Page 103 of Love's a Witch
“Don’t take much issue with the MacGregors.”
“Sloane?” Broca asked, leaning on her cane by the fire.
“Och, I’m overwhelmed.” Sloane fanned her face, looking around at everyone. “You all didn’t have to do this. We would have figured something out eventually. I can’t thank you—”
“Save it until you know if it works.” Dorothy cut off Sloane’s rambling, and laughter went through the room. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
I stood watch as every standing founding family member I could find came forward and added a drop of their blood to the cauldron, along with honey and whisky.
“Mandy’s not here. Is she not from a founding family?” Sloane looked up at me, and I nodded toward a woman dressed in muted turquoise who stood quietly at the back of the room.
“Her mum is. Mandy refused to be here.”
“Is that right?” Broca’s look sharpened, her eyes meeting mine.
“That is correct,” I said, not wanting to get into coven politics at this time. But I knew what it could mean when a member of a coven, particularly the president, didn’t participate in a ritual of this magnitude. Mandy had pulled a risky move, and the payoff might not be what she hoped for.
“Sloane, I’m Felicity’s mum.” A woman with messy hair and tired eyes gave her finger to be pricked.
“Oh my goddess, how is she?” Sloane’s eyes filled with concern.
“Much better today, thank you. A few broken bones, but nothing that won’t heal with time. Thank you for being there for her.”
“I didn’t do anything. Raven did.” Sloane gestured to her friend.
“You brought comfort when you could. It mattered.” She squeezed Sloane’s hand and stepped back as member after member of the town came forward to support Sloane.
Until the very last person stepped forward.
“Dad!” Sloane exclaimed.
I’d never met Sloane’s father in person before, and I straightened my shoulders as he came forward. We’d seen each other in passing, when I was growing up, but once the girls had moved, he’d disappeared into the hills.
I’d sent Henry to find him. Even though Sloane was of the same bloodline,I’d wanted her to see that people would show up.
And he’d come. Just as I expected he would.
Sloane’s eyes filled again, and this time the tears spilled over as he gathered her in his arms, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m not sure my blood will add much more to the ritual than yours, but I’m putting a whole lot of love in there with it.” His voice was low, gruff, against her hair, and even I felt like I might cry. We all looked discreetly away as they hugged, and then Sloane pulled back, wiping at her tears as Russell stepped forward and added the final drop to the cauldron.
“Right, shall we?” Broca raised a hand, but a bark interrupted her.
Blue erupted from the other side of the room, and Sloane gasped, her hands going automatically into the air as he swooped across the room in that lovely, wobbly, funny way of his, landing clumsily in her arms. He looked up at her, his smile on his face, and raised a paw.
“He wants to add his blood.” Sloane half laughed through her tears.
“A drop of dragon’s blood. That’s a mighty gift,” Russell said.
“I agree. What a gem wee Blue is,” Dorothy said.
“I don’t want to hurt him, though,” Sloane said, turning to look at me.
“Won’t hurt him a bit. Their paws are scales. See?” Russell turned Blue’s paws to show the vibrant scales, and then quickly pricked it before Sloane could protest any more. A drop of iridescent blood splattered into the cauldron, and the contents began to move of their own accord.
“I think that means it’s ready.” Broca stirred, and then tilted the cauldron, pouring the drink into a quaich to be passed around among everyone. Broca called the circle, and placed the hematite stones.
Together, the descendants of Briarhaven recited the ritual.
