by Donna Grant
“My ward and heir,” he replied. “I swore to get retribution for what she did. I’d set aside battle. Had intended to go to bed each night washing off dirt, not blood. Yet, she changed all that by killing Josef.”
“To get you to chase after her.”
He frowned as he realized Brigitta had said exactly that. His mind was still processing what had happened, the reality of it difficult to grasp through the haze of pain he’d been under. “That doesn’t make sense. She could’ve killed me then. Or taken me, even.”
“Whatever she wants you for, you cannot fall into the Coven’s hands.”
“Aye. I’ve no wish to help them, even before I knew who they were.”
Leoma reached for her waterskin and drank before leaning forward to hand it to him. “This is my first time hunting alone. I’m after Brigitta for killing my best friend. Meg wasn’t a Hunter. She chose another path at the abbey. She often came with me on my missions, though, more as an excuse to see some of the world than anything else.”
“Did she know how to defend herself, at least?” Braith asked.
“Aye. Radnar wouldn’t have allowed her to come otherwise. We came across Brigitta and another witch. I went one way, while Ravyn, another Hunter, went another. The attack was unplanned, but we saw that the witches were targeting children, so we had no choice but to intervene right then. I told Meg to go left and said I would go right to corner one of the witches. Except when I found Meg, Brigitta was standing over her. She had beheaded my best friend.”
Braith knew all about guilt, and Leoma carried plenty of it. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“It was. Had I not made Meg separate from me, she would still be alive. She didn’t want to go alone.”
“You can second-guess yourself for the rest of your life, but you will never know what might have happened had the two of you remained together. You both might be dead.”
Leoma nodded as she looked at the bread. “Radnar said the same thing. I thought he might stop me from hunting Brigitta, but he didn’t.”
“Anyone who has fought in battle has lost someone as you have. We all carry and feel the weight of regret and sorrow. As well as the need for revenge.”
“It looks like we have the same goals when it comes to Brigitta,” Leoma said.
Braith grinned at the thought of fighting side by side with her. “Shall we band together then?”
“Aye.”
Chapter 7
London
Fear. Its claws were sunk deep into Brigitta, making her heart thump in dread and turning her blood to ice.
Yet she kept it all locked behind a mask she’d perfected years ago. She stared out the second-story window of the house, her gaze drawn to the Thames and the ships arriving.
Behind her, a door opened. Brigitta steeled herself and turned to face her mentor. Eleanor’s steely gray eyes held no warmth. Her long, narrow face was set in a relentless frown of disappointment.
The only time Brigitta had ever seen Eleanor’s thin lips curve into what passed for a grin was when Brigitta was a young girl and some witches trapped Edra. Somehow, Edra had won against three witches that day. And Eleanor’s wrath was catastrophic.
“You’re alone.”
Two words. That’s all Eleanor said. But in them, Brigitta heard displeasure, irritation, and anger. Though she was ready to tell her side of the story, Brigitta had learned not to speak until Eleanor gave her leave.
As one of the Coven’s council of elders, Eleanor chose to be stationed in London to keep an eye on the royals and anyone who arrived in the city. That meant Eleanor was invited to all the parties and social events others yearned to attend. With the elder’s husband—a duke—she easily walked in the upper circles of society.
Brigitta watched as Eleanor ran her hand down her red silk gown, the sunlight coming through the windows glinting off the large ruby on her finger.
Eleanor’s lips pinched in a sneer. Whatever beauty she’d held while younger fled long ago. She had the superior attitude of most of the nobility, and she wasn’t afraid to let it show.
“Where is Helena? More importantly, where is Braith?” Eleanor demanded.
Still, Brigitta waited to speak. It didn’t matter that her mentor posed questions. To try and reply now would mean getting struck with a rather nasty dose of magic. That had only happened once. Brigitta learned quickly to wait.
Eleanor glared at her for a long moment before she tilted her head of gray hair. “Speak.”
In some ways, Brigitta would have rather remained silent. No matter what she said, there would be reprisal. Since Eleanor appeared to be in a particularly nasty mood, Brigitta would likely feel the pain of her punishment for a long time.
She took a deep breath and said, “Braith followed me just as I knew he would. I lured him into the Witch’s Grove as we planned. It took him longer than expected, so he was there when Janet and Mary arrived with Helena.”
“And that matters to me, why?” Eleanor demanded.
“He was not alone.”
Eleanor clasped her hands before her and sighed loudly. “So?”
“It was a Hunter.”
The slight tremble in Eleanor’s hands was unmistakable, even if she did quickly move them behind her. Brigitta knew the Hunters were becoming a nuisance, but now she wondered just how much they had interfered with the Coven’s plans.
“How did the Hunters find Braith?” Eleanor asked.
Though Brigitta was loath to correct her, she had no choice. “Hunter. Just one. And I don’t know.”
“One Hunter?” Eleanor asked with her lips peeled back in revulsion. “You allowed a single Hunter to get the best of you?”
“You forget, Helena was among us. The Hunter freed her, and they quickly dispatched Janet and Mary. The female Hunter was quick and very good. I wasn’t able to get to Braith. I chose to return and give my report, knowing that I could find Braith again since I wounded him.”
“You saved your own arse, is what you did,” Eleanor stated harshly.
Brigitta didn’t deny it. She didn’t want to die, and between the Hunter and Helena, the possibility had been real. She’d feared for her life for the first time since she discovered her magic.
“Are we to guess that Helena is with the Hunter now?”
Brigitta refused to fidget beneath her mentor’s rigid gaze. “I cannot say one way or the other.”
“You should be happy you have reached the third level and have become an important part of the Coven. Otherwise, I’d kill you on the spot.”
Brigitta didn’t fear that threat. The Coven needed witches. At one time, a witch would have been struck down painfully for such a failure, no matter where they were in the hierarchy. Now, with the elders having their sights set on such a grand plan, it was more important to have the numbers than to reprimand someone.
“However,” Eleanor continued, pausing a moment. “You won’t get by completely unscathed.”
Brigitta steeled herself, preparing for whatever pain Eleanor wished to inflict. It was the sudden look of delight that narrowed Eleanor’s eyes that made Brigitta tremble in trepidation.
“Ready yourself. My husband will be home soon. He’s been asking for you since your last punishment.”
Brigitta wanted to scream, to hurl insults and magic at Eleanor. She could handle anything but having to service Walter. He was a disgusting individual whose breath smelled as foul as his body.
“What are you waiting for?” Eleanor demanded.
Brigitta kept her head high as she walked past Eleanor. All the while, she planned how she intended to find Braith and the Hunter. Before she brought the earl to Eleanor, Brigitta planned to inflict every spell she knew on the Hunter, killing her slowly.
Eleanor waited until Brigitta ascended the stairs to the third floor of bedrooms, then she made her way back into the chamber she used for her magic.
She walked to a small, round table with a black bowl in the middle. The water lay still as glass
within. She put her forefinger in the water and moved it in a circle three times to call to the other elders.
As the ripples raced across the surface, she said, “Sisters, I have news. Unfortunately, Brigitta failed. Braith is not in my possession, and neither is Helena. She fought against our witches, so I suppose we know where we stand with her.”
The water stilled, only to ripple from the middle out as the voice of Catherine came through the water. “Shall I send someone?”
“I promised to bring Braith in, and I shall do it,” Eleanor announced. Even if she had to go find him herself.
No sooner had the water stilled than Eleanor heard Matilda. “We must have Braith. There is no other option. Without him, we’ve failed.”
Eleanor gripped the edge of the table tightly. “When have I ever let any of you down?”
“Never,” Angmar replied. “You have a second chance, Eleanor. Do not fail us.”
Eleanor put her hands on the bowl to halt the water, ending the communication. Spinning around, she paced the length of the room as her mind raced with thoughts.
Her feet halted when she heard the stairs creak under the weight of her portly husband as he made his way up to his chamber. She could’ve used her magic to make herself beautiful and secure a handsome husband. She could’ve used her powers to make herself young and vibrant.
Instead, she used them to advance her husband in order to secure herself. But that only took a small portion of her magic. The rest she used for the Coven because they were after something much more than youth. They were after the means to pull the magic from any witch who wasn’t part of the Coven.
Only those within the Coven would be allowed to pass magic on to their offspring. No one else would ever have abilities. It would ensure that the Coven became untouchable. Their power and might would be widespread.
And absolute.
But first, they needed Braith.
Eleanor was furious that the earl had gotten away from Brigitta. How had he come to know a Hunter? Brigitta had spent weeks studying Braith and his ward, Josef. She’d never mentioned any sign of Hunters.
Since Eleanor didn’t believe in coincidences, she wanted to find the explanation for how Braith and this Hunter came to travel together. The sooner the Coven got him away from the Hunters, the better.
The Hunters had become increasingly problematic. If only the council could find out who was training them and how they were getting their weapons. If the Coven could discover what witches were helping them, then they could eradicate the rebellious idiots.
If the witches didn’t have to worry about the Hunters, then they could succeed in their plan sooner rather than later. As it was, the infernal Hunters were sticking their noses where they didn’t belong.
Eleanor waited until she heard the light steps of Brigitta coming down the stairs. Eleanor waved her hand, the magic opening the door. Brigitta paused and looked inside the room.
Eleanor motioned the witch inside. “I take it my husband is satisfied.”
“Completely,” Brigitta replied, stony-faced.
“Good. Now, tell me, how do you feel about finding the Hunter who caused you to fail in your mission?”
Brigitta’s blue eyes lit with rage and retribution. “I was going to ask if I could go after her.”
“If she and Braith are together, which I believe they are, you should be able to get both of them.”
“I’ll be sure to make the Hunter suffer.”
Eleanor lifted a hand to halt Brigitta from turning away. “The Hunter will be brought to me. I’ve questions for her. And she will give them.”
“Then I can kill her?”
“I doubt she will survive my interrogation, but if she does, the Hunter is all yours.”
Brigitta’s nostrils flared as she gave a curt nod. “Then I hope she withstands your torture.”
“Find them. Quickly.”
Brigitta nodded and turned on her heel to walk out. Eleanor followed her out of the chamber and watched the young witch descend the stairs.
“How bad is it?” Walter asked behind her.
She turned her head to look at the top of the landing. “Bad. She lost Braith and another witch.”
“There’s more.”
“A Hunter.”
Walter grunted as he moved his bulk and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “They’re becoming a problem.”
“You don’t need to tell me what I already know.”
“Then do something about it.”
She glared at him. While some witches chose to keep their husbands out of their business, she had recognized Walter’s shrewd, clever mind that made up for his lack of decent features.
“I intend just that. And I’m going to find out who is in charge of these Hunters.”
He smiled at her, one side of his large jowls moving with his mouth. “I adore your ruthlessness, my dear.”
“Because it exceeds your own?” she asked with a quirked brow.
Walter chuckled. “Exactly. Together, no one will ever get the upper hand. My family clawed our way to our dukedom. But I’ve my eye on the crown.”
“All in good time. I’m going to keep tabs on Brigitta.”
“Let me come with you. We do this together.”
She stared at him, debating whether to leave him behind, but he did have his uses. “Be ready to travel. Once she finds Braith and this Hunter, I intend to bring them in myself.”
“You no longer trust Brigitta?”
“The Hunter got the upper hand. Granted, Helena helped, but it was still three of our witches against them.”
Walter pushed away from the wall. “I’ll have the servants start packing for us immediately.”
Eleanor rubbed her hands together. The Coven was so close to getting what they wanted that she could practically taste it.
Chapter 8
Teaming up with the knight had never been in Leoma’s plans. Then again, she knew the best way to defeat an enemy was to adjust course whenever necessary.
And having Braith fight with her was the best decision.
At least she could keep an eye on him instead of trying to fight him as well as Brigitta. Now that he knew what he would be going up against, she suspected Braith could be a good ally.
She finished her bread as she observed him. While it wasn’t her first time seeing a man’s bare chest since she trained with males at the abbey, this was different.
Braith was different.
No matter how much she tried to tell herself that he was only a man, just like Radnar or any of the others at the abbey, he wasn’t.
Braith might look at the world like a knight at home in battle. But he also carried himself like a man who looked death in the eye. Then spat at it.
Those qualities appealed to her on a primal level. He caused her heart to thump wildly, and her blood to rush through her. She was drawn to him. Without rhyme or reason, she could feel herself gravitating toward him.
She was shocked and alarmed at the way her body reacted to him. But even she couldn’t deny the exhilaration that being near him brought.
The glimpse she had of his chest made her recall how she had spread his ruined tunic to get a better look at him earlier. Even now, she wished to see the rest of him.
Her mouth went dry when his indigo eyes met hers after he inspected his hand once more. It took her two attempts to swallow. She wished she knew what he was thinking.
His chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath and released it. “What’s our next move?”
“We wait.”
“Wait?” A dark brow shot up in question.
She couldn’t help but grin. Of course, he wouldn’t agree. She expected as much, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last time. “Aye.”
“Why?”
“The main reason is that we know Brigitta wants you for something.”
Braith crossed his arms over his chest, his lips flattening in displeasure. “I’m bait.”
“Is that a proble
m?”
“Nay,” he said tightly. Then he asked, “And the other reason?”
Leoma looked in the direction of the Witch’s Grove. “I’ve seen witches do many things with magic, but I’ve never seen one use it to disappear.”
“That was...shocking.”
“She could’ve gone anywhere.” And that bothered Leoma greatly. She slid her gaze back to Braith. “We have no way of tracking her.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Consider me bait, then.”
They shared a grin. She hadn’t expected him to be so accommodating. Most men were used to being in control. The idea of a woman running things generally went against everything a man knew. Especially men like Braith.
Then again, maybe he was smart enough to know that if he wanted to stay out of the Coven’s hands, he needed her. Or they needed each other since he had no experience with witches.
Leoma wasn’t sure what to make of the emotions that swirled seductively within her. Having his eyes on her did strange and amazing things. Heat and...need glided through her. Slowly. Seductively.
“Tell me I don’t have to return to that place again,” Braith said. “What did you call it? A Witch’s Grove.”
His question made her inwardly shake herself to pull out of the desire consuming her. “Aye. They’re not numerous, thankfully. But the larger the Coven grows, the more Groves appear. I don’t like those places, so I won’t be going back unless I have to.”
He nodded slowly. “That’s reassuring.”
“How did you feel when you came upon it?”
His forehead furrowed, and his gaze narrowed as he looked at the ground. “I saw where you had stood. It wasn’t until I looked up and realized how close the trees were that I recoiled. The next thing I noticed was how dark it appeared.”
“You sensed the evil.”
His gaze returned to her. “Aye.”
“And still you walked inside.”
He dropped his arms and stretched his legs out before him. Then he shifted to the side and braced himself on one elbow. “I knew if I followed your trail that you would lead me to Brigitta. And you went into that place. Evil or not, I had no other choice.”
