“Why don’t you just start from the beginning of this plan?” Hunter said to his daughter and arched one blond eyebrow.
Tegan pursed her lips and shrugged. “Listen, I figured things out, okay? I had a hunch for what Joseph was up to, so I got an idea. Henley approved. Then we recruited Lennox for it.”
Everyone turned to Lennox.
“What? Was I supposed to say no?” She flicked her indigo hair over her shoulder. “It was brilliant. I was honored to be asked.”
Constance frowned. “Why her, though? Why endanger a student when there’s so many of us?”
“Why not Henley if she already knew the plan?”
“Cooper, hush. I’m okay with it not being Henley,” Royce grumbled.
“First of all, and no offense, Lennox, but I am not risking any Coven member. We’ve lost too much already.” Tegan then pointed to Lennox. “Secondly, and most importantly, this little weirdo is a mad skilled page, y’all. We’ll be appointing her Lead Page sooner rather than later, so yeah, I used her. And thirdly, Henley’s seen enough demons undercover.”
Henley shuddered. “Besides, it was much sneakier to have Lennox do it.”
Warner cleared his throat and raised his hand. “Hi, yeah, quick question…was this before or after I got snatched?”
At this, Tegan grimaced. “Kind of both. I’d gotten the idea, then told Henley and Lennox. Then I said we’d know if I was right, and if our plan needed to be activated, if they took a Sword close to us.”
“Wait, what?” I scrubbed my face with my hands. “How could you know that?”
Easton smacked my shoulder playfully. “You’re new here, but we don’t ask that anymore.”
Royce nodded. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Shit, forget that. I’ll ask all I want.” Deacon grinned.
Royce rolled his eyes. “Only so she’ll do it again. Not the same.”
He opened his mouth then shut it. “Touché.”
I shook my head. They were all so nonchalant about this. It didn’t make sense. We’d had almost no information to go on, yet she’d figured this out. I didn’t understand.
Bettina chuckled then turned to Hunter. “It’s like her tenth birthday all over again.”
He threw his head back and laughed.
“Can someone please help me out here?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m with Jackson on this.” Warner nodded and crossed his arms. He looked utterly exhausted. “I’d like to know how this worked out on your end since, ya’ know, I was on the other end.”
Tegan tugged on her crystal necklace that was really the Book of Shadows. “It’s my job as High Priestess to understand all aspects of dark magic so that I can combat it. I am the keeper of secrets. It’s in my job description.”
“That’s true,” Bettina said with a chuckle.
“Anyway, the spell they were doing was to siphon off power and magic from witches and take it for themselves. Am I correct in assuming they had y’all in a pentacle?” she asked Warner. When he nodded, she shrugged. “They needed different types of blood; someone older, someone quite young, someone youthful and energized, someone with intense magical skill, and someone extremely tough. They took a mother and her young daughter, then Brandon. I knew they needed a Sword, and I knew they’d take someone who meant something to us. Which left us Genevieve, Bettina, Trey, or you.”
“We’d only just figured this plan out before you called me, Warner.” Henley pointed to Braison. “We sent him to collect the four of you, but he was too late.”
Warner opened his mouth then shut it. He shook his head. “So Lennox?”
Bettina gasped. “That was the phone call you got, wasn’t it?”
Lennox grinned. “Yup. That was Tegan. I actually used magic to draw them toward me. We knew they’d act fast on the fifth person once they took Warner, since they knew you’d all come hunting.”
“So you were bait.” Warner cursed. “And all that I witnessed in there?”
“That spell? With that fake wand?” Lennox scoffed. “I altered it before they even took their blood. Then I pretended to struggle against his pathetic spell. Gave them the information they thought they wanted just so we could trap them right where we wanted them.”
“But what about the protection barrier? The one Tegan set up?” Warner gestured toward the edge of the Old Lands. “We all saw her do that. They knew it was done.”
Tegan chuckled. When everyone turned on her, she bit her lip. “Okay, I might not have put up the real protection barrier. I wanted them to think I had.”
I shivered. “You are terrifying.”
Tennessee burst into laughter. Then everyone else joined in.
“I mean, I take that as a compliment sooooo…” Tegan brushed her shoulders off.
Tennessee sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “All right, love. Can you put up the real one now?”
She grinned. “You got it, boss.” With that, she turned and skipped toward the edge of the Old Lands.
A phone rang and everyone jumped.
“Sorry, that’s mine.” Constance cursed then pulled out her phone and answered the call. She listened for a moment and nodded. “Thank you, we’ll look into it right away.”
Tenn frowned. “What’s up?”
Constance made a weird face and cocked her head to the side. “Apparently a good chunk of the students watched that fight through the windows of their dorms, and now there is what appears to be a wild rager happening. Their words, not mine.”
“Interesting. Okay…” Tennessee narrowed his eyes at something in the distance then shook himself. “It’s probably just that—a party. But just to be sure, Lennox, Warner, and Bettina, would you mind going over and checking it out for us?”
They all nodded immediately.
“Great. I’ll text the party address to you now,” Constance said as she typed on her phone.
Warner, Lennox, and Bettina walked off without another word.
I must’ve made a face because Tennessee chuckled. “You’re in The Coven now, Lancaster. We’ve got some work left to do here.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
BETTINA
Witches moved fast.
It felt like the fight had just ended, yet somehow all of these students had made it all the way to some resident’s mansion off campus. It wasn’t that far away, but still, I was impressed.
Lennox and Warner were discussing the details of the dark magic spell Joseph had done, or tried to do, and what would’ve happened had she not been there. I couldn’t listen. It was hypothetical at this point, and I didn’t want to worry over something that didn’t happen. My head was too full of worry as it was.
I looked up at the front of the mansion we were heading into and froze. Music was blaring so loud I was sure The Coven could hear it from the courtyard. Neon lights flashed on and off through the windows. Through the glass windows, I saw dozens and dozens of teenagers.
For a second, I was somewhere else.
I was back in Charleston, standing out front of Dean Hoover’s house and regretting my decision to attend the party. I hadn’t gone in yet. As I stood there lost in the déjà vu, I couldn’t help wonder what would’ve happened had I not gone inside.
“Bettina?”
I jumped and my pulse skyrocketed. But it was just Lennox calling out for me. My cheeks warmed.
I tucked my hair behind my ears and jogged to catch up to them on the front steps. “Sorry.”
She smiled. “It’s all right. You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking how it’s all come full circle.”
Warner chuckled. “Just maybe don’t use any Ouija boards at this party, okay?”
I grinned then shuddered. “Not a problem.”
“So, uh, it certainly looks like a normal party from out here…” Warner’s brow furrowed as he glanced up at the house. “What exactly does Tennessee think could be going on here besides a party?”
“My g
uess? A trap.” Lennox shrugged. “But I think he’s being overly cautious, given the circumstances. I’m not sensing any bad vibes here. Besides, if he was legit concerned, he would’ve sent a Card with us, like Jackson.”
Jackson. Sharp pain shot through my chest. I groaned inside. When am I gonna stop feeling this every time I hear his damn name?
Warner nodded. “Okay, just checking. I don’t sense any bad vibes, either, but then again, I’ve fallen for a little blonde demon.”
I’m sensing bad things, but they have nothing to do with this situation and everything to do with a pretty British boy I can’t have.
“Good. Let’s go inside.” Lennox skipped up the last few steps then turned to face us with wide eyes. “Wait, we cannot go in there all blood- and dirt-covered.”
Warner sighed and threw his hands up. “Tennessee didn’t say stop at home and change first.”
Lennox rolled her eyes and pulled her wand out of her jeans pocket. She grinned and pointed it at Warner. “Bibbity, boppity, boop.”
Yellow-green mist that matched Lennox’s eyes swirled around his body. He cursed and stumbled back a step. Then it vanished, and my jaw dropped. His entire outfit had changed. He was now wearing dark jeans with cool embroidery along the sides and a white long-sleeved T-shirt that was just transparent enough to show off all of his awesome tattoos. His mud-covered sneakers were replaced with all white Adidas Superstar sneakers. He looked good. Real good.
“Daaaaaaamn, girl.” Warner grinned and nodded. “You gotta show me how to do that.”
Lennox scoffed. When I looked back at her, she’d swapped her jeans and graphic T-shirt for a black lace, skin-tight romper that held little to the imagination…everywhere.
She gestured to herself. “Not gonna lie, it’s my favorite trick.”
Warner clapped then pointed to me. “Do Bettina now.”
My heart fluttered and my cheeks burned. I was both excited and terrified. That yellow-green magic of hers swirled around me, and I held my breath. When it vanished, my breath left me in a rush. I was in a little black crop top and a high-waisted, blush-colored tulle skirt that fell just below my knees. My go-to white Converses were now black combat boots with laces wrapped around my ankles a few times before tying.
I grinned and swirled my new skirt around. “I love it.”
Lennox squealed. “I thought you might. Now, let’s go party.”
My new outfit gave me a surge of confidence. But also, so did the realization that this wasn’t the same as Dean’s party. I was a witch now, with magic. And more importantly, I was here with friends. I kept those things in mind as I followed Lennox to the front door.
“Who lives here anyway?”
She shrugged. “One of the older Pentacles. They’re super rich.”
“Rich like Deacon?”
Lennox laughed in one short burst. “B, ain’t nobody rich like Deacon. But that’s a story for another day.”
“What? You can’t drop a bomb like that and expect me to—”
She threw the front door open, and Cardi B pierced my eardrums. Flashing neon lights shot through the open door. A gust of cool wind brought with it the scent of…salt?
Lennox bounced right in. The second she crossed the threshold, she sighed, and her shoulders dropped, like she was relieved to be there or something. Which was weird because I hadn’t thought she was a big party goer.
Warner followed right after. He didn’t sigh, but he did glance right back at me and grin with a thumbs-up.
My turn. My stomach sank. Okay, here goes nothing. I licked my lips and smoothed the front of my skirt. Quit stalling. You’re making it weirder! I scurried up the steps and hopped over the threshold…and all of the tension in my body vanished, like someone had flipped a switch. All of my negative thoughts and worries were missing in action. I had no idea what just happened.
Lennox giggled and pointed to the floor. “They charmed the front door with salt to make everyone check their worries at the door. Pretty wickedly brilliant. Come on,” she said with a wink and nod.
I glanced down at my feet and saw there was, in fact, a river of chunky white salt running along the doorframe. It was a wicked idea. Leaving my worries at the door was the best idea anyone had had. I smiled and looked up. The party looked like it had been going for hours, but I knew it hadn’t. I blinked and glanced around, but there was so much to see it was overwhelming.
“How’s this look on me?”
I spun toward Warner’s voice then giggled. He had on a pointy black witch’s hat. I nodded. “I think you’re rockin’ it.”
He flicked his metaphorical hair over his shoulder. “Good, ‘cause I’m wearin’ it.”
As he strolled off, I glanced behind him. The entire wall was full of hats. Pointy, stereotypical witch hats. In various colors, fabrics, and style. My heart fluttered. I skipped over and grabbed a black crushed velvet hat with an exaggerated wide brim. It fit perfectly. I turned to look for my friends when my gaze landed on the wall across from me. It had witch brooms lined up along it with a sign that read BROOM PARKING.
I chuckled and shook my head. They were making fun of their own stereotypes.
So great.
“Tina!” Lennox hissed and waved for me to catch up to them.
I hurried to her side, but my eyes couldn’t stay in one place too long. There was so much to see. This was absolutely nothing like Dean’s party. Sage hung from the ceiling everywhere. Glowing orbs of light floated and swirled around from room to room, changing colors and flashing different patterns. Beams of light shot out of them and across the rooms. They were almost like magical disco balls.
The front room was one massive area full of dancing bodies. Some guy was against the left wall being the DJ. Little round speakers floated around him so it sounded like we were in a live concert. There was no furniture, just a crowded dance floor full of sweaty bodies. I noticed belatedly that most of these kids wore variations of black, tons of lace, and basic hair colors weren’t popular.
“Come on, B, let’s get a drink.”
I let Lennox drag me through the crowd then through a doorway that was lined with salt, then into another room that was just as big as the first. This room had groupings of sofas and coffee tables. The walls on the left side had several bay windows—all of which were full of couples making out.
There seemed to be a huge crowd in the far right corner. A girl with apple-red hair braided on each side of her head and a massive black witch hat sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor inside a circle. Another girl jumped through the opening of the circle and sat down in front of her, then held her left palm out— OH. They were in line for palm readings. I’d always wanted to get one.
At the biggest coffee table, there was some kind of drinking game going on with tarot cards, but I hadn’t the slightest idea what they were doing. Their drinks were all glowing in a variety of different colors.
“Your eyes are so wide right now.” Lennox laughed and wrapped her arm around mine. “Come drink. Eat. Breathe. This is just a party.”
“How come I can hear you so easily?” I gestured around me as a Madonna song from the eighties came on. “It’s so loud in here.”
She held up her wand. “It’s a charm we’re taught as First Years in Wands. It’s important in real-world scenarios, too, but naturally it’s applicable elsewhere. They’ve obviously got it going strong here.”
My eyebrows rose. Wow. That’s handy. I let her drag me over to the right side of the room to where a twenty-foot-long fireplace made of red bricks glowed with bright orange flames. Four black cauldrons sat on the fire with glowing liquid inside. Each had a giant wooden spoon that was stirring itself. Two girls slipped in front of us and bounced up to the cauldron on the far left. A plastic cup shot up from the ground and hovered in the air while the wooden spoon poured shimmering red liquid inside. When it was full, the first girl grabbed it, then another cup shot up.
I blinked and shook my head. “What…?”
<
br /> Warner rubbed his palms together and stared at the cauldrons. “All right, Lennox, tell me what we’ve got here tonight and what’s safe.”
I frowned. “Wait, each cauldron is something different?”
“Well, of course it is, silly! The red is for those feeling…lusty.” Lennox wagged her eyebrows and shimmied. She giggled. “The blue is for if you’re wanting to get hyped up, a little extra energized. The green is for those wanting a good laugh. The white is the safest option, and that’s for zenning the hell out. However, for the daring, there’s a fifth cauldron in the back with a powerful purple potion for messing you up hardcore.”
Warner pursed his lips. “I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but I’m going white tonight.”
She nodded and followed him over to the white potion cauldron. “B, don’t even think about trying the others. You’re new to potions. Here, have a white.”
I took the glass she handed me and stared down at it. “The last time I took a potion someone gave me—”
“That was different.” Warner shook his head then took a sip. “You’re already here, so no need to get shit going crazy, ya’ know?”
“Can’t I just have like…a Coke or something?”
“Oh, the potions taste like whatever you want them to. So if you’re thinking Coke, then you’re drinking Coke.” Lennox moved closer, then whispered, “You don’t have to drink it, B. There’s actual, literal soda cans in the kitchen I’d be happy to grab for you. Also bottled water. However, I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray. The white potion is good for calming anxiety. Which is why it’s the most popular drink here tonight, if you look around.”
At that, I did look around. I hadn’t noticed before, but now that I knew what the drink potions meant, it was easy to spot who was in what kind of mood. Most of the dance floor had been blue and red, which made sense. I smiled. It was actually kind of nice. I think.
“What if I don’t want anyone to know how I’m feeling?”
Lennox tapped her wand on my cup, and the plastic changed to copper. She winked. “A little charm goes a long way. Not everyone is open. Hang on to it, and if you decide you want to drink it, then you’ve got it.”
The Wild Witch (The Coven: Academy Magic Book 3) Page 11
