Page 32 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

“You were saying ‘med’,” I told Cady. “Over and over again.”

“Like, medical?” Thea asked.

I shook my head. “No, she said ‘medy’ once before she snapped out of it.”

“There’s more,” Freya said quietly. Her gaze met mine. “She said, ‘he’ll pay. He must pay.’”

I shivered.

“We need to tell the Elders about this,” Thea said. “I mean, is there any world in which thisisn’tabout Walker and the High Witch’s quest?”

“It has to be connected,” Freya agreed, “but I don’t see what bone the chimera has to pick with Walker.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time I pissed off a supernatural creature without doing anything to provoke them,” I argued.

Knowing I was referencing her, Freya winced. I decided to change the subject.

“Did you see the pendant?” I asked.

“Sort of,” Cady answered and grimaced. “I think I saw an actual chimera. It was vicious and ugly andmean.Its eyes were red. Bright red. It had the head of a lion, but it howled like a wolf at the moon.”

My thoughts drifted to Ryder and how on earth he was connected to any of this. I couldn’t make sense of it.

More knocks pounded against our door, and soon our apartment was filled with Elders. Despite the early hour, each of them was dressed for the day. We gathered in the living room and pulled chairs from the kitchen for everyone to have a seat. I offered one to Freya, but she declined it. Worry nagged at me. Cady seemed more and more herself, but Freya only grew more distant.

The Elders questioned Freya and Cady about their dreams. They fit together like a puzzle. Cady saw a single chimera howl, whereas Freya heard a swarm of them answer in return. Cadence felt an ancient, spine-tingling magic, and Freya saw a wicked grin and bloodshed.

They painted areallylovely picture.

“This must be the creature you seek,” Gloria said.

The Elder’s gray hair was swept into an impeccable bun, but her blue eyes were wide with concern.

Lyra placed a tan hand over Gloria’s pale one. “Hecate has not abandoned us yet. She still sends our coven visions.”

Gloria pulled Lyra into a hug. I couldn’t help but notice how Gloria inhaled the other witch or how Lyra clutched hertightly. They quickly pulled away and slipped back into their usual, aloof selves.

“And Hecate sent the dream to me for a reason,” Cadence said. “I’m supposed to go on this trip.”

I waited for a refusal to this point, but no one said anything. Not even Freya argued.

“Oh, come on,” I said. “She’s barely twelve years old! You can’t expect her to go with us. I think one vampire-visiting-field trip before thirteen isenough.”

Cadence shook her head. “Walker, I’m ready for this. Watch!”

One second, Cady sat on the couch beside Thea. The next, magic buzzed in the air, and a swirl of pink light appeared before her. She leaped through it before I could stop her.

“Cady!” I yelled.

Thunk.

I spun to the kitchen, where Cadence sat and shrugged.

“I haven’t perfected the landing,” she explained, “but Icansummon portals.”

“Already?” Freya asked then snapped her mouth shut and wiped the disgruntled expression off her face. “Very impressive.”

I fought the urge to laugh at Freya’s poor attempt at hiding her jealousy, though it was nice to see that even the Heir struggled to keep up with my sister’s magical aptitude.

---