Page 170 of Demise

We all file in, everyone taking a seat around the room. I make sure to practically plaster myself to Vincent and it doesn’t escape the notice of my mom. She turns to us, smiling as she speaks.

“So, what’s new?”

We’re all silent for several seconds before Ronan begins.

“Giselle, do you remember what you and I discussed last time we were here?”

Her smile slips, a seriousness taking over her face as she nods.

“It’s time,” Ronan says with a stiff nod.

A conflicted look plays across her face as she glances up to my dad. Their hands intertwine as they both nod.

“We’re in,” my dad says.

Within thirty minutes, my parents’ house is practically bursting at the seams. Every single witch part of their Coven is inside, all circling around me. I catch Astrid’s eye as she smiles at me, Sariah giving me an encouraging nod. My gaze swings around, attempting to find my guys as they begin.

“Wait—” I say.

My mom looks at me in concern as I speak.

“Them too. I want them protected. Please. I can’t risk losing them.”

Rachel gets a conflicted look before she speaks for everyone.

“We can make that work.”

I hear some grumblings of disapproval as my guys slowly slip inside the formed circle.

“You know this is all a load of shit, right?” Asher whispers into my ear.

“Hey!” Rachel says as she takes a cup, pouring it over his head.

“What the fuck!” Asher snaps while the room erupts into laughter. “What the fuck was that for?”

“To cleanse you and that nasty energy.”

Rachel grabs another cup and dips her fingers inside it, running it along each of the guy’s foreheads before my own. She draws patterns against our chests with the water, or maybe I should say liquid since I’m not exactly sure what’s in it, before she sets the cup down and nods.

Someone hands her a bundle of what I’ve come to know as sage before she lights it and begins running it over us and therest of the room. I see Jillie line up over thirty white pillar candles, encasing us in the circle as she begins lighting each one.

She steps back into her position, and one by one, every person surrounding us lifts their palms to the sky by their sides before turning their right down. One by one, they all stack their hands together, flat palms pressed against the person beside them as they close their eyes and speak as one.

“Powers of the night, powers of the day, I summon thee. To cast your protection upon thee. By the light that surrounds me, be safe, be free. For powers of north, south, east and west, may they be ever blessed.”

Suddenly, the flames of the candles flicker for a moment before burning brighter. It startles me, and Vincent tightens his hold on me instinctually. I look to Asher on my other side, as they both furrow their brows, and look around curiously as the witches continue.

“In shadows that linger, stand strong and bright. Protected and guided, I embrace the light. Negative forces, you cannot draw near. With this shield of protection, we cast out all fear.”

With their final word, the candles dim, the flame back to their original height and brightness.

“What the fuck?” Liam whispers as Rachel steps forward with a handful of necklaces with protection jars on the bottom.

Each guy bows his head to her, a form of respect and acceptance as she places the protection necklace around each of them before coming to me. Mine looks a little different than theirs, with a large chunk of what I’m assuming is obsidian.

“Why is mine different?” I ask as she places my necklace around me.

“Because you’re my niece and I love you more,” she smiles.

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