Page 23 of Blood Coven

“Three days ago.” Matthias regretted the words immediately.

“Three days is plenty of time to warn us.” Juniper eyed him with a touch of frustration, then sighed, her shoulders dropping.

Juniper walked to the open door, where Ana stood awkwardly. “My apologies, we are simply caught off guard,” she explained, welcoming her in.

“Then you have my sincerest apologies for impeding your day,” Ana replied quaintly. “My name is Ana.”

“I am Juniper, Matthias’s sister.” Juniper brought Ana in by the crook of her elbow. She shut the door behind them to prevent more cold air from blowing in. “Come, warm yourself by the fire. May I take your cloak?”

Ana carefully removed her cloak, her movements stiff with pain, revealing her facial bruises. Juniper noticed but kept her expression neutral. Matthias knew it was something she saw frequently. So many abused women came through the house, begging for something to kill their husbands or something to at least numb the pain.

Azalea stepped into the living room then, studying Ana suspiciously. Matthias hoped she didn’t see the resemblance between Ana and Riina, that it had been long enough that the memory had faded. That Ana’s brown hair was contrast enough from Riina’s blonde.

Juniper stepped out of the way to hang Ana’s cloak up, and Azalea swooped in like a vulture.

“Your son told me about the curse he has, a dreadful, fearful thing,” Ana began. Her voice wavered slightly. “My husband craves power and will see this curse as such. As much as I do not wish for him to have more power… It is my hope he will be caught and tried swiftly. He will want it but needs the incentive to seek you out.”

“What do you propose?” Azalea asked.

“To appear ill enough that simple methods will not help, only the cures from a healer. He will come to you—”

“Why would he want to save the woman he beats?” Azalea asked sharply.

Ana lowered her head, shifting so that her sleeves inched upwards. It was subtle enough that any onlooker would see it as unintentional, but Matthias knew it was to show the bruises around her wrists. Tears fell from Ana’s eyes, dropping at her feet to stain the wood. She wiped them away furiously, then met Azalea’s gaze.

“He begs my forgiveness every time, tells me how sorry he is,” Ana told her weakly. “I…I used to believe him. But it never ends.”

Matthias felt her words as they cut into him like daggers, branding him with guilt even though he knew this was her plan. He distracted himself by watching the fire in an attempt to keep Azalea from sensing his guilt.

“And you wish for him to have more power?” Azalea inquired suspiciously.

“I wish for a reason to leave Ocleau. I have a friend who will help get me out of the town, perhaps out of the country. I’ve heard Silvania is nice.” Ana sighed. “I cannot leave my husband without a viable excuse. Once he has sabotaged the town’s trust in him, once he is a monster, they will let me leave him. At the very least, he will not pursue me should I flee. I trust the authorities to catch him; they will be too occupied to worry about me leaving.”

Azalea considered her words for a moment, then appeared to accept them. Turning her back to them, she went to the table covered in books and scrolls. Fingers deftly flipped through until she found the book she wanted. She carried it spread open on her forearm. Instead of going to Ana, she went straight to Juniper, who began reading and making small noises of agreement.

“We will do this for you,” Azalea said to Ana. “Under one condition.”

Ana waited.

“We need protection. If we go through with this, a young and inexperienced werewolf will be roaming free and hungry. They go after the ones they love in familiar places. You will be forced to flee the moment we make this change. Do you understand?” Azalea continued without waiting for Ana’s response. “We will likely be the next target, so I must make safeguards.”

“Understandable,” Ana said softly.

“If we do this for you, we get to control him.”

15

SILVANIA

THE YEAR OF THE MOON

SORIN

A pattering noise startled Sorin from sleep, but she woke with instant alertness. She sat up in bed and turned towards the noise. Her window glowed bright white. At first, she thought it was a vivid dream, but when her eyes adjusted, she saw Alina’s face pressed against the glass, each heavy breath coating the window in fog. Frantic fingertips rattled against the surface in a desperate way.

Sorin hurried to her feet, her night dress clinging to her body as she made it to the window. With a shove of her shoulder, she managed to force the window open, wincing slightly from the pain.

“What is wrong?” Sorin asked quietly but sternly.

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