Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Emberlyn drummed her fingers on the armrest. It bothered her that she hadn’t considered this theory herself. It made sense. All of it.
‘I’d like to know your thoughts on this,’ said Reena. ‘You have no reason to help me – I’ve certainly failed you many a time. I wouldn’t blame you for throwing me off this porch. But this situation impacts you regardless of whether I’m the focus or not. It benefits us both to be frank here.’
Well, she wasn’t wrong there. And while Emberlyn felt zero inclination to aid the woman after their history, she’d be stupid to let it color her perspective and dictate her choice. ‘I’d have to agree with you. I think it’s highly possible that there’s someone in your camp who’s put a lot of effort into making trouble for you. And if so, it’s probably a woman.’
Reena’s brow pinched. ‘Why a woman?’
‘Unless you’ve earned yourself an enemy, the only real reason for a person to take such risks and invest so much of themselves into this is that they have something big to gain. Like becoming High Priestess – only a woman could do that. If they can make the coven mad at you, they’d have a shot at replacing you. People could come together to force you to step down.’
Her expression thoughtful, Reena nodded. ‘That makes sense. Who would you consider a suspect?’
‘Aside from my family, I don’t know your witches well enough to say who might have an interest in what you consider “the malevolent path”. If you know of any who do, look closely at them. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ames is part of the faction – he asked Millicent for lessons in blood magick once; she refused to oblige him.’
‘Can you give me names of witches who came to you over the years looking for potions or spells that would be considered unethical?’
‘I can do that. But there’s no point if you’re going to dismiss the names of people who you believe wouldn’t ever set you up to deal with all sorts of crap.’ Reena liked to blind herself to what the people she cared for were capable of, from what Emberlyn had observed. ‘You’d be surprised who showed up at my doorstep over the years.’
Reena looked away, uncomfortable. ‘My ex-husband was one of them, I know – he confessed to it years ago.’
‘So was your sister, Penelope,’ Emberlyn added, causing the High Priestess’s gaze to shoot back to hers and widen. ‘And her then-partner, Bennet. Your right-hand Getty, too – yeah, even I was shocked she showed here. She always seemed so disapproving of “other” crafts.’
Reena shifted in her seat, cursing beneath her breath. ‘That they came to you doesn’t necessarily follow that they would betray me.’
‘Why? Because they’re family and friends?’ Emberlyn snorted. ‘Gill, Dez and their kids are my family – look how they treat me. If people want something bad enough, things like loyalty, love and honor can fly out the window. Aren’t there people you trampled over in your effort to rise to the position of High Priestess?’
Reena hesitated. ‘I take your point,’ she finally mumbled. ‘Did your grandmother ever say who she thought might be part of the faction?’
Emberlyn shook her head. ‘Millicent didn’t care about coven issues unless they impacted her.’
‘When I wanted to be voted in as High Priestess, I considered challenging her to prove my worth to the coven. But I knew I would lose. Another idea I had was to drive her out of town. But, again, I knew I’d fail.’ Reena paused. ‘I tell you this because whoever wants my position may think of doing the same to you. Unlike me, they may be willing to take the risk of losing. They’ve taken plenty of other risks so far.’
That much was certainly true. ‘You like to claim the right to punish your witches yourself. I’m going to be clear to you right now that if any of them take the risks you just mentioned, I’ll handle it my way. And if I were you, I wouldn’t retaliate against me.’
Reena let out a soft snort. ‘The warning is not necessary. You think I’m not aware that you’re more powerful than I am? Much as it vexes me, I’m unable to deny it.’
‘And yet, you thought to take the manor from me the very night it chose me.’
‘It was an act born of anger and desperation. Though I didn’t realize quite how powerful you are until that night. I knew then that I had no chance of taking the house from you by force, so I tried talking you round. It became clear that you wouldn’t part with the manor. And when your family’s attempt to invalidate the will failed, I accepted the situation. If I were to challenge you, I would lose – and look weak. A witch of my status can never afford to look weak.’