Page 50 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

I returned my attention to the others. “Here is what we have gleaned. A demon feeds on anarchy and despair to gain power. Anything negative—anger or sorrow or uncertainty—will help to fuel that power. Once strong enough, a demon is able to begin inserting itself beyond the confines of its realm until it can bodily leave for increasing amounts of time. A demon’s motive is to expand territory and enslave the occupants inside that territory to use as a permanent food source.”

I let that sink in. In answer to Basilia’s questioning look, Kyros nodded. Vissimo had ample knowledge of demons then. At least as much as us, and I was willing to bet even more.

“For three-hundred years, this coven was split into two sides.” And here was the real kicker. “And they were split in half because they were playing a game.”

The Luthers and Vissimo exchanged a long glance.

I took a breath. “Sound familiar?”

14

At least most of the coven were trying not to stare.

I sat on the stage with my guests and Wild. Wild was on my right again, though I’d planned to place Andie there. Sascha had inserted himself next to Wild, between him and Andie on the end. Basilia was on my left, and Kyros on her other side.

Wild had yet to feel anything but rage and violent intent since their arrival, aside from the brief flash of humor at Huxley’s expense.

So things were going super well.

We’d gotten through the conversation about Ingenium and Grids with surprising ease. The other supernaturals had listened at least, and I felt the coincidence of these games was something they saw was too large to ignore. Really, talking it over with the other supernaturals had been easier than discussing matters with my coven.

“So describe your magic to me,” Princess Basilia said. “Parts of what Vissimo can do would appear like magic to most humans, but you can control certain elements, is that right?”

I cast my eyes over the coven to make sure Frond’s group was still behaving. “That’s right. There are four affinities of magic that a magus may possess. Some of us have more than one affinity. The affinities are divination, grimoire, apothecary, and battle.”

Basilia’s gray eyes were on me. She wasn’t cold like Kyros, but the woman was just as calculating. Her disarming rich-woman vibe was a good distractor from how dangerous that mind might be. “How many do you possess?”

“Four,” I answered.

“All of them, then.” She glanced at Kyros.

Food was brought out on platters and set before us. “Wait, please,” I said as Sascha reached for a chicken drumstick.

I cast my four affinities over the food. Nothing had been tampered with. Maybe it was paranoia to check, but nothing could be allowed to upset the relationships forming here. To cover the moment, I stood after.

“Mother,” I called, closing my eyes.

I raised my palm to Wild, who also stood. The coven followed suit. I felt this display of our customs was important. We wouldn’t downplay who we were for the sake of others, and I didn’t expect the Vissimo or Luthers to do so either. “From your energy are we born. From your lessons are we taught. By your mercy do we live. By your hammer do we fall. Into your open arms do we slip unto our end. Peer into our hearts and ambitions and guide us from falseness to truth, to oneness, and to prosperity in your world. Mother be.”

“Mother be,” they said solemnly.

The air felt lighter after. The coven was surer of themselves.

“Please.” I gestured to the food. “Prince Kyros and Princess Basilia, we can summon blood for you, if needed.”

Basilia smiled. “Thank you. We brought our own.” She tapped a finger against a goblet.

I loaded my plate and dug in, aware of Sascha and Andie subtly checking their food for anything amiss. Couldn’t blame them. They’d taken a big risk coming here—especially if Sascha’s people had been hurt by magus in the past.

Basilia sipped at her blood. “So you all possess magic, but what do magus do all day?”

I swallowed a bite of potato. “A magus lives to better their coven and hone the magic inherited from their ancestors. This is considered a way to respect what we have been given by the Mother. We spend our days furthering our crafts and adding what we can to our collective knowledge and skill base. We celebrate the passing of the moon and occurrences of special events such as the shifting of seasons or the passing of our ancestors.”

“No one ever leaves?”

I could tell from her tone that magus life sounded completely and utterly boring to the princess. “Yes, but that number is few. Mostly grimoires might venture to answer a curiosity plaguing them. Battle affinities like to stick close to those who need their protection. Apothecary magus are usually content, but may venture afield in pursuit of new species to study. Divination affinities are more driven than most to respect our past and the wishes of our predecessors by fulfilling coven obligations and sticking to home.”

“You have all of those desires pulling at you then? Being the bearer of four affinities?” Kyros asked.

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