock Camron to a puddle just with a stare.”
“No, Mel, you can't.” Jasynta put a hand on her sister's arm.
“Why not?” Melynda said angrily, shaking off her hand. “You jumped in as proxy when I had that covered. Now you won't even let me go find this goddamn flower! What do you expect me to do? Just sit around and do nothing when our coven is being threatened?”
“No, Mel. I expect you to do a lot to protect our coven,” Jasynta said levelly. “You have to defend Mom and Gran if those sneaky warlocks come a-calling again. And you have to protect our rights. Cover all bases. Make sure that according to coven law and the laws of New Moon City, once I win the duel, Camron Quinn cannot attempt another takeover of our coven. And we are immune from further duels. We have proven our power and our capabilities, and that should be enough. See if New Moon City laws cover that. You work in a big city law firm, and you're the secretary to a hot shot lawyer who has just been appointed as the PAC's legal counsel, so you'd be better placed to get all this covered than me.”
Melynda's eyes widened. “Oh you are good,” she breathed. “I was so mad I didn't think of that.” A smile slowly appeared on her face, and she gave her elder sister a big hug. “Don't you worry, I'll do that! And I know, I just know, that you will find the Moon Flower. I will chant a protective spell for you every day. I will make sure we are all well protected here while you go fuel up for your duel with Carrot-top Camron. Teach him a lesson—a lesson that's been a long time coming! Jerk!”
Jasynta sighed and shrugged. This was no time to dwell on past hurts and humiliations. She had a duel coming up, a duel that she could not afford to lose. “Well, I'll leave the legal stuff to you, Mel. I'm just a bossy big sister, who is relying on flower power to win a duel.”
“Flower power is the second best kind of power,” Anita said solemnly, enveloping both her girls in a fierce hug. “Jasynta, you have to promise me that even if you can't find the Moon Flower, you will return to us safe and sound.”
“Yeah, okay,” Jasynta said distractedly. “Mom, you said flower power is the second best kind of power, so—what's the best kind of power?” She needed to get her hands on that kind of power, stat. The best, so she could win.
“Why, that would be love of course!” Anita said, squeezing her girls tighter.
When they finally broke free from their mother's smothering embrace, Jasynta sniffed the air. “I'm starving, and I smell Gran's magical potato stew. Shall we adjourn to the kitchen for supper?”
As their mother warmed up the stew over the stove, Jasynta chatted and gossiped with her sister, wanting to lighten up the mood around the kitchen table. “I saw your boss today, Mel,” Jasynta said, as she spooned sugar into three cups of coffee.
Melynda wrinkled her nose. “You saw Dax?”
“Yup. I'm sure you know that he's been appointed as the PAC's legal counsel,” Jasynta answered. “Dax Ferro doesn't look like a boss from hell. He seems very professional, very discerning and discreet,” Jasynta added, remembering what the lawyer might or might not have seen in the meeting room earlier this evening.
“Such a polite and promising young man,” Anita chimed in, putting down the steaming bowls on the table. “So well-mannered, well-groomed, capable, handsome and rich,” Anita cooed adoringly. “What more can a girl ask for?” Anita slanted a pointed look at Melynda.
Jasynta burst into chuckles as she dodged a piece of bread Melynda threw at her.
The stew was wonderful. As her mother and sister washed up after the meal and Jasynta cradled a warm mug of coffee in both ha
nds, she sighed and listened to Anita and Mel's banter. This night, this kitchen, the sound of easy conversation and laughter, would be a cherished memory to her. But it was more than just a memory, it was her ticket home.
For her to find her way home with her magick, she would have to embed an important scene in her subconscious. The setting, the sights, sounds and smells, the words and people, every detail had to be securely locked in her mind and her heart. This was the only way her Homing spell could return her to this exact place on time. But the setting wasn't enough. There had to be a powerful pulling emotion attached to the place.
Despite the weight she felt on her shoulders, Jasynta smiled. Her mother was right.
Love was the best kind of power.
From the hallway, Lucinda's calm, gentle snores could be heard. Her grandmother's snores were deep and steady, a constant, calming sound in the background. It almost sounded like the house itself was breathing, slumbering quietly as it held the family protectively in its embrace. The sound centered her, calmed her, steeled her. She was now buzzing with determination and purpose. She knew what she had to do. She had to get the Moon Flower.
Tomorrow, she would set off on her hunt for that elusive Moon Flower. She had no idea where to start and chances were slim that she would even find it. But she had to try. If there was a chance that the Moon Flower could help her win the duel, that she had to take the chance.
She would leave her home, her coven in the morning, and she would return. Before the third night, she would return. Even if her quest yielded nothing, she would return for the duel.
This was not a game.
This was a fight.
A fight she had to win. At all cost.
CHAPTER FIVE
The meeting room was empty. She was gone.
Bear Mate: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Page 4
