Page 38 of Her Fierce Dragon
“Unfortunately, this is between witches. I won’t really need your help. This I can handle.”
The elder witch turned to him, and he knew she could. He glanced at Willow and saw the same determination on her face. He pitied the witch who turned on these two.
“But I would need to use your phone so that I may call on Daire.”
“Delia,it is good to see you safe and sound,” Daire greeted them as they arrived.
The sun had just gone down at the Bright Moon’s Coven. Witches, needing to connect with nature, naturally built their covens deep in the middle of the woods so they could connect with the earth.
The small building was hidden, and it would be here that Willow could confront the witch who’d set her up. She swallowed and looked around at the witches from the Bright Moon Coven in support of her and her grandmother.
“Come with us,” Sunny murmured. She gestured for Willow to follow her.
She trailed behind her to another witch. They prepared for the arrival of her coven. She blew out a nervous breath. They secured her with silver handcuffs, which would prevent her from casting any spells or using her powers. She felt vulnerable but knew that her grandmother was nearby, as was Feno.
“Are you okay?” Sunny asked.
They proceeded to attach a chain to a pole that was in the center of the yard. She would be on display as a traitor to her people. Once her coven came, her grandmother would then know who the real traitor was.
She had shared with her grandmother everything that had happened after she’d been taken. She was willing to fight beside her to get their coven back. It was started by their family and would continue to be ruled by them.
“I’ll be just fine as soon as this is over with,” she surmised, tugging on the chain. It didn’t give her that much leeway, but it would do.
“Someone has arrived,” a voice called out from the building.
Showtime.
The witches of the Bright Moon Coven scrambled around to get into their places. They each wore their ceremonial dark robes and gathered around her. She kept her gaze on the ground and tried to sum up the strength to act defeated.
The air grew quiet. They all waited. Off in the distance, the sound of car doors slamming shut. Her heart raced, and she tried to figure out who it could be. Who was the traitor?
Was it Mystia, her preceptor? Could it be Athan, the oldest elder? Or Hild, the newest elder who’d been promoted a few years ago? Willow knew that once Uncle Tade found out that her grandmother was safe and Willow was not the person who’d arranged for Delia’s disappearance, all would be fine and the traitor would be punished.
“We have her secured in the back. Delia was a great supporter of our coven, and we can’t believe that she is gone.” Daire’s voice floated through the air as she drew closer.
Willow braced herself for the sight of her coven. She hadn’t seen or spoken to any of the elders since they’d blocked her from her grandmother’s home. They hadn’t even had the nerve to do it in person. They’d sent a paranormal security team to escort her from Delia’s home, so she’d grabbed what she could and ran.
While on the way to Westwend, she had heard the rumors that were being spread about her demanding to come into power. All lies. Now the truth would finally be known to everyone.
Her hair hung over her face, providing a curtain for her. She knew how she would look once someone glanced at her. She wanted to appear defeated in the eyes of the traitor.
“Here she is,” Daire announced.
Willow waited, listening to the footsteps that drew closer to her. Her heart pounded. She waited. She could see the tips of a dark robe in front of her.
“Look at me, Willow,” the voice commanded.
It was cold, hard, and drew a gasp from her. Her head popped up, and she couldn’t believe that it was Uncle Tade standing in front of her.
Her eyes widened, and she stared at him.
No, it couldn’t be. She refused to believe it was her uncle who had done this.
“Uncle—”
“Silence,” he growled. He stood before her, dressed in the same gowns as the witches of the Bright Moon for their ‘ceremonial punishment.’
Her eyes searched his, and long gone was the uncle who had helped raise her. She couldn’t find the gentle man who’d helped her learn her first spells as a child.
