Page 22 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

“She’s not Coven Mother yet,” another witch called. “Sybil named her Heir, but she can’t be coronated until her twentieth birthday.”

Which is still two months away.

Lightning flashed, and its shine caught Freya’s copper eyes, painting them a near-red. With her mouth set in a grim, harsh line, and her body taut with determination, she reminded me of the night she came to kill me.

“Would you like to challenge me for the position?” Freya asked calmly.

Arion curled around her leg and glared at the crowd, as if daring someone to take the bait. I wondered what exactly the challenge for the Coven Mother position entailed. From the tense silence that stretched across the meadow, I doubted it involved a mere political campaign.

The once very vocal witch swallowed. “Maybe someone should.”

The magic in the air grew so potent, it took all my control to keep my own power from reacting. I didn’t even breathe out of fear that my control would slip.

“Thatis not what we’re here to discuss,” Gloria argued and walked to Freya’s side. Her purple robes dragged across the grassy floor but caught no debris. “The Elders will continueto act in the best interest of the coven with advisement from our Heir until the threat we face is over. This is not the time for dissension. Most of you were there the night we saved the hunter, and you willingly offered your magic to help him. Those of you who were not have had weeks to leave. Nothing can be gained from whining about our situation. Stay and help your coven overcome this, or go.”

Gloria’s self-assured, no-nonsense speech did the trick. The crowd of witches settled, and the roaring magic ceased.

“Now,” Freya said, “anyone who would like to continue to be a member of the Coven of Hecate will help us perform a tracking spell so Walker and I can begin our hunt for the chimera.”

Cadence raised her hand and spoke with confidence. “I will be accompanying you two.”

Cady’s words got rid of the lingering tension. Chuckles and smiles were shared among the coven. For as much as they loathed me and distrusted Freya, they loved Cadence.

“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Freya replied and smirked.

“I would also like to volunteer,” Thea offered, “To join you on your journey.”

Freya smiled at her friend and looked toward the Elders. Their skin colors, hair, and body shapes were all different, yet they shared the same air of confidence I supposed one gathered only after hundreds of years of life.

“I propose to the Elders,” Freya said, “that we conduct the tracking spell, then determine who shall join us on the hunt for the chimera. Volunteers only, of course.”

“Someone has to go,” a blonde witch in front of me muttered, “and play chaperone to the Heir and herboyfriend.”

“He isnotmy boyfriend,” Freya snapped.

Though it was foolish, I flinched. Despite everything we had been through, Freya was disgusted by the thought of a flimsy attachment to me.

Witches don’t believe in love.

They also didn’t believe in turning hunters into witches, but Freya had been able to overlook that rule.

And look at how it turned out for her.

Of course, Freya wouldn’t claim me. I was a mess. A liability. I was selfish enough that despite knowing this, I was still hurt.

“Unless anyone has anything of real relevance to say,” Freya announced, “let’s get to the spell.”

Chapter Seven

Freya

Walker was not my boyfriend.

I was a goddessdamned witch after all.

You’re right,the voice in the back of my mind said,he’s more than that.

Like usual, I ignored my too honest consciousness and focused on the spell. As members of my coven gathered in a circle and clasped hands, I placed the locket in the center of the group and began the incantation.

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