Page 97 of First Ritual

A tension settled over the occupants in the room. Well, Wild had already been tense. But everyone else. Varden included. Ha!

I scanned the council. “Apologies, I’ve made some kind of faux pas. Barrow’s comment seemed to imply you’d received orders.”

Barrow bristled. “Orders. I—”

Varden spoke over him. “When responding to your transfer application, the original coven made us aware of several passages in coven law that outlined the tardiness of your affinity testing.”

Wild spoke for the first time since he’d arrived. Late. “The laws of the original coven only borrowed from by this coven from time to time, you mean?”

“Correct,” Varden replied.

Birch thumped his staff. “Let’s cut the ploys. Bronte, when it comes to transfers, it’s the culture of all covens that what is given for the magus transferred is of equal value. This way, no one owes anyone, and the mother is happy. The original coven needs to know what to give for you. Therefore, we need to do the affinity test.”

Wild’s parents had responded to the transfer with all their law bogus to make the council feel second-rate. And their tactic appeared to have worked. “I have some good news, actually. I hope the council perceives it that way, anyway.” I smiled widely. “I’ve decided not to transfer.”

Sage—bless her—whooped. Winona, closely followed by Opal, was the first to hug me, though Winona’s face was pinched. Birch thumped his staff, perhaps in approval? Who knew when it came to him. Barrow seemed torn between elation and distress, which I guess pegged him as the one most eager to please Wild’s parents.

“Are you certain, Bronte?” Barrow said when everyone simmered down. “I don’t mean this in slight to our own coven, but the original coven. Many would give a lot to be considered.”

I hummed. “I’m flattered. Their offer is unexpected. Why is it they want me again?”

“You come from a prestigious line,” Delta said. Her brow was under control again. “They wanted your grandmother back in the day.”

“And what did my grandmother say?”

A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. “Fuck off.”

I nodded. “We must always trust in the wisdom of our ancestors. Better give them the same answer from me.”

Barrow’s jaw dropped. Varden’s lips twitched.

“You asked for the transfer,” Barrow blurted. “Why not?”

“Caves… what can I say? It got under my skin.”

Opal glanced at Delta. “Knew it would. Just like Rowaness.”

“And Hazeluna. She was quieter, but lethal.”

“Silent assassin,” Opal agreed.

Ugh. “Glad we could sort this out.” I dipped my head. “If that’s all, I really am tired—”

“There is still the matter of your affinity test,” Frond said in his booming voice.

I paused. “Oh, that test wasn’t just for the transfer?”

“You’ll need to do that to complete your coven initiation.” Barrow leaped onboard.

“I spoke with you in the hall a few days ago, Barrow,” I replied. “I was left feeling like the timing of the affinity test would be respectful of my needs also. Is that no longer the case due to the opinions of the original coven? It seems as though this meeting has been called out of a need to appear a certain way to that coven rather than because it’s what’s best for me and my fellow magus.”

Barrow’s color changed.

Winona leaned forward after glancing his way. “You’ve come upon the true reason for the meeting, Miss Corentine. You see, the council must always balance the needs of each individual with the whole. The sooner you are tested, the sooner you are placed. The sooner there is harmony.”

“Harmony in terms of the coven being unified as one?” I asked. With Caves going on, this coven could only be unified in two groups. Even this council was split in two.

Winona sensed the trap.

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