Page 70 of Witch Queen

“It’s not as if the Seer’s visions come with a precise countdown.” Bryony shivered. The wind had picked up and was whipping her coat around her legs. “Besides, I can’t feel Vedran’s presence yet. We’ll know when he arrives in the city.” Her scalp prickled as she studied the darkening clouds. “I’m afraid this is only a prelude of what is to come.”

By the time Jared’s car hit Midtown, Manhattan had come to a standstill. The Immortal switched on his dash light and cursed under his breath as he weaved painfully through the stationary traffic.

No one paid attention to him.

Every man, woman, and child was standing on the street and gazing nervously at the menacing sky and the birds streaming silently above their heads.

Bryony had to give credit to the citizens of New York. It was their sheer resilience that meant none of them was running around screaming yet. She wasn’t sure how long that state of affairs would last though.

When they pulled up to the mansion, Barbara and Regina were waiting outside with April and Ludmila. Relief flooded Bryony at the sight of the witch and sorcerers beside them.

“Valentina.” She stepped out of the vehicle and rushed over to embrace the Caracas coven High Priestess. “I’m glad you’re okay!”

Valentina hugged her tightly, her face pale.

Bryony pulled back and acknowledged Sergio Mendes with a nod. “Thank you for coming.”

Anya’s father gave her a weak smile.

Bryony turned to Felipe Cortes, Enrique’s uncle and the current High Priest of the Medellin coven. “I really appreciate you bringing your people here on such short notice. Having powerful Arcane Magic users on our side will come in handy.”

Felipe bobbed his head curtly. “This fight is as much ours as it is yours. It belongs to the entire magic community.” Anxiety clouded his eyes. “Have you heard from my nephew?”

Bryony hesitated. “Not yet. But I’m sure he’s fine. He’s with the Witch Queen, after all.”

Felipe’s shoulders slumped. Sergio touched the sorcerer’s back lightly and murmured comforting words.

Cortes had finally made up with the family and coven he’d thought had abandoned him all those years ago, when his aunt broke his core and nearly killed him. Though he had been reluctant to trust them again, Anya’s presence in the sorcerer’s life had helped ease the difficult reconciliation process.

Eerie magic washed through the city, making everyone stiffen. Even Jared flinched, the divine energy in the switchblade strapped to his ankle flaring briefly in reaction to the corrupt tide.

Bryony’s stomach sank as the twilight engulfing New York deepened, blocking out the sun as effectively as an eclipse. The air grew heavy.

“He’s close,” Barbara warned.

Anya came out of the building with Roman, Violet, Eric, and Miles. The Nolans and the rest of the High Council were close on their heels. Everyone stared at the eldritch clouds roiling above them.

Karin finally dragged her gaze from the forbidding sight. “Did the mayor agree to evacuate the city?”

“Yes.” Abraham furrowed his brow. “But we’ve lost too much time.”

A scream rose somewhere in Central Park. Another followed farther down the avenue.

Shimmering shields exploded around everyone. They raised a battery of powerful spell bombs, their familiars on alert and the jewelry they wore shifting into deadly weapons.

“It’s not him,” Jared said in a hard voice. “I think the people of New York are finally realizing something is amiss.”

Gerard swore. Bryony followed his gaze.

A couple of grizzly bears had wandered out of the park. They were followed by several snow leopards and a growing crowd of fast-moving penguins. A snow monkey jumped from a tree and scampered across the road toward a coffee shop, a lemur clinging to its back.

Miles squinted. “Is that a red panda riding a sea lion?”

“Great,” Abraham said leadenly as more of the Central Park Zoo animals streamed out onto Fifth Avenue. “Biblical scenes of the apocalypse are the last thing we need right now.”

Bryony turned to Anya, her pulse racing. “It looks like we’ll have to go with Plan B.”

Anya swallowed and nodded. Sable straightened on her shoulder, the blue flames of their magic sparkling in the eagle’s pupils.

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