Page 43 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“Yes,” I agreed.

“She’ll regret it.” He cracked his knuckles.

I shook my head. “Keep your energy for what’s most useful.”

“She’s a problem,” Sven growled.

“And she’s allowed to be a problem. I neither need nor want everyone to agree with me. There needs to be room for dissent if there’s to be room for growth. I may not agree with everything she or Frond’s group says, but I may agree with the odd statement, and that may alter my thinking. Other coven members may find the same, and may then raise points with me in the future that alter the way our coven works. I don’t want to smother or silence anyone, Sven.”

“Then what the hell am I doing every day?” He banished his tray and stormed off.

“Hissy fit,” Huxley stated.

Rooke had joined the table during my announcement. “He’s tired. I get what you were trying to say. There’s a difference between managing fear and division and covering every leak. There’s got to be room for open discussion.”

My cousin had a way of putting hard things into simple words. “Could you speak to him?”

“Physical outlets work best,” she mused.

Huxley groaned, then brightened. “Everyone will be in the apothecary learning center! You can’t have sex in the greenhouse.”

Rooke rolled her eyes. “Like that would stop me.”

Huxley shot me a look as she departed. “It would, wouldn’t it?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Don’t ask me.”

Wild drew me in to his side, murmuring in my ear, “Well managed. That was a tough question, and in front of everyone. As planned.”

Frond had ensured that was as public as possible, and though I’d navigated that round, he’d won it. The coven would sweep up that tidbit. Sven couldn’t waste time on the likes of Josie when he had to mitigate that damage. “What was your feel of the reactions to the news?”

“Grimoires were intrigued. Battles had their hackles up but could also see the logic of your strategy. Apothecaries seemed shocked but without anger, though they’re most likely to be curious about living things. Divinations were the angriest.”

I frowned. “Reason?”

“Because they have the strongest connection to our ancestors, and they have the most respect for the lessons of the past. That’s also why the elders here appeared more resistant than the younger magus too.”

The coven hadn’t marched me out of here naked, though. “Guess that went about as well as expected.”

“It did,” Varden said, sitting with a weary sigh.

I gave him a once-over. “How are the new quarters suiting you, sir?”

“I feel more tired than ever,” he admitted. “Every sleep is a deep one, and I have rather a lot of it to catch up on. A week or two, and I’ll be back to normal.”

He seemed older. “Is the team working out okay?”

“They’ve come up with quite a list of ways to promote unity. We’ll give the coven time to settle into the centering circles and aim to release one new incentive weekly.”

I waited to see if he’d offer more. “Something’s bothering you, Varden. Out with it.”

A twinkle entered his blue eyes. “Am I morose? I did not intend to be.”

“You are.”

He grinned as he tended to do when I reminded him of my grandmother. His grin trailed away. “I’m suffering the effects of foolish hopes unrealized.”

That was super grimoire.

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