Page 123 of Blue Moon Mistress

The fact that he can push her at all is proof that even mild threats can bring the wolves out to play.

“Interesting…” She turns her back on us and walks away.

I’d have thought it was a power move, if there weren’t a dozen other witches there to make sure no one lunged after her.

As the others draw back to her, a shimmering wall forms between them and us.

The witches speak within their bubble and I take a deep breath, going back to the others. Chase immediately pulls me to his side and kisses my forehead. “If they banish you, where are we going to move?”

That pulls someone’s attention back to us, though in my periphery, I only see the movement, not who it actually is.

“Not Nebraska.” Thomas says with a hushed laugh. “I don’t want to be anywhere near my family.”

“I hear Costa Rica’s nice.” Johnny says, but his jaw is tight, his gaze locked on the witches deliberating our verdict.

“What about Denver?” Chase asks. “I’ve never been good with new languages. And there’s that adage about old dogs and new tricks.”

I would laugh, but Johnny and Thomas straighten, and I know that deliberation is over.

“You are found not-guilty by a vote of twenty-seven to one.” She straightens her shoulders and I see Martha glaring at us from behind her.

No need to guess who our guilty vote was from.

“But know, we will be watching you.”

I nod, and then, “Do you watch all of the witches who have left the Coven’s immediate surrounds?”

Renée’s spine straightens. Perhaps she wasn’t expecting a continuation.

But if the coven can put me on trial, I can turn it right back around on them.

“Aphrodite Lourdes has taken up residence—”

“She is not the one on trial here.” Her mother has taken a step forward, but another witch holds her back.

“I am aware of that. However, as a member of this coven, it is my duty to bring any concerns I have regarding solitary witches close to you.”

“And what concerns do you have over Aphrodite? A witch that, as you say, no longer belongs to the coven.”

“Upon moving to town, she has placed a tracking barrier around it to trace the movements of any other witch into or out of what she considers to be her territory.”

“And you think you’ve claim to the whole town?”

“Of course not. Neither I nor the witches that already lived in the town have ever claimed it to be ours alone. However, the tracking spell is not the only concern I have. She is placing warnaways in the shape of dolls around the town. Their purpose is unclear. She continues to consort with a vampire whose intentions are also unknown… And I believe she plans to start a coven of her own.”

A witch in the back snorts a laugh and this time, Martha turns sharply back to her. “That is nonsense. She agreed to the terms when she was released from the coven.”

Renée looks at me for a long moment, as if trying to read my intent. “Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. We will consider them, and act accordingly.”

I nod, knowing that it will probably mean that an impartial inquisitor is sent to evaluate the situation and talk to Aphrodite herself.

Fine by me.

With a flutter of her hand, Renée turns and sweeps through the crowd of witches.

Some of them follow, others linger.

Elaria runs over to me in a flutter of velvet and throws her arms around me, knocking her hood off and revealing her bright red hair. “It’s ridiculous! You have to be summoned to trial for me to see you in person?”

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