Page 107 of Enspelled

“But first…?” Liam prompts.

“Well, let’s just say the rest of the pack had a not-so-nice surprise waiting for them the morning after I left: A suddenly vacant position at the top,” Bodie drawls.

I glance over at him, because I think I’m seeing the real Bodie hiding beneath the amiable smiles and innocent charm. He killed the alpha who exiled him before he walked away.

For a long moment, no one says a word, but then Liam shakes his head. “This is not wolf business. I will not lead my wolves into—”

“I hadn’t thought you were a stupid boy,” a far-too-loud female voice rings out from behind us, “but I guess I was wrong.”

Frowning, I turn around before blinking in surprise at the large woman in a purple velvet dress waddling toward us from the forest.

“Bullhorn Ellie,” Sera breathes. “As if this situation couldn’t get any worse.”

I remember the woman from the tearoom, the one with the powerfully loud voice and the probing questions.

“Why is she even here?” Briar murmurs, presumably to Sera.

“Because it’s about time we did something about Mel.Allof us,” Ellie responds.

I jerk my gaze from Briar where it had drifted and back to Bullhorn Ellie, because her voice isn’t powerfully loud or grating anymore. It’s familiar… as familiar as a person I’d believed was dead.

She’s still wearing a velvet dress. But this woman has long dark hair, pale blue eyes, a slender figure, and an almost ageless appearance.

Abigail. The witch who was hiding in the south wood.

“Abigail,” Briar breathes. “You were Bullhorn Ellie all this time.”

Abigail smiles. “It was the only way to stay close enough to help when I could.”

“Is there any witch in town who isn’t disguising herself?” I mutter, glaring.

Abigail snorts. “It’s not a difficult spell to master,” she says, briefly glancing at me before her gaze settles on Briar. “We need to talk.”

From Briar’s too-wide eyes, it’s clear she’s trying to hold back tears.

I straighten. “No, you can explain yourself to—”

“Okay,” Briar cuts me off and stalks toward Abigail, arms folded across her chest.

When I move to follow, Abigail shakes her head. “No, Keane. There are some things I need to share with Briar. Alone.”

“You realize I could listen from here,” I growl, annoyed at the witch.

Abigail nods. “You could. But I like to think you’d respect mine and Briar’s need for privacy.”

33

BRIAR

Abigail was Bullhorn Ellie all this time. I can’t believe it.

“I thought you died in the cabin,” I whisper as I search the face of the woman who is my godmother, and who all this time was disguised as the most annoying woman in town. “How…?”

Abigail sighs. “I hadn’t intended to disappear like that.”

My eyes widen. “You brought down the cabin, but—”

“No, Briar,” she gently interrupts me, “that wasn’t me. But since I’d expected an attack would follow once you’d come to my cabin, I was ready with a spell to escape.”

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