But as I stepped into the clearing, I knew I would never be ready. No amount of time could’ve lessened the blow of being here again.
I stopped and closed my eyes to try and shut out the memories forcing their way back up. My heart pounded unsteadily in my chest and my breathing was shaky. My chest tightened. But I had to hold myself together. We had a mission. A job to do and we couldn’t risk losing again. Because Joseph had won already…first with bombing the school, then those innocent humans, and then tonight at the compound. I didn’t know what had happened that gave him the upper hand, but we needed to get it back.
I just hated that it had brought us back here.
Even though this was where it all began with Joseph.
This was where he’d killed Timothy.
Emotions surged inside, and I had to force them back down. I couldn’t afford to fall apart here. Not right now. Tegan needed us all on our A-game. She’d had another one of her crazy ideas, and we were all on board to try it. We even brought extra backup just in case. Warner, Trey, Harlan, Gen, and Lennox had become Coven assistants these last few weeks, and I was grateful for their help.
“All right, everyone knows the plan, right?” Tennessee said softly.
I opened my eyes and looked around as everyone else nodded. Their faces were grim and focused. We all knew what was at stake. We all knew now without a doubt what Joseph was capable of and just how far he was willing to go.
It had taken a couple hours to get everyone settled in the Great Hall, and for Tegan to get the potion brewed and ready. I had no idea what time it was exactly, but somewhere between midnight and sunrise. Even with Henley drawing the moon bigger and closer, it was still too dark for comfort. I’d never been afraid of the dark before, but Joseph had changed that. I couldn’t help but think he was lurking in the shadows, blending in with the night.
Stop that. Focus on the plan.
The plan. I knew the plan. Tegan was going to do her thing, and I was going to be on guard, ready to kill anything that moved. I pulled my sword from its holster and let the cool touch of metal ease some of my tension. Running the show wasn’t my job anymore, thankfully. I got to focus on what I did best—fighting. I took a deep breath then exhaled slowly.
Last time, we didn’t know Joseph was a threat. We do now. We won’t have another loss like Timothy. We’re prepared now.
Bettina sniffled beside me.
I frowned and looked down…and found her staring at her hands.
I stepped closer, then whispered, “Bettina?”
Her lips trembled. “I still see his blood on my hands,” she cried, tears running down her cheeks.
An earthquake rattled through my body, scorching a path through my bones. My chest tightened. My eyes burned. Bloody hell, keep it together. Come on, Jackson. But those tears on her cheeks were breaking me. I reached down and took both of her hands in mine, then squeezed.
She gasped and looked up at me. Her blue eyes glistened with unshed tears.
I held her stare. “Let’s end this…for him.”
She nodded.
“Okay, I’m going to hide here, so they don’t see me,” Tegan said as she crouched down at the far end of the clearing in front of some tall bushes. “Tenn, stand directly across from me. You’re the bait.”
“Poor fish,” Royce mumbled and everyone nodded.
Tenn did as she’d said and stood directly in front of her so there was only about twenty feet between them. “I’m not going any farther from you, so don’t ask.”
Tegan smirked. She shook her head then turned her attention behind him. “Bettina and Henley, stand on either side of him and wrap your arm through his, then together, the two of you call on his power and recite the spell.”
Bettina nodded then looked back to me. She smiled and squeezed my hand, then pulled hers free and walked over to stand on Tenn’s left side. She wrapped her arm around his and gripped his bicep. Then to my surprise, she glanced over her shoulder to me. Our eyes met, and then she looked at the ground right behind her. Then back to me.
My heart did that weird flutter thing again. She wanted me close by. That shouldn’t tear me open so much, but it did. I swallowed through the emotions climbing up my throat and nodded. Then I slowly moved to stand right behind her. She sighed and her shoulders dropped, like my presence calmed her. Well, slap me sideways with a shovel.
“Lennox and Harlan, cover us with anything you’ve got.” Tegan pointed to her left and right. “When they come through, I’ll hit ‘em with the potion. Everyone else, stand guard and pray this works. Got it? We ready?”
Everyone nodded.
Tegan exhaled then nodded. “Deacon, it’s time. Summon our friends.”
Deacon stepped out from the group behind me and marched over to stand next to Henley. Emersyn followed after him, gripping the back of his sweater. Flames wrapped around her wrists and danced up the sides of her arms and on the tips of her blonde hair. The gold of her eyes was liquid metal and full of rage and power. She may have been quieter than her twin, but she was just as deadly and dangerous.
“Razzle dazzle time,” Deacon mumbled. He cracked his knuckles then threw his hands out in front of him. “Playtime, Joey. Come and get us.”
Red lightning cracked through the clearing like spiderwebs. His magic slithered across the ground and into the forest like a crimson wave. It wasn’t directed at me, but I felt the sudden urge to move closer to him. I shook it off and focused in front of me at the edge of the clearing. At where Tegan was crouched, hidden by the forest only a few feet in front of the gate into the Old Lands.
Deacon chanted low in the ancient language, and it sounded more like the purr of a cat. My pulse quickened. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone fidget and move around. They drew their weapons and got into fighting stance. Devon projected herself to stand in a loop around us, covering our backs. Tegan had said we couldn’t put up a protection circle. She’d said we needed to appear vulnerable—which I was not comfortable with at all but was trying to trust her.
A cold gust of wind ripped through the clearing, rushing over my face and blowing Bettina’s hair into me. The moon brightened until it looked like twilight, and there was enough light to see everything clearly.
Deacon’s red mist flickered, and then shadows raced toward us. I tightened my grip on my sword and got into position. The energy flowing out of my Coven-mates grew tense and thick. Trey glanced around nervously. Warner glared between the trees. Yellow-green sparks flashed from Lennox’s wand.
The shadows shot around the trees then leapt over the bushes and over Tegan. She threw her arms up, and a wall of glittery water slammed into the shadowy figures. Bettina and Henley shouted in the ancient language, but I paid no attention to the words they said. The shadows sank to the grass and morphed into their corporeal human forms.
Tegan hit them a second time with another wall of water.
They dropped to their knees and hissed. Smoke billowed out from their bodies like water on a bonfire. The shadow-men screamed and clawed at their bodies. They threw their heads back, and their spines arched. The one in front looked like a grizzlier version of Tennessee with long wavy hair and a thick beard. He balled his hands into fists and punched the ground. His muscles tightened and pulsed as he screamed.
Colorful smoke shot out of them.
Deacon gasped. “It’s not working!”
“STOP!” Tennessee shouted.
Bettina and Henley stopped chanting immediately.
Tenn pulled his arms free of the girls and thrust his palms forward. A glowing white ball of magic shot out of him and hit the big shadow-guy in the chest. He gasped and flew back onto his ass. Tegan cursed and threw her arm up. Water poured from her palm. Tenn flicked his wrists, and the water rushed toward him. He waved his arms, dropping rain on each of the screaming shadow-men.
It's not working! Tegan screamed into our minds. It’s not supposed to hurt!
My stomach rolled. It felt wrong to car
e since they’d killed innocent people. But it wasn’t who we were. We were only trying to save this army of Joseph’s, not torture them.
They gasped and clutched their stomachs, smoke still wrapping around them.
Something roared from within the trees like a herd of hungry, pissed-off lions. Big, black shadows rushed toward us from within the trees. It was a wall of darkness coming straight at us.
“Joseph,” I heard myself whisper.
“He’s coming,” Warner growled. “He’s coming.”
Willow’s breath was ragged as she appeared suddenly beside me. “What do we do?”
“We trapped ourselves!” Cooper cursed and moved to stand behind Tenn. “We need to get gone NOW.”
The shadow-men kneeling before us gasped. Their eyes widened, and then they turned to shadows and vanished.
The big one in the front gripped the grass like he was holding on. His eyes bulged out and he growled, “J-Jos-seph!” And then he vanished into a black cloud.
Warner spun and sprinted toward us.
“Tegan, portal us out of here now!” Cooper yelled.
And then I saw him. Joseph. He loomed up behind Tegan, towering over her and moving in too fast. He was only a few feet away. We were under attack, and we’d trapped ourselves in their home court. They were too close. We couldn’t portal away now or risk bringing them with us.
“TEGAN, MOVE!” Hunter yelled.
Trey cursed and dove for her. He grabbed her under her armpits—and threw her right into Joseph’s arms.
WHAT?!!!!
Joseph snatched her out of the air then vanished.
Then Trey turned to face me. He looked me right in the eyes then snapped his fingers—and morphed into that little blonde girl in the frilly dress.
“You’ll pay for this,” he/she snarled, then dove into the shadows and disappeared from sight.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Bettina
“NOOO!” I screamed as Trey vanished. “TEGAN!”
NO NO NO NO NO! TEGAN!! Oh Goddess, no!
We all jumped forward at the same time, but a glowing object sped past us before I even landed my first step. Tennessee. Just as he was nearing the edge of the clearing, he pushed off the ground and leapt—
Tegan appeared still crouched under the bushes. She jumped up and tackled Tennessee.
Bright white light flashed all around us…and then we were suddenly in Coven Headquarters. Tennessee and Tegan crashed onto the coffee table, smashing it to pieces. My feet hit the rug and I stumbled forward. Jackson’s arms wrapped around my waist like he was trying to catch me, but we both slammed into the side of the couch and fell to the ground.
The second we stopped moving, I pushed up and scrambled back to my feet. “TEGAN!”
She coughed from under Tennessee, but he was already rolling off of her.
“I’m here. I’m fine,” she croaked. “Oh, Goddess, I think you broke a rib, babe.”
Tennessee was on all fours coughing and gagging. His face was pale. “TEGAN, WHAT THE HELL!” he yelled as he pushed up onto his feet.
I gasped and rushed to my best friend. I pulled her to her feet then ran my hands over her. “You’re okay? How? What happened? He threw you!”
“Actually, he threw me.” Devon sighed and ran her hands through her hair. She wiggled her fingers, and a projection appeared next to her—but it was Tegan. “Or, kind of me.”
“WHAT?!” we all shouted.
“That was FAKE?” I screamed and shoved her arm. “WHAT!”
Tegan grinned. “Mom, you were incredible. I mean, you really nailed my facial expressions and everythi—”
“ARE YOU SHITTING ME, TEGAN?” Tennessee screamed then bent over and put his hands on his knees. He turned an icky shade of green like he was going to vomit, then he gagged. “Dear God, woman.”
“Are you saying that was all fake?” Royce yelled and tugged on his hair.
Henley shook her head. “Shit, even I didn’t see that one coming.”
“I don’t know how you do it, sweetheart. I’m not cut out for that kind of deception,” Devon said with a laugh, shaking her head. “My heart was racing the whole time.”
“How do you think we feel?!” Cooper groaned and scrubbed his face. “What the hell just happened, Tegan?”
Hunter cursed, and his face was almost as green as Tenn’s. “Where the hell were you that whole time?”
Tegan shrugged. “I cloaked myself from sight then stayed next to Mom’s projection of me. So you heard my voice and obviously saw my magic—”
Tennessee groaned. His face was even paler. “You have— You have to start…telling me these—” He gagged, then sprinted out of the room.
My heart was racing out of control. I shook my head. “So…so you’re saying…that wasn’t you. Trey— Oh my, God. TREY.”
The room fell silent for a moment as that weighed down on us.
Trey had betrayed us.
Trey was that little blonde girl who kidnapped those people.
Trey was with Joseph.
It didn’t make any sense. Trey was our friend—
I gasped and spun around toward Jackson and Warner. My heart sank. They both sat on the ground in front of the fireplace staring at the ground. They looked broken. Utterly gutted and destroyed. Trey had been their friend, and they’d been a trio for so long. Jackson had told me Trey was his closest friend after Warner.
And he’d betrayed them.
He’s a spy.
“Yeah, he was,” Tegan whispered.
I’d spoken out loud again, but it didn’t matter. I felt… I felt… I had no words for this. I didn’t know what to do with this. Our friend. A person we trusted…betrayed us. He threw my best friend right into Joseph’s waiting arms. What if that had been her for real?
My stomach turned. I went over and sat on the brick ledge in front of the fireplace, right between Jackson and Warner, then I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around their shoulders. I held them tight. If I felt gutted by Trey’s actions, then I couldn’t imagine how they felt.
I looked around at my Coven-mates and found my shell shock echoed on their faces.
Lennox closed her eyes and shook her head, then sank down to the ground and leaned against the chair. “I can’t believe this… Trey?”
Gen dropped down beside her, her eyes brimming with angry, unshed tears. “He tried to kill us all in the Old Lands. You realize that, right? Erin. Erin is dying because of him. He fed us right to him!”
Harlan squeezed his eyes shut and leaned his forehead against the wall. “Timothy.”
I pulled Warner and Jackson closer, tighter.
Silence.
Cooper cursed and smashed a vase on the mantel.
Kessler exhaled a shaky breath then plopped down on the couch. “How did you know? I’m assuming you knew, since you knew to trick him.”
Tegan grimaced and shook her head. “I had a gut feeling the second I heard Timothy was killed, even before I knew Bettina was the suspect in custody. Something was off about it. Then when I heard their story… I don’t know… I just knew. I knew one of the five of them was a traitor. I just didn’t know which one.”
Warner groaned and it sounded like a wounded animal. He buried his face in his hands. “He kidnapped me! My own friend of ten years.”
My heart broke for them. For us. For every one of the victims.
“I knew it wasn’t Bettina. And I knew it wasn’t Lancaster—”
“But you thought it could’ve been one of us,” Genevieve said in a half-dead sounding voice.
“I didn’t know you, Harlan, or Trey. I didn’t want to think it, but I’ve learned not to ignore my gut feelings.”
Royce shook his head. “But you took them with us to Crone Island. Why?”
“To let Myrtle inspect us,” I heard myself say.
Tegan nodded. “Tenn knew I suspected something was off, but damn. Trey was good. I couldn’t tell. So with Tenn’s permission, I kept you a
ll close by so we could watch you.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Harlan cursed. “Is there something I can do to assure you that I am on your side? Because although I understand your concern, I promise I am on your side.”
Jackson sighed. “He’s telling the truth.”
“Jackson, look at me.” Gen sat up straighter and held his gaze. “I’m on your side.”
Lennox pulled her head up. Her eyes were bloodshot. “I’m on your side, too.”
Everyone else turned to Jackson, and the fact that we all felt that we needed to broke my heart a little more. Jackson cringed but he nodded. Everyone sighed with relief.
“I don’t understand,” Emersyn whispered. “Why? Why is Trey with Joseph?”
“I don’t know.” Tegan shrugged. “I haven’t been able to figure that out yet.”
Deacon cursed. “It’s vengeance. I felt that the moment I met him. Damn it, I just thought he wanted vengeance for Timothy, just like the rest of us.”
Emersyn frowned. “But vengeance for what exactly?”
We all looked to Jackson and the others who knew him. But they all looked too destroyed. Their faces were blank, but their eyes were shattered.
“Listen, I am sorry for doing this stuff to you guys.” Tegan looked around to us. “I don’t want to break your trust in me…but these things… They only work if your reactions are genuine.”
Tennessee stormed back into the room. The air in the room pulsed with electricity, and the hair on my arms stood tall. He charged over and stopped next to Tegan. “Evacuate all of Eden. Now. No one is safe.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bettina
I stood out front on the steps of Edenburg as Walter landed The Coven’s private plane for the fifth time. The sun was rising to my right, and the sky had turned to a glorious shade of rosy pink. But I couldn’t enjoy its beauty today. We were evacuating all of Eden.
Students. Civilians. Everyone.
Poor Jackson had been put through the ringer with his gift. Tenn had him checking practically everyone. As far as Jackson could tell, Trey was the only traitor.
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