“Yes?”
Carolyn gave her a measured look, and Jules prepared to confess. Somehow Carolyn always knew everything. She’d agreed to hold off telling the truth, but she wouldn’t outright lie. Not to Carolyn.
But instead of busting her, she said, “Eden tells me you’ve been helping her practice.”
Jules flashed a smile and tried to keep the relief from her voice. “I’m trying. I know how important it is for her to do well.”
“It’s important for all of you to do well.”
“Of course, I just meant—”
“It’s all right. I know what you meant. And it’s no secret that I take special care with Eden’s advancement.” Carolyn sipped her punch. “I just wanted you to know that your dedication to your fellow sisters has not gone unnoticed.”
Jules beamed. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Keep it up, and I might just have to make you my assistant.”
Carolyn picked up a stuffed mushroom tart and left. Jules bit her lip to keep the grin from splitting her face.
She cast her eyes heavenward.
Thank you, Selene.
With the party in full swing, Eden took advantage of not being missed, leading Quinn to her bedroom.
“Something about sneaking into my girlfriend’s bedroom makes me feel like I’m in high school all over again.”
A tiny thrill shot up Eden’s spine at being called his girlfriend. He’d called her his girl before, but somehow this was different.
She wrapped her hands around his neck. “You should probably keep those stories to yourself.”
He blushed. “Right. Sorry.”
Quinn kissed her, long and deep then whispered in her ear. “How long can we be gone?”
Eden sighed. “Not that long.”
She pulled away from his embrace. “I just wanted to give you the tour.”
She held out her palm, and a sphere of light illuminated the darkened room.
Quinn smiled and shook his head. “That is just never going to get old.”
It was a small room, so there wasn’t much to show, but she pointed out the trellis that led to Sarah’s bedroom. They were on the ground floor, but the slope of the hill made her window too high up to reach from outside.
“She and Kai lucked out.”
“Are you saying you might enjoy an after-hours visit sometime?” Quinn’s eyes flashed.
“I’d love one.” She brushed her lips against his. “But like I said, it’s Sarah’s room that has the trellis.”
Quinn opened the window enough to stick his head out and take a look. “A tall enough man could reach from that trellis to this ledge.”
Glad that didn’t occur to me when I was afraid the borahn would come for me in my sleep.
Eden grinned. “Would that tall man want to pay a visit tomorrow night?”
After the ritual, she would be celebrating or in despair. Either was something she could share with her boyfriend.
That night, sleep eluded her. She tossed and turned, worried about failing the test. The one time she did fall under, she dreamt of being bound and woke drenched in sweat and gasping for air. It was a run-of-the-mill anxiety dream, and yet Eden knew in her gut it rang true. Living without magic would be like trying to survive without air.
She went to her dresser and retrieved the stone. Carolyn was right—she should use it. And she finally knew how.
Chapter 13
Eden turned the relic over in her palm. She still hated its appearance—hated the way it felt in her hand—but she’d managed use it to her advantage.
The gruesome face represented everything she didn’t want to be—twisted and tortured and dark. Carolyn had said naming her fears would give them less control over her, and Eden finally understood what she’d meant.
She’d been practicing since dawn and had finally gotten the hang of the spell. Holding the stone provided her a with physical reminder of what she needed to control. The darkness that—if she became a good enough person—she would leave behind for good.
Mastering the spell was still a fight, but after taking a short break for breakfast, she’d succeeded several times in a row. She’d even managed to prevent the nosebleeds.
Eden spent most of the day in her room—alternating between practicing and resting. Sarah had checked in on her once, seeming pale and complaining of a headache.
Now it was evening—time for the ritual.
She donned her crimson robe and ran her hand along the velvet sleeve. She’d earned that robe; it belonged to her. So did witchcraft, and she wouldn’t let it be taken from her. She slid the talisman into her pocket.
Sarah knocked once and popped her head in.
“Ready to make magic?”
“Are you okay?” Eden went to her, placing the back of her hand on Sarah’s forehead. “You look even worse than you did this morning.”
“Thanks.” Her mouth twisted, but it was half-hearted.
“You know what I mean. Do you want me to choose a different sister?”
Most initiates found the tests draining and chose a sister to catch them if they fell or fainted.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Sarah’s smile was weak as if she were working hard to sell it. “Besides, the whole house seems to feel like crap. Rebecca thinks it was the shrimp from last night.”
Good thing I didn’t have any.
“How about I just try not to faint?” Eden wrapped an arm around Sarah’s shoulder.
“You seem particularly chipper for a woman who might be on her way to the witchy equivalent of the stockade.”
Eden grinned. “Not to worry. I’ve got everything under control.”
Even the darkness.
Sarah was glad to see Eden so confident and wondered what had changed. She didn’t ask though; she was too busy trying not to stumble down the steps.
She’d woken up with a slight headache, but as the day wore on, her nausea had increased. She didn’t remember eating the shrimp, but something had affected the whole house. Everyone except Eden, but that was for the best. The way she’d been struggling with this spell, her friend needed all the help she could get.
The two descended the staircase leading to the basement antechamber, robes gliding over each step. They were the last ones to arrive, ducking into the ritual room just as Courtney was about to close the door.
“Cutting it a little close,” she whispered as they slipped past her. She, too, appeared green around the gills.
The basement was awash in candlelight. Three dozen witches stood in a circle around the pentagram. Minor rituals were optional, but when a specific skill was being tested, it was mandatory for every sister to be there. The more witches, the higher the vibration, Carolyn always said. And that meant a higher success rate. Carolyn was nothing if not dedicated to their success, which was the only reason Sarah wasn’t furious about the ultimatum she’d given Eden. It was a lot of pressure to put on her, but it seemed to have worked.
Eden stepped to her place in the circle and glanced over her shoulder at Sarah.
“You’re going to do great,” Sarah said.
To Eden’s right, Paige shook her head and muttered, “If you’re nervous, I am so screwed.”
“I’m not nervous.” Eden smoothed her robe. “It’s going to be fine.”
A wave of something washed over Sarah. It was nausea, but she wasn’t sure if that was all it was. The chanting started, and Sarah swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. She sincerely hoped Eden was right.
Testing rituals always began with chanting. It raised the energy and made the forces easier to summon.
Eden found herself getting lost in the experience—the beautiful sound and the way the candles bathed the room in an ethereal glow. That same light cast flickering shadows on the faces of her sisters. More than one had a hand on their bellies, appearing as if they could be sick at any moment.
A few minutes later, Carolyn spoke. “Tonight, you will be tested on yo
ur ability to create only that which you intend. You must be both balanced and disciplined. Have you each chosen a sister?”
All four girls nodded, and Eden glanced back at Sarah, who winked. Was it Eden’s imagination or did she look worse?
“You may begin,” Carolyn said.
Jules spoke first, a stick of lit incense in her hand. “We honor and call on the element of air.” She traced the incense over the red pentagram drawn on the floor; its delicately spiced fragrance tickled Eden’s nostrils. “May your essence bless us and bring clarity to our circle.”
When she finished, Jules passed the incense to Alex, who placed it on the altar. While there, she retrieved a small bowl of salt and sprinkled it around the outer rim of the pentagram.
“We honor and call on the element of earth. May your essence bless us and bring stability to our circle.”
Alex replaced the bowl of salt and retrieved a candle from the altar. She handed it to Eden, and even though she, too, seemed ill, she had a smirk on her face.
Yeah, yeah, I’m a firebug.
Eden accepted the candle and tried to remain reverent as she knelt, placing it in the center of the pentagram.
“We honor and call on the element of fire. May your essence bless us and bring passion to our circle.”
Eden retook her place while Alex passed Paige a bowl of water. Paige dipped her fingers into it and sprinkled a few drops onto the pentagram.
“We honor and call on the element of water. May your essence bless us and bring your intuition to our circle.”
In unison, all of the sisters intoned, “So mote it be.”
“Alex, you may begin.” Carolyn nodded in her direction.
Mentors participated in rituals and always went first.
Alex didn’t even close her eyes, but an array of intricate colors swirled and danced in front of her.
“Well done,” Carolyn said, then turned to Paige and inclined her head.
Paige shut her eyes and furrowed her brow, but nothing happened. Even when she didn’t appear faint, Paige didn’t perform well under pressure.
“Deep breath.” Carolyn’s voice was calm, soothing. “Relax.”
Eden sensed a trace of the power behind the command and felt the tension drain from her own shoulders. She wondered just how often Carolyn used compulsion to get her way.
Paige’s face softened, and a moment later, a translucent daisy bobbed in the air in front of her. When Carolyn gave her the okay to release, Paige slumped back and leaned against Nicole.
Where was Rebecca?
Jules went next, and the familiar jewel floated in front of her as quickly as Alex’s fireworks had. When she finished, she beamed with pride but pressed a hand to her belly, looking as ill as the others.
Carolyn glanced at Eden expectantly, each knowing what was at stake. Eden swallowed around a sudden lump in her throat.
She closed her eyes and opened herself to the light—felt it filling her, vibrating throughout every atom. Her breath caught at the overwhelming longing to lose herself completely and abandon the murky existence of everyday life.
Darkness stalked her at the edges, but she shoved it aside. She wouldn’t let it in—wouldn’t allow it to control her—not now, or ever again. She opened even more to the light and squeezed the stone in her pocket.
There is no place for you here.
She heard a sister moan, but the sound was far away, wrapped as she was in the light.
The sphere was so bright that even behind closed eyelids, she saw it burst to life in front of her. It grew bigger and bigger—
“Eden, release!”
Carolyn’s words cut through to her core, and she obeyed, letting go of the sphere and opening her eyes.
But the sphere did not let go of her.
The orb grew larger, and Eden gasped as tentacles of light reached inside of her. A moment later, it completely enveloped her.
Terror seized her heart. What was happening?
From far away she heard girls retching and Carolyn yelling at her to let go, but there was nothing she could do. She was drowning in light.
Her mind worked frantically. No longer afraid of losing magic, now she was terrified of being swallowed whole.
She was being ripped apart—muscles and tendons stretched to capacity. When she opened her mouth to scream, light rushed inside, and she choked on it.
In the center of the circle, a fissure erupted, spewing a stream of black energy. Within it, flecks of silver shimmered like glitter thrown against black velvet.
Eden’s heart beat wildly as she struggled to breathe. All around her, sisters moaned and clutched their stomachs or heads. Blood dripped from Sarah’s nose, but she didn’t appear to notice—her attention fixed on the dark orb. Carolyn stared too, the only one not suffering.
The orb drew in on itself, becoming more and more solid until it coalesced into the shape of a man, dressed all in black. Eden’s breath caught, and some of the girls gasped. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen—a statue of Adonis come to life.
“What the…” Even Alex was at a loss for words.
Paige wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and gave Eden a sideways glance. “Since when are we allowed to conjure hot guys?”
Eden opened her mouth to explain that she’d done no such thing, but her eyes rolled back in her head, and everything went black.
Chapter 14
Sarah caught Eden just before her head hit the stone floor.
“Well, this is a surprise.” The man—was it a man? Sarah didn’t sense a glamour, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a demon. “Whom do I have to thank for this little excursion?”
A dangerous sense of grace surrounded him, and the room fell eerily silent. The only sound was that of his boots scraping across the floor.
He scanned the room, his dark eyes studying each girl until they locked on Eden. Hers fluttered open.
“What happened?” Eden stared up at Sarah, bewildered.
Sarah was about to tell her she didn’t know, when the man spoke.
“That was quite a journey. You must be a witch of considerable power. I am sorry to have weakened you.”
Eden struggled to rise, but her limbs didn’t seem to cooperate. Sarah pressed against her back, helping her sit up.
The man took a step toward her, but a ribbon of thick, green light shot from Carolyn’s hand and wrapped around the intruder, settling into his flawless skin.
He cast Carolyn a quizzical look. “Have things changed since I was last here? Is it now customary to bind a guest?”
“Only the unexpected ones.” Carolyn stepped between him and Eden. “How is it you’ve come here?”
He inclined his head. “Please, I am happy to answer your questions, but first let us tend to your charge. I am quite skilled with healing…”
“Thank you, but we’ll manage.” Carolyn spared the sisters the briefest of glances. “Ladies, leave us. Jules, help Sarah with Eden. I will speak with our guest alone.”
The young women looked around with uncertainty, but the compulsion in Carolyn’s command forced them toward the door. They filed out, whispering and casting backward glances.
Sarah and Jules helped Eden to her feet, the three of them with the same question painting their faces.
Who was he and how did he get here?
The last thing Sarah wanted to do was leave Carolyn, but she found herself walking toward the door.
“At least allow me to introduce myself.” He bowed formally. “I am Bes’tal, at your service.”
“Forgive my manners.” Carolyn waved at Eden and the other two to keep going but didn’t take her eyes off Bes’tal. “But I must insist you go from this place. Immediately.”
Sarah and the others kept walking, their eyes never leaving the standoff on the middle of the room.
“But I have only just arrived.” Bes’tal’s smile was dazzling, his presence so dark it absorbed the light around him. “And I hate to leave a party e
mpty-handed.”
The ribbon of light shattered, and the door leading to the antechamber slammed shut with Jules on the outside and Eden and Sarah trapped inside.
“What’s going on?” Eden’s voice was thick, her eyes still glassy.
She stumbled, but Sarah kept her from falling. “I don’t know. But I don’t think it’s good.”
A ball of fire bloomed in Carolyn’s hand, and she hurled it at Bes’tal’s chest.
He raised a hand, and the fireball stopped mid-air and exploded, showering the room with sparks.
“You are forcing me to be a bad guest.” Bes’tal sent flows of air to wrap around Carolyn. Sarah couldn’t see them, but she felt the spell. “I meant to take what is mine and leave you in peace.”
Carolyn struggled against her bindings to no avail. “There is nothing here that belongs to—”
Her mouth strained around an invisible gag.
Bes’tal chuckled. “Ah, that is where you are wr—”
A small fireball glanced Bes’tal’s shoulder, and he growled. He spun around, searching for its origin.
Alex stepped from the shadows as she readied another blow, but a flick of his hand sent her careening across the floor.
Sarah’s heart pounded, her mind grasping for ideas.
“I’m tapped out,” Eden whispered, sounding more like herself.
“Take mine.” Sarah grabbed Eden’s hand.
Eden hadn’t learned to link yet, but Sarah had, and she sent power to her friend. It wouldn’t be enough to light the stranger on fire, but they had to do something. Bes’tal was advancing on Alex as she struggled to get up.
Eden’s eyes narrowed, and Sarah realized her friend was focusing on an ornate dagger that hung on the wall. A second later it sailed through the air, headed for the spot between Bes’tal’s shoulder blades.
It should have been a killing blow, but a split-second before it struck home, Bes’tal spun and held up his hand. The blade stopped an inch in front of him.
He studied Eden and Sarah and smirked. The blade spun around and reversed course, slicing through the air. Sarah froze, but Eden yanked her out of its path.
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