Page 77 of Princess Avenged

I stand. “Yes. On a matter of great urgency.”

“You may sit, Princess.” The woman smiles again, her expression comforting. But I firm my resolve to stay on my guard.

“This isn’t your vampiric court.” The woman’s smile widens. “There’s no need for formalities here. Isn’t that right, sister?” she asks Ember, who nods.

I sit again and, seeming to walk directly out of the rock formation, a line of women files forward to take the other chairs. Blade squeezes my hand, drawing my attention; his eyes are full of alarm.

“A simple parlor trick.” The woman chuckles. “You need not be frightened, my handsome, bloodsucking friend.”

“I’m not frightened.” Blade raises his chin.

The woman smiles again, and this time it’s tinged with condescension, but it fades so quickly I wonder whether I really saw it.

“Shall we introduce ourselves?” she asks. “I am called Circe, and my sisters—” she gestures behind “—they are too many to name, but they will form today’s council.” She looks into my eyes. “Princess Anastasia, you require no introduction, but I would very much like to know the names of your companions.”

“This is Blade,” I tell her. “Next to him is Zuben, and you know Ember.”

She nods.

“And please,” I say calmly, “speaking of formalities. Please, call me Ana.”

“Ana it is.” Circe walks backward so gracefully it almost seems as if she’s floating, and then she settles into the chair that’s directly opposite ours.

“I will speak for the council today,” she says. “And please know that we only agreed to meet, because your concerns impact the entire world.”

I nod.

“Also note,” she continues, “that whatever we reveal here—if we choose to reveal anything—must never be repeated.”

“We understand,” I reply.

Her expression grows stern. “I’m not certain you do, Princess Anastasia.” Her hand sweeps in front of her, and my entire body tingles. “Should one word you hear today be repeated, you will find yourself unable to ever speak again.”

Blade shakes his head.

“Blade.” The woman’s eyes narrow. “I know you believe you’re invincible, immortal, but believe me, you are not.”

“I understand,” Blade says. “I mean no disrespect, except…whatever you tell us won’t be much help, if we can’t tell the others.”

“What others?” Circe glares at Ember.

“Ana’s other mates,” she says, and my stomach contracts at her word choice. “Depending on what you tell us, it may prove essential for at least one of them to know what we learn from you.”

The witch nods, clearly not loving this answer. “I will be the judge of what is essential.”

“Of course,” Ember says, and I hold my lips tightly together.

“The spell of infinite silence will hold, should anything non-essential be uttered, to anyone outside your two families.” Circe places her hands on her lap. “Now, what is so urgent?”

We let Ember explain, and she quickly and succinctly recounts the tale of how Phil came to be possessed by this demon, and what Blade and Zuben discovered during their research. Once or twice, Zuben looks like he’s about to interject, but Ember subtly raises a finger from where her hand rests on his thigh, and he holds himself back.

By the time Ember’s finished, I’m shocked at how well she covered all the most pertinent details. It does sometimes help to be one step removed from a story.

“What you’ve told us is most troubling,” Circe says, but her expression has barely changed. “I must consult with my sisters.”

A heavy drape falls in front of the four of us, blocking our view of the witches, and then I realize it’s all around us.

“What the hell?” Blade rises from his chair but drops back down as if pulled by a magnet.

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