Page 88 of Of Scale and Blood

“Nothing I can immediately think of, so can we stop talking and just do? Time is running out real fast.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You got seer abilities?”

“Mom has.”

“Ah.” She eyed me speculatively for a second, then switched her gaze to Damon. “You brought the items?”

He nodded and shucked off his four packs, handing one to each of the younger witches before giving the third to the older woman. He then took my three, handing out two and keeping the third.

“I’ll work the circle around Bryn and Kaia,” he said. “Carrie can work around Kele and Yara, and Sue, Hannity and Rua.”

The older woman nodded. “Leaving me as guide and step-in spare if your strength fails?—”

“Hang on,” I cut in. “Why would Damon’s strength fail and not the other ladies’?”

“Because,” she snapped, annoyance evident as she stabbed a finger toward Kaia, “that drakkon is huge—almost a third larger again than the other two.”

Am queen, Kaia said.Should be larger.

I resisted the urge to smile and motioned the older woman to continue. She did so, though her voice remained somewhat cross. “Now, our preparations may take some time, so you ladies will sit your butts down next to your drakkons and wait patiently—without talking.”

Is she old queen? Yara commented.She bossy.

I couldn’t help smiling.With age comes bossiness and wisdom.

Depends on queen. Some not wise.She paused for a long moment, probably realizing what she’d implied.Not mean Kaia.

Not old, came Kaia’s unconcerned response.

As Kele and Hannity walked over to their respective drakkons and gave them the smoked fish, I stopped next to Kaia and leaned a shoulder against her neck as I stared out over lands lit by the moon’s bloody hue. A shiver stole through me, and I lightly rubbed my left arm.In Túxn’s name, let it not be an omen of what lies ahead.

Footsteps approached, and even before I looked around, I knew it was Damon. The power surrounding him was so intense, it felt like lightning across my skin. “You wear your magic like a cloak.”

“It’s a cloak you should not be able to see,” came the old woman’s response before Damon had any chance to reply. “And did I not advise silence?”

“I’m not one to remain silent unless absolutely necessary,” I retorted. “Do you actually have a name? And do you always listen in on other people’s conversations?”

“Yes, and yes,” she replied with a cackle.

I waited several seconds, but she went no further. I raised an eyebrow and met Damon’s gaze questioningly.

Amusement briefly lurked in his red-hued eyes. “She’s known to the outside world as simply the Prioress.”

“Why? Angola is a place of teaching, not priories.”

He shrugged. “In times past, there were many who did not understand—or indeed condone—a woman’s need to study, but most respected a religious priory.”

“Has Zephrine really moved beyond that belief? Because I’m hearing echoes of it every time your father opens his mouth.”

“My father is not Zephrine, no matter what he believes. Now, I need to set up the circle around the two of you.” He glanced up at the drakkon. “Kaia, you need to remain still—no tail swishing.”

No swish tail, she acknowledged.No move.

I repeated what she said, then added, “And me? Should I strip off yet?”

Heat stirred briefly in his eyes. “As much as I would enjoy that, I need to concentrate, and you, my dear wife, are too much of a distraction.”

“And yet, here you remain, chatting and being all distracted.”

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