Page 45 of Thicker than Water
She looks up at me, another question in her eyes. I answer it by taking her up in my arms and bringing her around to the side of the bed, tucking her under the covers.
“At this rate, I’ll never have to work again,” she chuckles. In another few moments, she slides easily into sleep, her lashes pressed against her luminous cheeks.
I wish I could rest so easily. My own slumber is full of tension and bad memories. Lives I wish I could unlive, or at least forget.
Her heart beats slower, a gentle pulse under her skin. Once I’m certain that she’s asleep, I whisper, “I don’t remember what colour they were. I wish I did. But I remember that my hair would turn red in the sun, during the summer. Not anymore, of course.”
She buries her face into the crisp silk pillow with a peaceful smile. The tug of the oncoming dawn pulls me away, to my coffin in my crypt.
With only sad memories to keep me company.
LIKE I WAS UNDER A SPELL
Amara
“This can only end badly,” says Lavinia with a frown.
“Tudor Thornblade, teaching at Elmwood? What is Amrita thinking?” Callista echoes.
“Surely it’s notthatterrible,” I reply to the two anxious faces in my scrying mirror. I had to hurry back to my apartment this morning. I overslept and woke in Celine’s bed. I know she must have been in her coffin, but I instinctively reached for her when I awoke, and there’s still a little ache of disappointment in my belly. Not that I can share that with Lavinia or Callista, of course.
"What have you been able to discover, Amara?” asks Lavinia, her intense gaze trained on me like a stern school teacher. “Have you gotten any closer to the vampires? Weneedto know what they’re plotting.”
“Well, it’s a bit difficult in my position,” I say, guilt rising in my chest. “They don’t share many secrets with their bartender.”
“But you must have seensomething,” Lavinia snaps. “You’ve got to find a way to get close to Tudor’s progeny, Amara. They’ve got to be planning something. There's no other reason he would be teaching at Elmwood. He's going to undermine us. I just know it.”
“Aren’t you being a little paranoid, Lavinia?” I reply, crossing my arms over my chest. “Tudor’s progeny don’t seem to be plotting anything. They’re far too busy running the hotel.”
“You're forgetting how devious vampires can be,” Lavinia says. “I’ve stationed spies in the Cave, to listen in on the imprisoned Arundel wolves. They’re talking about allying with the vampires. They’re going to plan an attack.”
My stomach sinks. “Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m certain. And you can bet that the vampires won’t hold back. Vampires don’t care who they hurt. They only want power, and right now, we have it. They’re going to come for us, and they’ll take down anyone who’s in their way!”
“You have to be careful, Amara,” Callista says. “They won't hesitate to kill you if they find out you're a witch.”
I bite my lip, remembering how Celine swiftly disposed of the vampires who attacked the Succumb club.
“We value your bravery,” says Lavinia. “Nobody wants to avoid war as much as I. But we may need to strike first. If this comes to a head, it could be big. Amrita is threatening to leave the Triple Council, and if the vampires betray us and convince the wolf shifters to join them…it could be another War of the Final Fire.”
Beside me, Merlin ruffles his feathers in agitation. I’m also shocked by her words.
“Lavinia, you can’t be serious! Surely this little conflict-”
“This is no little conflict,” my High Priestess says sharply. “You’ve become softened by our recent peace, Amara. And although I admire your optimism, we must prepares ourselves for war.”
“She’s right, Amara,” Callista says. “The information we’ve gathered in the past few months isn’t good. The Arundel shifters are clearly plotting something much bigger than their fight with the panthers, and the fact that Tudor was hiding Oana Ionescu is highly suspicious. Lavinia and I are preparing the witches for battle. The older ones are resharpening their skills. The younger ones seem excited for their first real taste of war.”
I’m astonished by her quick agreement. Before I left for Silverlake City, Callista and I had always agreed that Lavinia was overreacting. But now I can see lines on the face of my usually cheerful friend. If Callista is worried, that changes things. Merlin and I share an anxious glance.
“Amara, you’ve got to do everything you can to get us information,” says Lavinia. “All that we love is at stake. Our coven, our way of life. You know better than anyone what these conflicts bring. Think ofyour father.”
“I understand, High Priestess,” I say, my voice hushed now, although nobody can overhear us. “I have to get ready for my next shift. I’ll keep an ear to the ground.”
“Blessed be,” she says in time with Callista.
“Blessed be,” I reply, as their faces fade from the mirror.
