Page 97 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

My gaze swept to Varden.

His expression was smooth. “We’ve collected enough ingredients for Miss Rooke’s antidote that she feels confident we’ll achieve a steady stream at two of the demon gates.”

“I’ll rotate my sentries on and off those gates,” Wild put in. “Some, particularly males, are showing increased anger and aggression without clear cause. They could do with a regular break from the influence of demon magic. I’ll monitor it.”

Delta was twirling her dagger. “While you were out, the sentries picked up on something unusual happening at the demon gates. It’s like their magic is eating at one of the charms.”

“Which one?” I asked her.

“Along with the charms that limit the demon king’s ability to hear, see, smell, and feel anything we do on this side, you asked for a charm that would prevent him sensing anything about our magic. That’s the charm that’s degrading.”

“Or being eaten,” I repeated her earlier words. Interesting.

Huxley looked at Wild. “Light and dark magic eroding one another?”

“Or the demon king has revealed his motive,” Winona stated.

I had to agree with her summation. “The demon king wants to know as much about us as possible. Which means we could be as much a mystery to him as demons are to us. He’s just had longer to roll out scouting missions and gather information, but if he’s doing this, he may still not feel like there’s enough to launch a full attack. We need to keep that charm strong at all the gates. Winona, could you handle a team for that, please?”

I’d met the demon king in my memories. He’d nearly killed me at sixteen before I had any idea who or what he was. The supernatural was powerful. Terrifyingly so. Even if he’d discovered my demon’s absence from his realm, he couldn’t be worried about who would win a fight between us. I wouldn’t help him seize our territory and lives whatsoever. “Give Rooke the go-ahead with the antidote at the two closest gates. Ask the new covens joining us for the same ingredients too. Ideally, we get enough to cover all five gates. Delta and Winona, what are the updates from your teams?”

I listened to both women as they detailed progress being made.

“I think it best to start with trainings between two affinities and work up to trainings with all four affinities over a couple of weeks,” Delta said once Winona was finished.

We were under a time crunch. “We’ve had a lot of demon activity already. I see your point. I also hope we have a month of training time. We need to act as though that won’t happen.”

We went back and forth on details, the other advisors chiming in until a plan was formed. The other coven members would be working hard to get us in a good position to fight for our homes and lives.

“You need to attend too,” Delta said. “You won’t have a team like the others, but it’s clear you and Wild are powerful together. We’ll need to work with you as a pair.”

Wild’s gaze met mine.

“We’ll schedule it in,” I replied to her. “Varden, what about your unity incentives?”

“Going as per our plan. Not having the effect I would like to see, nor in the timeframe I would like, but the incentives are being put in place.”

I wasn’t the only one who heard the sadness in his voice.

Varden was taking the state of the coven really hard. Or more that the end of Caves hadn’t seen us band together in an instant. I’d need to speak with him one-on-one. He couldn’t put so much pressure on things. I mean, I’d love if the coven was one big happy family already. Also, if someone asked me five days ago how the coven was doing, I might’ve burst into tears. Things could change overnight. We were dealing with people with a range of beliefs and opinions and priorities and ideas, after all.

Returning to a unified coven would take time, and there would be ebbs and flows on the way.

Opal slid the document case with the alliance contract across the stone table toward me. “You have a lot to do, High Esteemed, but the Vissimo and Luthers asked that you deliver the signed contract to them in person in Bluff City. They’ve provided an address. The king would like to meet you.”

King Julius.

I’d only met the son of the ancient Vissimo. Kyros was powerful and scary enough to make me wonder what his parents were like. “Then that’s where I’ll start.” I glanced to where Wild was warring with himself not to make demands about coming.

I sent him an image of us both stepping into a portal. I sent the image gently, so I wouldn’t knock him flat on his back. We’d been practicing since discovering the new development in our bond.

“Wild, how long until your next shift?” I asked.

His relief floated to me, and gratefulness. I was leader, and while I didn’t see our relationship that way, he didn’t want to make demands of me as the high esteemed. As far as I was concerned, where I went, he went, and vice versa.

“I’ve got time,” he replied.

I stood, the contract in hand. “Huxley, tell Spyne he’s needed and please gather everything we have on the subject of demons. The contract allows us access to their information on demons and their access to what we have. Delta, you’re in charge of alerting me if the demon alarms go off. I want to know immediately.”

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