Page 93 of Midnight Witch

“Spreading discord and strife is how he works,” Mae continued, trying her best to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “Besides, there’s something you all seem to be forgetting.”

“What?” Abraham asked stiltedly.

“Apart from those who possess Arcane Magic, demonic power, or divine protection, no one was immune to Anya Mendes’s Illusion Sorcery. Not even—” Mae faltered and looked at her hands before raising her head and meeting their stricken stares unflinchingly, “not even Nikolai could fight that spell in the end.”

“You’re right,” Bryony said after a tense lull. “Arguing about why we fell for that illusion won’t help us do what we need to do next.”

Ephra nodded briskly. “We have to find where they’re hiding Stanisic.”

“No.”

Mae’s voice echoed around Bryony’s office.

She saw Violet and Miles trade a troubled glance out of the corner of her eye. They’d argued with her at length when she’d told them her intentions.

A muscle jumped in Abraham’s cheek. “What do you mean, no? We have to save Nikolai!”

“Iwill save him,” Mae said quietly.

Horrified realization dawned in their eyes at her words. Her gut twisted. The look on Nikolai’s face when she’d last seen him hardened her resolve.

This is for the best. Ithasto be this way. For now.

Bryony swallowed, her expression pained. “Is it because you can’t trust us anymore?”

“It’s because I don’t have a way to fight Illusion Sorcery yet.”

Abraham flinched. Confusion washed across the High Council’s faces.

“Anya Mendes and Gloria Espenoza believe there are a handful of others in the world who wield their magic,” Mae explained in a hard voice. “According to Sergio Mendes and Enrique Cortes’s coven, there have been rumors of Arcane Magic users in China and in Africa. Where there is Arcane Magic, Illusion Sorcery may follow.”

Bryony’s shoulders knotted.

Mae masked a sad smile when she saw understanding darken the older woman’s eyes. She knew the witch would get her meaning first.

CHAPTER38

“So,what you’re saying is you don’t want to take the risk of the Dark Council using that spell against us a second time?” Bryony mumbled.

Mae nodded. “As much as I hate having to take them on without your help, I don’t want to jeopardize Nikolai’s rescue.”

Abraham fisted his hands, his frustration mirrored on the faces of the High Council. “If Vedran unleashes that spell again and we tattle, your plans are screwed, is that it?”

“Pretty much.” Mae sighed ruefully at their wretched glares. “Look, I’d really hate to have to hurt you all.”

“You seemed to be enjoying hurting me plenty on Staten Island,” Abraham grumbled.

Mae made a face. “That’s because you turned into a total asshole under that spell.”

Abraham accepted this statement grudgingly.

“It won’t be for long,” she promised. “I just need to figure out a way to protect everyone’s minds against Illusion Sorcery.”

Bryony glanced at Violet and Miles. “They’ll be helping you?”

Mae dipped her chin. “Along with Vlad. And Alicia, hopefully.”

Unease prickled her skin. It had been over a week since she’d last seen the Reaper Queen.

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