Page 37 of Midnight Witch

The old woman shook her head, dashing her hopes. “Alas, no. I get the feeling he only caught a glimpse of that particular future himself.”

“Same as our friend in Chicago,” Violet admitted. “She can see several futures. Which one turns out to be our true destiny is always guided by our actions in the present.”

Mae worried her lip with her teeth, unease twisting her insides as a fresh realization resonated inside her.

“What is it?” Nikolai said tensely.

“The magic I unleashed today did not taste of the Dark Council’s corruption.”

Vlad leaned his elbows on the table, his expression growing focused. “Tell us exactly what happened. And don’t skip any details.”

Mae and Nikolai related how the Boston coven had gotten in touch with Bryony and why they’d been the ones who’d ended up going to Marblehead Neck.

A muscle ticked in Vlad’s jawline when they described what had taken place inside the church. Mrs. Son-Ha narrowed her eyes. Cortes’s face darkened.

“The whole place disappeared?!” Violet gasped.

“Like the entire hill and the church?” Miles said in disbelief.

They grew more perturbed when Mae described how Bryony and Abraham had referred to Nikolai during the attack she had been subjected to at the New York coven headquarters.

“They believe you’re the future Sorcerer King?” Cortes asked the sorcerer.

Nikolai nodded, discomfited.

“I can only think of one reason behind all of this.” Mae clenched her jaw, the suspicion that had been roused inside her in the last few hours solidifying into a cold certitude. She met Nikolai’s worried gaze. “Vedran is trying to capture you.”

“Though I do not know the details of how covens work, I find it surprising that your boss decided to send you to that church,” Mrs. Son-Ha told Nikolai suspiciously. “It sounded like a job well beneath your abilities.”

Mae startled.She’s right.

Nikolai scowled. “She said they asked for a white magic user. Does that mean someone in the Boston coven is working for the Dark Council?”

“Not necessarily.” Mae’s mouth flattened to a thin line. “They may have been influenced to do so.”

“Or had the suggestion implanted in their mind.” Cortes studied Mae with a pensive frown. “More to the point, you seem to be forgetting something. I agree it looks like the Dark Council are trying to get their hands on the trump card that escaped them,” he glanced at Nikolai, “but there’s something even more important at play here.”

Mae stared. “There is?”

Realization brought a scowl to Violet’s face. “Shit.”

“You, Mae,” Cortes said quietly. “What good is a Witch Queen if her people not only forget she exists, but consider her their number one enemy?”

Crimson flared in Vlad’s eyes. “Those assholes!”

Brimstone and Hellreaver made angry sounds.

Mae’s stomach plummeted, the truth of Cortes’s words echoing through her mind.Oh God! Why didn’t I think of that?!

Nikolai met her shocked gaze, his face ashen.

“They’re right,” he mumbled. “If we don’t break this spell, then my father and Barquiel might as well have won this war before it’s even begun. No one in the magic community will believe us or take our side. And we cannot defeat the Dark Council on our own.”

CHAPTER17

Mae wokeup to a hot tongue lapping enthusiastically at her face. She groaned and pushed at the furry body sitting on her chest.

“We need to do something about your morning breath, Brim.”

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