Page 70 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

Rooke spun on her seat. “I can neutralize some of what’s coming through the gates. The scale is the issue. I’ve done my best to replicate the poison, and I believe this antidote will work; however, we’ll need a huge amount of the ingredients to keep it up.”

“Give a list to Serene,” I said. “Give one to Barrow and Opal as well. They can ask other covens for them. If the alliance with the other supernaturals goes ahead, then we’ll do the same with them.”

Rooke glanced at the vial of gray fluid. “Even then, we should focus efforts on the gates closest to the coven. We have no idea how long we’ll need to keep this up for, and my version of the poison will differ from the actual demon poison coming through. My antidote may not be as effective.”

She’d figured out an antidote to the bad juju coming through in less than three hours. “Your apothecary affinity is incredible, you know that?”

I bet she hadn’t stopped to consider that she might’ve prevented us from looking like Varden in less than a week.

“It wasn’t difficult.”

“For you. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, and now everyone will know it.”

Rooke’s cheeks colored. “You think?”

“Absolutely.”

A small smile graced her face, and she wiped it away too soon. “How are things going otherwise?”

“Battle magus are training. Winona is meeting with the other affinity mentors soon to form a plan for the other affinities. Sentries are practicing four-affinity barriers at the gates over the top of mine. The night shift are sleeping.”

She nodded. “Busy. People want an outlet for their fear. And you need an outlet too. Corentin’s next circle is starting soon.”

Lunch was underway now, so I could make the next one. I felt more like pounding my fists into something, but I didn’t want to overextend myself when we could be under attack at any second. “Maybe I will. Let me know if you need anything.”

She lifted a hand in farewell, already back to work.

I walked through the main tunnels, mind whirling with the new details that arrived overnight. So many teams, and so many initiatives to track. After the centering circle, I needed to spend some time with my quipu to clear my head and see if other pathways were available to us—and to keep my sanity.

I walked into the divination room. Ty wasn’t around—probably in the meeting with Winona. Magus were trickling in from lunch, and I sat beside Corentin, who was already there.

When a circle had formed, he announced, “Let’s begin.”

Centering took me longer than it had all week as my mind tried to intrude on the process. Pushing out my worries and the demands on me seemed to take an eternity, but eventually I clawed in my four affinities and allowed them to find unity at my magical core before releasing them again.

My pressing thoughts returned immediately, but they didn’t occupy the same space in me. I could breathe somewhat.

Most of the magus were still here, and a second ring of the coven had formed around the first. I was glad that those who weren’t busy had opted to do something productive.

“Corentin?” someone asked from across the circle, breaking the peaceful quiet we’d been sitting in.

Most magus were finished centering and were enjoying the aftermath.

Corey replied in his dream-state voice, “Yes, Josie.”

“I haven’t noticed before now,” she said. “You used to have four affinities. Now you have three.”

Ah, shit.

The answer to that question led to my unique magical outlet, and seeing as rumors of my dark magic use circulated just yesterday, I wasn’t sure Corentin should give her the truth. Except I’d told him on a previous occasion that I didn’t care if he told the coven.

My gut churned as Positive Patrick answered, “The High Esteemed fixed me.”

I could see how someone like Josie may hear a little Stockholm Syndrome in his reply.

Focus of those who’d finished centering landed on me.

“What do you mean by fixed?” Josie demanded. “She took your magic?”

---