Page 67 of Which Witch is Willing?
The baby surveyed them all with the same intensity, but she didn’t make a sound.
Tierra stood and held out her arms. A brilliant smile lit Violet’s face, and Claire knew she’d spotted her momma.
Once the child was in her mother’s arms, Tierra turned so the guests had a better look at Violet, and she beamed with pride. “This is Violet Mirelle de Moray. Named after my mother.”
Melody, drew her thick eyebrows together, giving her a unibrow. “She’s only a few weeks old, you say? Looking at her, she seems much older, much more…”
“Alert?” Justine added from where she held court, sitting in the prominent pink Queen’s Anne chair. “Perhaps wise? Yes, she’s very aware of her surroundings.”
Claire had feared the witches’ reactions concerning how fast Violet had grown. But what could they do about it?
Tierra shrugged. “Violet’s been a surprise to us all. A very happy surprise.”
Aerin started to walk away, but Tierra quickly grabbed her by the elbow. “Would you sit by me while I open gifts? Violet would love you to hold her.”
Aerin gave her a curt nod. “Of course.”
“Claire,” Tierra said. “You can pull a chair next to Aerin and help me remember who to thank for which gifts.”
Tierra was obviously nervous having Violet in the room. Claire sent her a reassuring nod and moved closer.
Tierra relaxed her shoulders, but apprehension still tinted her green eyes a darker shade than normal.
Claire wondered if there was an undercurrent that Tierra sensed that she could not and wanted Aerin and her close by, just in case. Claire glanced across the gaggle of guests, doing another sweep for anything that might seem suspicious.
She stopped on Aunt Justine, who’d slumped against the back of her chair with her mouth wide open.
Good Goddess. They must have worn out the older woman.
Claire snickered and leaned to whisper to Aerin. “Oh, my Goddess.Aunt Justine fell asleep. In the middle of the party. She can try all she wants to hide her age, but it’s showing.”
Aerin chuckled and turned her gaze toward their older aunt. Claire watched her sister, waiting for her smile to grow, but it dropped completely from her face. She quickly glanced to Tierra who hadn’t noticed and then back to Claire.“Look at her. I don’t think she’s breathing.”
Alarm dove deep into Claire, and she straightened. She didn’t want to ruin Tierra’s shower by announcing their aunt may have died, but there wasn’t much she or Aerin could do otherwise.
Claire hurried to Aunt Justine and knelt next to her. She gripped her wrist to feel for a pulse. Aerin joined her and shook their aunt’s shoulders to try to get a response.
The older woman slumped forward, and Claire reached out to stop her from toppling to the floor.“Dear Goddess.”
No pulse.
Words of worry from their guests flew about the room. “Someone call for emergency services,” Claire said, and then she wondered if ambulances were even operating any longer.
Tierra stood, her face ghostly white. “Nooo!” Her cry came from across the large room.
Tierra clutched Violet and rushed forward. When she reached Aunt Justine, she dropped to her knees next to Claire. “What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked breathlessly.
Claire shook her head, feeling certain the woman had passed to the other side. Emotion closed her throat, and she had to force out an answer. “I don’t know.She was fine, and then she wasn’t.”
Tierra jerked her gaze around. “Where’s Killian? Is he here? Has he taken her soul already?”
Violet released a soft giggle that seemed so out of place that Claire couldn’t help but look at her. The tiny child clung to her mother’s arm with one hand but held the other in the air, one finger extended. She twirled her finger around and around as though swirling the atmosphere.
Tierra handed Violet to Claire and jumped to her feet. “When I find that Horseman…”
Claire gasped. “Wait, Tierra. Aunt Justine’s not gone. She’s not with Killian.”
She caught Tierra and Aerin’s glances and furtively raised her gaze upward.
