Page 68 of Her Forbidden Shifters
I was growing anxious after waiting for so long for us to finally come back together.
“I am High Priestess Raven,” an older woman said, standing at the side of the table, drawing my attention to her. She was the same woman that had just welcomed me and the other two to the feast. “Blessed be!”
The witches all chanted, “Blessed be!”
“May the gods look favorably on our task at hand,” the high priestess said, and then picked up a chalice. “In hopes of winning their favor, we offer this wine from the bountiful harvest they have granted us. And we offer a plate of our bounty, from our plentiful stock.”
She carried the two items to the head of the table, decorated with the symbol of the triple goddess and wrapped with vines and flowers. She set the plate in front of the seat, bowed, uttered some incantation I couldn’t hear, and then returned to her seat.
“In it, harm none,” the high priestess said.
“Do what you will,” the witches replied.
“What does all of that mean?” Jacob muttered.
“It’s their creed,” I said, smirking to myself that I knew something the great detective didn’t.
“Too much pomp and circumstance for my taste,” Liam added.
“Perhaps Savannah would love to hear all about how the most important part of her life is too much for you?” I asked, casting my gaze to the side.
He clenched his fist over the tabletop.
I smirked. Wolves. All bark and no bite.
“You may begin,” the high priestess announced and dug into her plate.
Jacob piled his plate high, stocking it full of cheese and meat. Liam was less greedy, taking a handful of everything within reach. I didn’t want to perform on a full stomach, so I focused more on the meat and wine, being careful not to over stuff myself, or drink myself into oblivion, which was what these rituals normally resulted in.
I had something to prove after all.
“What?” Jacob said, staring at my plate. “Afraid you’re going to get a stomach cramp.”
I frowned, trying my best to ignore him.
“No wonder she dumped you,” he continued.
“You know what,” I said, words coming out sharp. “Believe what you want to believe. It’s no skin off my back. Because when this is all done and over with, and she chooses me, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”
“We’ll see,” Jacob muttered.
Three loud thumps filled the room, drawing our attention to movement at the head of the table. Silence settled on the room, almost deafening. I gaped as I realized who stood there.
It was Savannah. I didn’t even realize she was in the room. Everything else had captured my attention. Not to mention that I tried to look for her and didn’t find her, so I assumed she was still getting ready. She was dressed in a sheer robe decorated with silver and various colored stones. Her hair was done up. A braided crown wrapped her head, and the rest of her hair was pulled back into a weird, twisty, knot-bun thing. Twigs and flowers poked out from the braid. And her makeup was spectacular.
Her skin shimmered like gold in the candlelight. Her eyes briefly met mine, making my heart skip a beat.
Soft chanting filled the room, whispered low and uneven, almost as though everyone was speaking the same thing but at slightly different times.
The candles brightened and lengthened their flames. Then, all at once, the candles flickered, dousing for a brief moment. At the same time, the chanting stopped. The candles burst back to life, and Savannah was gone.
I tried to stand up, wondering where the hell she had gone, but Jacob pulled me down. I glared at him. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Relax, it’s part of the ritual,” he said.
“And how would you know?” I snapped. “You didn’t seem to know a whole lot about this a few minutes ago.”
“Because I saw her exit through a hidden door in the wall just before the candles settled,” he said, voice flat, twisting to face me.
