Page 99 of Demise

“Lists of suspects and the reasoning behind it. People that were tried and acquitted, those that were tried and executed, and those that were tried and died before they could see judgment.”

My nose wrinkles up at that.

“That’s awful,” I say with a shake of my head. “And he had family names listed in there?”

Ronan nods. “All of whom were executed or banished from Salem Village. Though, they never really left.”

“The Coven?” I guess.

Ronan tilts his head to the side curiously.

“What do you know about the Coven?”

“Besides what the name implies…nothing. I’d guess it’s the group you all have hinted about since I got here. The ones that the Brethren are constantly fighting against.”

He doesn’t agree. Then again, he doesn’t deny it, either.

“I want to know more,” I say.

Ronan winces. “It’s better if you don’t. If the wrong people find out you’re digging, it’ll make you look suspicious. Make no mistake, my brother is even more deluded than my father was. If he even suspects you have an interest in witches or—”

“I don’t have an interest in witches. I have an interest in finding out what happened to my mother, into what these families I’m living alongside are capable of. I’m interested in uncovering the truth.”

“The truth is all a matter of perspective,” Ronan says cryptically.

Wesley moseys into the kitchen, a sleepy smile on his face that quickly falls away when he senses the tension in the room.

“What’s going on?”

We are both quiet for several seconds before Ronan speaks for me.

“Skyla is asking questions about the Coven. She wants to know more.”

Wesley is already shaking his head when Ronan continues.

“And I think she has a right to.”

“What?” we both ask simultaneously.

“We all got to learn our history; it was practically beaten into us. You were not given that advantage. So, let’s rectify it.”

I nod, a little shocked he gave in so easily.

“Get dressed. We’ll leave soon,” he says as he looks at me.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“The town’s library.”

Chapter Thirty Two

Ronan

Ilead Skyla through the library, Wesley close behind her as we come to the front desk. The librarian smiles at us but does a double take to me before a look of unease passes over her. I reach into my wallet, pulling out a few hundred dollar bills that I slide over to her.

“You were just about to take lunch,” I say.

She slowly takes the money, slipping it into her purse as she nods.

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