Page 71 of Boss Witch

Clem laughed softly over that.We have something in common.

He’s here searching. Before he finds us, we’ll try a misdirection spell as a coven. The Herring spell is difficult to pull off, and it might tip our hand, but we have no other options. I hope we can send him searching in the wrong direction, though I don’t feel good about it. What if he catches some other witches in our stead? We have no control over what will happen when he leaves, but we fear what will happen if he stays even more.

My misgivings don’t matter. We cast the spell tonight.

She’d never heard of a Herring spell, but Etta Mae had left notes on the spell’s creation, as it was designed to mimic the movement of a living creature, an incredibly detailed and high-­skill working. Clem paged forward and found an entry celebrating their success. Like Ethel’s mother, she did wonder if somebody else got caught in this feint, but it happened a long time ago; no way for her to find out.

More depressing, it wouldn’t work this time.

Not when Gavin already knew who she was. Misdirection would have no impact in that case. Their best hope was a forgetting spell, and those were uncertain at best. They needed a powerful neuromancer; by herself, Margie likely lacked the strength of will to blur a witch hunter’s memory.

Maybe if the coven is backing her?Softly, Clem swore and then reported her findings to the coven group chat.

Margie:Crap. It’s on me?

Leanne:I have some skill with mind fuckery. It’s why I always look like I have makeup on, even when I just woke up.

Vanessa:Why am I not surprised?

Ethel:I’ll work up some power boosting charms for tonight. We’re trying this at your place, Clem?

Danica:That would be best. We just laid in new wards and they’re strong. If witch hunters try to push past, there will be collateral damage.

Kerry:The type of big news that ends up with a mysterious explosion being explained as a gas leak by puzzled mundanes?

Priya:Oh dear.

Clem:Yeah, that’s about right.

Margie:I’ll do my best to nail the spell the first time. Really hope the house doesn’t blow up.

Danica:Same. We just got everything exactly how we want it.

Margie:This will be fine. Everything will be fine, right?

Vanessa:Are you hyperventilating? Do I need to come over?

Margie:I’m…good. Probably. Maybe. I’m going offline for a while.

Someone should go see about Margie, who wasn’t mentally prepared to anchor this spell, but Clem had to get the house ready. Certain ritual preparations had to be done to give them the best chance of making this spell work. She spent two hours bolstering the candles and crystals that would be used, charging them with her power until they couldn’t hold any more energy. Her own reserves would replenish as she rested, so she showered when she was finished, washing off the summer sweat. Her phone had been quiet for a while, and she dressed in a loose white summer dress, not archetypical but comfortable.

I miss him.

The thought crept in sneakily, like that annoying ginger cat from up the street. Suddenly she had it squatting in her head, getting bigger all the time.I miss Gavin.

No, you’re not allowed to miss him.

It didn’t matter if it had been fun hanging out with him or the sex was good. His freaking job was to hunt witches. That wasn’t an ideological difference they could just agree to disagree on.You can’t compromise with someone who thinks you shouldn’t exist.

Not ever.

***

Gavin tried his damnedest not to laugh.

The replacement crew had been forced to eat a vegetarian meal at premium prices, but Echo hadn’t found anything useful. Too much human interference. After lunch, Gavin guided them to the cornfield, hoping for the best. Since then, this pile of pillocks had spent hours going over the site, and they hadn’t found a damn thing.

From what he knew of Clem, he guessed that she’d rallied her coven to cleanse the place, leaving not even a glimmer of energy to be traced. Now it was just a field, and while he could see visual signs of people moving around, there was no way to trace them. Echo was good, Gavin would give him that. He did some physical tracking and found where they’d left all their vehicles, some distance away. But a witch walking to their car didn’t leave much evidence. And beyond that, the witches could be anywhere.

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