Tegan was particularly gifted in understanding other people’s lives. She excelled in putting herself in other people’s shoes and walking a mile in them – all in the split of a second. It was natural for her. She didn’t have to try. She just understood people and how they functioned. She was calm and logical. Hell, her Myers Briggs personality type was INTJ, nicknamed The Mastermind. She was brilliant, our very own Sherlock Holmes.
But if things went bad…if people were lost…I wasn’t sure what that would do to my best friend.
B? Her voice echoed in my mind.
I arched one eyebrow.
Do I want this, B? She asked while chewing on her thumbnail.
I pushed my magic into my feet and thought back, Perhaps WANT is a poor word selection? Because we both know you WANT to.
She smirked. Fine. SHOULD I take this?
Where do your doubts lie? I asked back. In the last couple weeks, I’d gotten good at this trick. Granted, it really only worked with Tegan.
I’m unconventional. I have crazy ideas. Dangerous ideas that could get people killed.
I shrugged. So Haven will be the Annabeth to your Percy Jackson.
Her eyes widened. Oh my God. I’m not even mad about that.
I chuckled. I was fairly certain everyone knew we were having a private conversation, but no one said a thing.
What if something goes wrong? She whispered into my mind. What if people get hurt? What if it’s my fault?
That was indeed the real question. That could happen whether you’re leader or not. So is it worthy of making the decision for you?
She groaned and pushed her hands into her hair. Would it be selfish of me to turn it down?
This is a big responsibility. I dug my other heel into the ground. But, T? You asking these questions and voicing your fears is more proof of how perfect you’d be at this.
She nodded but her eyes were distant.
T. If you said no, who would say yes? When she looked up at me, I continued. Not me, I don’t know enough about this world. Willow and Chutney are too sweet and innocent. Lily too cold. Emersyn’s darkness can’t be risked. Same for Henley? Who does that leave? Your mom? Saffie?
No. Tegan frowned and shook her head. They’ve both suffered enough. They deserve some peace.
Right. And even if one of the other girls did take it, they’d all be coming to you for guidance anyway.
Tegan grabbed her hair in her hands and twirled it around her fingers. Her magic flashed and then the purple strands grew higher in her hair – but Tegan didn’t seem to notice.
I sighed, then whispered, “You’re already leading us, T. Might as well make it official.”
She bit her bottom lip and turned to her parents. “Mom? Dad?”
Hunter grinned and rocked back on his heels. “As long as you stay out of all kitchens, I’m good with it.”
Devon smacked him in the arm but she was smiling. “You were made for this, sweetheart.”
Tegan was now chewing on her lip. “Timothy? What do you think?”
His smile widened and I liked the way his eyes sparkled, like the fact that she was asking him – a now non-Coven member – meant a lot to him. “No one could have pulled the stunts you did, crazy pants.”
Tegan blushed, which was a rare occurrence for my best friend. She looked to her right. “Bentley – no wait, shut up. Cooper?”
Cooper chuckled and shook his head as he ruffled Bentley’s hair. “Tegan…we’ve followed you this far.”
Tegan exhaled and turned to her left. “Henley—”
“Bloody hell, woman. You gonna ask the whole blasted group one by one after we just all voted for you?” Jackson arched his eyebrows at her. “I mean, we all said your name out loud.”
I grinned. He’d gotten rather cheeky since his quest for Michael’s sword ended. I liked it.
Royce pointed to my soulmate. “Yeah, what he bloody said.”
“Goddess almighty.” Henley sighed and rolled her eyes. “Would you rather she have accepted it without hesitation of any kind? That’s a rhetorical question, by the way, we all saw how well you handled her scheming back in October.”
“Oh burn,” Easton cheered.
Henley winked at Tegan. “She’s just a curious kitten.”
“Yeah, and curiosity killed the cat,” Warner grumbled.
Lennox scoffed. “If something kills her we’ll all probably be dead already.”
Savannah snorted, spitting her drink across the table. She wiped her mouth. “Ma’am. I was not ready for that.”
Tegan chuckled and ran her thumb over her lip. “Twin?”
“You’re the reason we’ve succeeded in almost everything, twin.” Em twirled her long hair around her finger. “You’ve never feared your power before.”
“I know you want this, T,” Deacon said softly.
“Do I? Really?”
“Tegan…” I waited until her eyes met mine. “No one is expecting you to change. We just need you to keep leading us as you already are.”
She nodded.
“Besides…” I shrugged. “You’ve already claimed the entire penthouse sooooo I think we both know you knew this was coming.”
Everyone laughed.
Tegan grinned. And then she turned to Haven. Her soulmate mark poking out the top of her V-neck shirt was emerald green, so her nervousness wasn’t just for show. She licked her lips and wrung her fingers. “Babe?”
My brother stared at her for a long, long moment and I knew he was sensing all of her doubts as much as I was. He knew his soulmate as much as I did…but he also knew what it was like to be Coven Leader.
Finally, Haven put his hands on his hips and sighed. “A couple months ago I stood in your shoes…do you remember what you told me?”
She shook her head and we all knew she was lying. “Remind me?”
He stepped forward and took her hands in his. “Babe. Just breathe. You got this. You’re going to be amazing. We all know it. You were made for this role. I’m right here with you every step of the way. You won’t be doing this alone. We’re here.”
She smiled and her eyes glistened.
He leaned forward. “Besides, I’d love to not be the one required to have all the answers…this would really work in my favor.”
She snorted and shoved him back. “Butthead.”
“So, Tegan,” Deacon stood and rubbed his palms together. “Are you saying yes to the dress?”
Tegan shoved her hands into her hair. “Yes. I’m saying yes to the dress.”
Everyone laughed and tackled her in a hug. She hated it…but she loved it, too.
“All right,” Constance called out as she stepped back. “For my last order as Coven Leader…everyone get in their whites and get out back. We have a leader to crown.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Saffie
The room was quiet but for the low rumbles of Olli’s snoring at my feet and the beats of Riah’s heart against my ear. I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept for but I felt more rested than I could remember feeling in a long, long time. My whole body was warm, though that probably had more to do with the heat radiating out of Riah’s body, which I was using as a pillow…and Olli’s by my feet.