Page 92 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

Whelp, it was now or never. I thought it best to let Grandma explain for me. “Lilith, I need you,” I said into the void between us. Lilith shimmered into her celestial form. Not human but not spirit. “I’d like for everyone here to see and hear you.”

“It is done,” she replied, smiling that loving grandmotherly smile that sometimes a person just needed to see. I heard thecollective gasp from not just Adalaide, Karro, and Shafira. But others had joined while my eyes had been closed. Every member of the coven stood surrounding us.

“I am Lilith, first witch,” she started. “Simone is my granddaughter.” Lilith, always ready to give a good show, paused for effect. All eyes shot to me, then I nodded and she started to speak again. “Witches will save the world. We are the most powerful. We were granted the power of the Garden. Eden flows through all of your veins. Eden, the universal mother, is within all of you. Harness your collective power and take back what should have always been yours.”

“She’s good,” Karro whispered. “I’ve got chills listening to her.”

He was not prepared for what happened next. “Step forward, Karro.” His eyes went huge and his back stiffened. I gave him a little shove of reassurance to get him to step forward. He took these tiny steps and from our meeting today, I knew this man didn’t do anything tiny.

“Simone has explained that you are my many-times great-grandson. You are my family. Your destiny brought you here.”

“My destiny?” he asked timidly.

“I am proud of you, Karro. Your life has not been easy. None of my family has lived easy lives. I am sorry for this. You will see in the coming weeks how necessary, though heartbreaking for me, that it was. Simone will explain what she needs from you. She will explain what she needs from you all. It is a dangerous endeavor you face. Not all will live to see this end. But if you care for the world, for humanity, for your families, evil must not win.”

“I have theories,” I told my grandmother.

“I know. I am always with you, my dearest Simone. I hear everything. All you have to do is talk to me and I will answer.”

Lilith shimmered out of sight for everyone, but I felt a tingle on my cheek and I lifted my hand to touch the spot. I glancedaround and noticed Karro lightly touching his cheek as well. He caught my eyes and said, “She said she loves me. I heard her in my head. Then she kissed my cheek.”

“Yeah, Grandma Lilith is always watching over you.”

He blanched. “I hope notalways.”

“I said watchingoveryou, not watching you. That would be weird and creepy and trust me, nothing she wants to see. I know, I asked. Connor and I have gotten a little freaky-deaky ourselves.”

“Do tell,” he said.

“There was this time in Lucifer’s office?—”

“Lucifer? As intheLucifer?” Shafira asked.

“He’s a great guy. Connor works for him and they’re best buds. Luc is hotter than any guy you’ve ever seen—guaranteed.”

Karro bit his bottom lip. “Ooh—do tell.”

Laughing, I went on. “I adore him. He gives Connor crap all the time and anyone who gives Connor crap is okay by me.”

“Connor, as in your protector mate, Connor?” Karro asked.

I nodded. “I love him. He’s good to me. The sex is off the charts, but he can be a bit…ornerywith people.” When Karro looked a little taken aback, I went on. “Don’t worry. He’s a puppy underneath all that sexy hellhound. Anyway, giving Connor crap is one of the great joys in my life.”

“What do you need of us?” Adalaide asked, interloping on our little bit of fun.

I let out a breath. Time to work. “Okay, first… I need help rescuing my mate. I escaped capture, but he wasn’t as lucky. They have him in a black salt cell and I’m worried I won’t get back to him in time.

There might’ve been a collective gasp from the other witches when I said ‘black salt.’ Apparently, they all knew its effects on hellhounds.

“And you need more numbers to rescue him?” she asked next.

“No. I need to find him again. I don’t know where he is currently.”

I kid not, the woman looked at me like I had horns growing out of my skull. “Can’t you home in on his location? Heisyour mate, correct?”

“Oh, he’s definitely her mate. I was a second and a half away from being ripped to shreds when I teased about sharing him,” Karro so helpfully put in.

“Then what is the problem?”

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