Page 2 of The Maestro's Mates
Veronica scowled, her eyes flashing. “Smartass.”
“Mmhmm. Now, why am I here?”
Veronica took in a deep breath, the wind beneath her shifting as she let it out. Her eyes softened. “I want you to join me against Mother.”
Sebastian whistled, slapping his hand against his thigh. “Well, you’re finally doing it.”
“She’s holding the Circle back, keeping us all trapped in the last century.”
Sebastian’s brows furrowed. The delusion was real. “Not you. You haven’t been here in more than five years. Nothing’s holding you back. Disappear. Like dad did.”
“I am nothing like our father!” The breeze whipped up around them at her words. “I needed to get out, Seb. To consolidate power of my own. I couldn’t live under her thumb any longer.”
“Why not start your own Circle?” Sebastian thought he knew the answer, but he wanted her to say it. “Find a far corner of New Jersey and build up your own little witch kingdom. Somewhere you can be as ambitious as you’d like without the normies discovering our existence.”
Veronica shook her head violently. “I won’t give up the city. You know Mother would never allow a separate Circle in Brooklyn or Queens when she’s in Bayonne.”
“Even in a city as big as New York, we can’t afford to risk exposure,” Sebastian said, crossing his arms. His defiance would probably set her off, but he didn’t care. “Too many witches in the area will only draw unwanted attention from other supernaturals. One Circle is enough. That Circle belongs to Mother.”
“Her time is up. Join me. You’re just delaying the inevitable.”
Sebastian stood from his gnarled seat. “No. You hate Mother, but I don’t. She can be harsh, but she’s always had the best interests of the Circle in mind.”
“I won’t let you stand in my way.” Veronica stood, bringing her hands together in front of her. “You’re my brother, but this is more important than family.”
In one fluid motion, Veronica reached into the sleeve of her coat and flung an object toward him. It was a small, winged dart. He braced for impact, hoping it didn’t hold anything more lethal than a sleeping spell.
The chaos swirled around him as it hit his chest. Immediately, the metal tip fell off the body of the dart, followed by the feathers, crumbling like a piece of Ikea furniture that had been put together without instructions. The disconnected parts slid down the front of him, the dart not even leaving a mark.
Why would she use such a weak weapon? Had she thought he hadn’t built any defenses in the last five years?
“Guess it must have been defective. Sorry, sis.” Sebastian turned and stepped away. He’d had enough. His sister had always been ambitious, but after disappearing for so many years, she no longer had any claim on him. And she certainly didn’t have the right to ask him to betray their mother.
From behind him, he heard a quick intake of breath and sensed energy gathering. She’d always been a better witch than he, especially when on the offensive, but he was older and more sure of himself now. He had to trust in himself.
As the power built to its apex, there was the sound of crumpling earth, and Veronica let out a startled yelp. Sebastian turned around, going back to where he’d left her.
Except now, she was standing in a hole about fifteen feet deep.
“A sinkhole? Cool.” Sebastian didn’t bother to disguise his glee at what had happened.
“What did you?—”
“Did you actually think I’d show up unarmed?” He patted the pouch hanging around his neck, a bundle of chaos elements, all focused on preventing any harm coming to him in the most entropic way possible.
“Sebastian…”
“I’ll tell our mother what you said here today,” Sebastian said, turning and hurrying away. It wouldn’t be long before the shock wore off and she rallied her air spirits to lift her from the hole.
“Find me when you want to come home! I’m sure Mom will only make you grovel for a few months,” he called over his shoulder. With a giggle, he climbed to the top of a stone wall, hurtling over it and disappearing into the city.
Chapter 2
Justin
The front door was in splinters. That was the first thing Justin noticed, and it made his breath catch in his throat. His Aunt Lavinia was a badass, she always had been, so if something broke down her door, she wouldn’t run.
He rushed into the house, skipping up the front stairs, to find a living room laid waste. The floor was littered with broken tchotchkes and slashed pillows, some of which were stained with blood. Panic bloomed in Justin’s chest, threatening to overwhelm him. What had they done to her?
