Page 60 of Witch Queen

“So, he’s coming after us,” Miles added, standing stiffly beside his cousin.

A fraught hush ensued.

Karin shuddered, her face clearing as if she were waking up from a nightmare. “When was the last attack?”

Jared clenched his jaw. “Eight hours ago.”

Horror rounded Gerard’s mouth. “What?!”

Derrick squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, his expression pained. “How come we’re only hearing about this now?”

“Because that bastard did something to hide what was happening,” the Immortal replied in a hard voice. “We think it might have been Illusion Sorcery.”

Bryony’s insides twisted as she watched Jared’s bleak expression. He was no doubt recalling the magic that had turned all of them, including him, against Mae just a few months ago.

Though the Witch Queen had long forgiven them for attacking her while under the influence of Anya’s spell, most of them had still not come to terms with their betrayal.

Bryony shivered.Thank goodness she found a spell to counter it.

“And the timeline of the attacks?” Nadia asked sharply.

The Sun Magic witch had gotten off her call.

Jared faltered. “We think he struck all of them at the same time.”

Bryony swayed. Shocked murmurs broke out.

“What?” Confusion clouded Roman’s face. “How is that?—?”

“Portals!” someone gasped.

They turned.

Anya was standing in the doorway, face flushed and chest heaving as if she’d run to get there. Her eyes were brimming with tears and her pupils round with fear. She clutched Sable to her chest.

“Nikolai was right. Vedran is sending his army through portals. They just attacked the Caracas coven!”

Ice filled Bryony’s veins.

Miles scowled. “So he’s going after the South American covens next!”

“Dammit,” Abraham ground out.

“No, not—not Valentina!” Ephra mumbled.

Valentina Flores was the High Priestess of the largest coven in Venezuela and a close friend and ally of the High Council.

Anya shook her head. “Valentina is fine. She wasn’t at the coven headquarters when it was hit. My father has spoken to her.” The witch swallowed heavily. “It’s not just Venezuela. He was on the phone to a friend in Buenos Aires when their coven got attacked twenty minutes ago. The sorcerer he was talking to described a heavy aura of corruption and a black gate opening inside the building.” Her voice broke. “My—my father said he heard the screams of demons and devils before the connection broke.”

Sable crooned anxiously in her mistress’s hold. Marlena rose and went to them. Anya allowed the witch to lead her to a couch, her shoulders slumped with grief.

Bryony finally recovered her composure. “What did the Seer say exactly?”

Jared traded a troubled glance with Violet and Miles.

“That the first part of the prophecy concerning the Witch Queen is about to come true,” the Immortal said reluctantly.

Simon blanched.

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