by Ally Shields
To confirm her suspicion before revealing herself, Ari climbed into the flattened backseat and began a ritual, using the scrying bowl with her incantation. A bright light popped up immediately—right where she expected it. She ended the ritual and phoned Emmy in Perry. They talked over their plans one last time, then Ari got out of the car and walked up the street. As she neared the house, the sensation of power grew stronger, and her witch senses surged with urgency.
Ari stopped under a tree to center herself and connect with her sisters in Perry. She murmured the words of enchantment, and drawing power from her coven, she called upon earth magic to ground her, keeping her linked in place. The link would prevent the black coven from teleporting her anywhere.
Ari slipped behind the house, following the sound of a faint hum. Seeing a gate into the back yard, she paused to raise her own magic until a white glow filled her aura and her fingers tingled with fire. Maintaining the connection with her sister witches, she lifted the gate latch and stepped inside.
Ari stopped in full view of the black coven’s moonlit circle.
“Arianna! What a surprise. Can’t you take a hint?” The High Priestess’s haughty tone was dismissive. “Looking for revenge? Or have you come to your senses and are here to unite with us?”
“Sorry, not in the joining mood today—or any day. Our last meeting didn’t quite give me warm, fuzzy feelings for you.”
The High Priestess’s lips curled in a thin smile. “Be glad you’re alive. Our fight is not with you, but I certainly didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
“In fact, you didn’t expect to see me at all.” Ari advanced toward her. “Whether I was declared an enemy or not, you hoped I’d die on that rock. And yet, here I am.”
“Go away.” The High Priestess flicked her fingers at her and seemed surprised when nothing happened. “Sisters?” The coven’s humming increased. “Time to leave, Arianna,” she said, waving her fingers again.
“Still here. Are you through?” Ari smiled coldly. “I came prepared this time. Your magic can’t send me anywhere.”
The High Priestess tilted her head. “How?” She peered into the shadows. “I feel something…”
“It doesn’t matter how. I’m here to take you back to Riverdale. To appear before the Magic Council. You took a human life and must answer for your crime.” She looked around the circle to see how other coven members were reacting and immediately noticed witches were missing; others were injured. She found Sophistrina. “What happened to your coven? You’ve been in a fight.”
The First Initiate’s gaze flickered to her leader, but she answered readily enough. “Ursula.”
“Where?” Suddenly alarmed, Ari stepped toward Sophistrina. “She’s not in the States, is she?”
The witch shook her head but moved out of Ari’s reach.
The High Priestess spoke. “We did not wait for her to come here. One thing you will learn—with the O-Seven and their servants—you do not let them make the first move. You will die. We found her in Canada destroying a nest of her own kind. It seemed liked the perfect opportunity for us to eliminate her.”
“Let me get this right. You led your coven against Ursula? The biggest bitch vampire? Are you crazy?” Ari could hardly contain her disgust. “She slaughtered an entire vampire nest that night. How could you risk your sisters?” Ari waved her hand around the circle. “It looks like some of them didn’t make it.”
The priestess’s body went rigid, her voice stiff, icier than before. “We took our losses, but they died in a worthy cause. An honorable death.”
“And Ursula? Did you defeat her?”
“She is very powerful.”
“No kidding. Did you at least hurt her or teleport her somewhere?”
When the priestess hesitated, Sophistrina took up the story. “We tried. She broke the spell by killing four of us. We had to escape by teleporting to avoid more deaths.”
“She ripped them apart,” another witch added, her voice filled with remembered horror. The broken limbs, the blood, the terror were written on her face for Ari to read.
“They were heroes,” the priestess declared. “Warrior witches.”
Anger nearly took Ari’s breath away. “You consider their deaths acceptable? You really are crazy.” She turned slowly, raking her gaze across the watching faces of the other witches. “If you continue to follow her lead, you’re as bad as she is. She led you into the murder of an innocent—and now certain death at the hands of an enemy you couldn’t hope to defeat. What next? Will she keep on until all of you die in some pointless fight?”
They remained silent, a few dropping their gazes.
“Your words fall on deaf ears, Guardian. There is no other way for us.” The High Priestess sounded resigned rather than defiant. “This is our life.”
“It doesn’t have to be. What are you doing in Cincinnati? Licking your wounds before the next battle?” No one denied the obvious truth. “The High Priestess must come with me, but the rest of you could still go home. If you must fight someone, stick with the O-Seven. You are not welcome here.” When Ari turned to the priestess, the woman’s face had gone slack, as if caught in a trance. Ari felt a glitch in the connection with her sisters in Perry. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
The priestess’s face suddenly became animated again. “I’ve found them.” A satisfied smirk spread over her features. “A coven in some place called Perry is helping you. Now I know where they are, and who they are.” She paused. “A skinny woman called Emmy, and Stella and—”
“Stop,” Ari commanded. “Don’t even say their names.”
“We will hunt and hurt them if you don’t leave us alone. I will not submit to your laws. You must know that. I can see you came here hoping my coven would turn on me, but they will not. We are bound by blood and tradition. Come sisters, give me your protection.”
The women rushed forward to enclose their leader in a tight, protective circle. Ari would have to go through them, hurting or killing some, to reach the priestess. She wasn’t prepared to do that yet. She tried reasoning with them. “How can you defend her? Think about what you’re doing and what you’ve already done.”
The women shook their heads, refusing to move.
“She is our priestess,” Sophistrina said.
“You are an outsider,” the priestess explained. “Not to be trusted. Since you will not join us, do not meddle in our affairs again…or we will retaliate against your coven.”
Ari heard Sophistrina suck in her breath at the repeated threat.
The priestess looked into Ari’s eyes. “You know I will do it.”
“Please go,” Sophistrina pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t force us to do something worse than we have done. Our pathway is chosen.”
A smile of triumph twisted the priestess’s lips as she crossed her arms. “I tried to tell you.”
“I’ll go, for now, but don’t make the mistake of coming near my witch sisters. If you do, I’ll find you. And, if I see you again in Riverdale, you’ll be arrested or executed for murder. By tomorrow evening, you can expect the Riverdale Magic Council to issue an emergency order of termination. I will be happy to enforce it.” Ari turned and walked toward the gate.
“Strong words, but you’ll have to catch me first.”
Ari glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
* * *
Before the jet took off, Ari called Emmy and told her about the High Priestess’s threat. Emmy agreed they would not use the clearing for a while, and each witch would take special care to block her aura until Ari told them it was safe again.
“I’m so sorry I brought you to the attention of that evil woman,” Ari said. “I should never have asked for your help.”
“I can’t say I’m thrilled with the turn this has taken, but you did the right thing. None of your sisters questions that. Our mutual support is part of our responsibility as a coven, even if we weren’t bonded by
love. Quit worrying about us. We’ll protect ourselves. We’re counting on you to do the same.”
Ari disconnected, fastened her seatbelt, and gave the pilot the signal to lift off. Andreas had already been told she was on her way, and for the next two hours she had nothing to do except think. The moment she felt the plane begin to move down the runway, she began to replay recent events in her head.
The witches’ fight with Ursula must have taken place the night of the border massacre. About five days ago. Was that why no one had heard from Ursula since? Had she been hurt or her power drained? Maybe the black coven had been more effective than they realized. Otherwise, why would the vampiress be so quiet? The possibility made Ari smile. It would mean the enforcer was vulnerable.
Chapter Twenty
It was nearly midnight when Ari’s flight reached Riverdale. As she stepped onto the ramp to descend, she stopped. Andreas and a dozen vampires and weretigers stood on the airstrip. The sense of frustration and rage spilling from the group sent her pulse spiking. A dozen ugly scenes fed her imagination.
“What?” Dread filled her, as she raced down the steps. “Who?”
Andreas glided forward and met her. “No one you have met, cara mia, but Ursula struck another Canadian court. Wiped them out.” He tilted his head toward his companions. “I ordered the guards as a precaution. I did not want you left alone.” His gaze softened. “I came with them because I wanted to see you.”
She stepped into his embrace.
“Ursula has us all on edge, little witch. I am not used to anyone making me feel so helpless,” he murmured into her hair. “Except you.”
Ari tightened her arms. “The bitch. I’m so sorry. Won’t this ever stop?”
“We should get off the streets.” He released her. “I will not be comfortable until I know where the enforcer is.”
Andreas had brought the Lexus and two black vans, and they drove in a caravan: Andreas and Ari in the Lexus, the vans in front and back. As they approached the mansion, a group of heavily armed men fanned out across the street, bringing them to a halt.
“What the…” Andreas slammed on the brakes.
“It’s OK. It’s Steffan.” Ari opened her door and hopped out. “What brought you here?” she asked the werewolf.
The redheaded leader of the local pack grinned at her. “What’s it look like? We’re here to party.” He nodded his head at the two dozen wolves carrying bazookas and assault rifles. Steffan’s face sobered. “We heard about the enforcer, and we’re here to help.”
Andreas joined them, but he was shaking his head. “I cannot allow you to get involved, my friend. Not this time. We are not facing an average vampire.”
“So I’ve heard. Hence the extra firepower. Are you telling me you can’t use us?”
“What he’s trying to tell you is this is like fighting a killing machine,” Ari said. “She’s been slaughtering entire nests of vampires.”
“All the more reason for us to be here so she doesn’t tear Riverdale apart.” He eyed them, a determined set to his jaw. “We talked it over and know the risks. Every wolf here is a volunteer.” He looked at the gates that led into Andreas’s property. “I figured we could guard the perimeter—the gate, the borders. If we stay inside the wrought-iron fences, your neighbors won’t know we’re here, but we can function as an early-warning system. We’re not leaving, unless you order us to go.”
Andreas clapped a hand on Steffan’s back. “I would like to do that, but I am too damned glad to have you. Come, I will walk you inside the gates. I have duties I must tend to inside the residence, but Samuel will be out to show you around. Ask him for anything you need.” He glanced up the street. “We are too exposed out here.”
Andreas sent Ari back to bring the Lexus, and he walked through the gates, talking earnestly with Steffan. After the brief conference, Steffan’s people spread out along the fence line, and Andreas rejoined Ari in the car.
At the end of the long driveway to the mansion, the caravan pulled into the basement garage. Six guards met them; Samuel opened Ari’s door.
“I’m glad you’re home and not on some out-of-state trip courtesy of the witch coven.” Samuel smiled at her in welcome before looking over the car roof at his boss. “Prince Daron is waiting for you to call him back. He suggested you use the house link.”
“More bad news?” his employer said, outwardly calm.
“No, I don’t think so. Mike would have called me if there had been another incident.”
Ari let out the breath she’d been holding during this exchange. Yes, Mike would have called. As Daron’s chief of security, Mike had been in close contact with both Samuel and Russell since Ursula first appeared. The three lycanthropes, although from different races—werewolf, weretiger, and werelion—were friends and more than employees to Daron and Andreas. They could be trusted to stay on top of things.
Andreas nodded. “Very well. Thank you, Samuel. I will call him back. I assume you saw our volunteer recruits?”
“They’ve been on the street almost forty minutes waiting for you. I recognized Steffan, so I wasn’t worried. Would you like for me to coordinate with them?”
Andreas spared him a brief look. “Thank you. That would help.”
Samuel returned the look, employer and employee in perfect understanding of the work to be done; he opened a side door and stepped outside.
Instead of climbing the stairs to the first floor, Andreas punched in a security code on a heavy metal door at the back of the garage. It opened into an area that had served multiple purposes, from securing prisoners in the not-too-distant past to housing members of the vampire court during the recent lockdowns. When they entered a long hallway opening to sleeping quarters on both sides and a general living space at the end with sofas, armchairs, and dining area, Ari looked around in surprise. Big changes since she’d seen the space last. When was all this done?
She shot Andreas a questioning look.
“We have been busy. Welcome to our temporary quarters.” He opened the middle of three doors on the right. Dona came bounding to greet her; Bella blinked from the back of a large loveseat in a side entertainment area. An oversize bed decorated in ivory and gold dominated the room.
“I don’t get it. Are we on lockdown again?” She put a hand on her hip. “I’m not staying here while you go to the compound.”
“The compound is virtually empty. If Ursula goes there, she will find little to take revenge upon. Glorius and the nest leaders are scattered around the city and the caverns. Since we can defend the house as well as anywhere, Gabriel, Oliver, and those of my bloodline are across the hall. You and I will be staying here.”
That got her attention. Together? In the same room? All night? They had a long-standing agreement that she would never wake to find him dead next to her. They’d never actually slept in the same bed.
Andreas gave her an enigmatic look. “Make yourself at home. I will return as soon as I dispense with a few details. Your clothes and other belongings have already been moved.” He motioned for the others to follow him.
When she was alone, Ari crossed to the first of three interior doors. Her clothes hung on one side, his Armani collection on the other, in a huge walk-in closet. The next door led to a bathroom with a large shower. The third door was locked with a keypad. She thought about what numbers Andreas might pick that she would know and keyed in his birth year: 1786. She heard the release click, and the door slid open. The small room held nothing except a king-size cherrywood bed fitted in bedding of black silk.
Ari smiled. The master sleeping quarters. She kind of liked knowing he would be that close. She shut the door and heard the lock reengage.
She hurried into the shower and had finished rinsing the shampoo from her hair when the shower door slid open. “Are you coming in or just looking?” she asked.
“Unfortunately, I can only admire the scenery. I thought you might want to join me on the phone call to Canada.”
“You bet
.” When he continued to stand there, she glanced at him. “Well? The sooner you leave, the sooner I’ll be there. Can you hand me a towel?”
“Ah, cara mia, I would rather not, but in the interest of time…” He threw her the towel and left.
Ari glanced thoughtfully at the closed door before winding her hair in the towel. When had she gotten so comfortable in his presence?
When she exited the bathroom five minutes later, she was dressed in her cotton jammies with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Andreas sat on her bed with a house phone beside him. He looked up, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Hey, what did you expect? It’s 1:30 in the morning. I’m planning to sleep soon.” She hopped on the bed and sat cross-legged.
His lips twitched as he punched in Daron’s number and put the phone on speaker. “It’s fortunate this isn’t on Skype.”
Before she could respond, she heard the Toronto prince’s deep voice.
“Andreas?” Daron’s tone was more clipped than usual.
“Yes, and Arianna is with me.”
“Good evening, Arianna. I will bring you both up to date.” Daron wasn’t wasting any time. “Ursula went after a weak target this time, an emergency staff of eleven. She killed everyone. Too many casualties, but it would have been worse if the princes weren’t staying together in the more heavily fortified courts. The remains we found—a few bones and ash—were scattered.”
“She tore them apart?” Ari interjected.
“Yes, an unnecessary show of violence.” Daron paused. “What made you ask? Did you anticipate her reaction?”
“I’d already heard, but I didn’t mean to interrupt. Please go on.”
Daron hesitated a moment, then continued. “We have watched Ursula’s plane, but she has not been near it recently. She must have found a secure place to hide during the day.”
“Canada is a big country to search,” Andreas said dryly. “Any idea where to start?”
“None. No one has spotted her in the last five days. I am mystified why she waited so long for this second attack.”
