I frowned and ran my fingers through Olli’s fur. “Aren’t you coming?”
“He can’t,” Timothy’s deep burly voice rumbled.
I spun toward him and scowled. “What did you say?”
Timothy shrugged. “Coven initiations are closed to the public. Coven only.”
“Aren’t you in The Coven?”
His eyes turned sad. “Not anymore.” He held his left arm out and revealed two gray XX’s.
Bettina wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “But you’re still family.”
He chuckled and his dark eyes twinkled. He patted her arm. “I know, Hope. Now go on, get out there so little miss Saffie can be at full strength.”
Tegan held her hand out to Bettina. When she took it, light flashed and they vanished.
Tenn turned to me and Riah. “Sorry, he’ll have to stay inside.”
“It’s all right, Emperor. I understand.”
I did too…but still, I hated to part from him. I didn’t want to let go of him, to take my eyes off of him for even a minute. He needed to be okay, and I needed to stay with him. I glanced over my shoulder and found Savannah and Gigi already mid-conversation with Lennox and Warner, so they’d be fine. Timothy plopped down on the sofa near Katherine. Mona sat in a big chair reading a book.
“Saffie?”
I looked up as Paulina stepped in front of me. Her XIII Mark was a pale ghost on her arm. My eyes watered. I’d wanted to be in The Coven but I hadn’t wanted anyone else to lose their spot. “Oh, Paulina—”
“No, no.” Paulina shook her head and took my hands in hers. “Do not be sad. I am happy to be alive, and even happier someone amazing has replaced me. I just wanted you to know that…and…”
I frowned. “And what? What’s wrong?”
She smirked. “Nothing. Just remember the Death Card is never alone. They will join you.” Then she winked and skipped off to sit next to Timothy on the sofa.
I shivered, then turned to Riah and found his gold eyes watching me. My pulse fluttered and warmth filled my veins. “You can’t come with me.”
“I know,” he said softly while holding Olli in the cradle of his arms.
“You have to stay here.”
“Saraphina.” He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, then tipped my chin up. “You won’t be gone but a few minutes and I shall remain here, right where you’re about to leave me.”
“Right. Yes. Okay. It’ll be fine.”
Olli grumbled and licked the air between us.
I smiled and took his face between my hands, then scrunched up all his extra fur. “Be a good boy for Riah, Olli. I’ll be right back.”
If possible, he snuggled closer into Riah’s arms.
“We’ll be all right. Go on.”
I pushed and let my wings fly me up so I could press my lips to his real quick. Then I spun and flew to the door. My nerves made my muscles tighten, so I dropped down to my feet and took a deep breath…then I opened the back door and stepped outside. My heart fluttered. Butterflies danced around in my stomach. This is it.
I’m officially joining The Coven.
I’m being initiated. My magic will be at full strength.
Part of me could not believe this was where my life had taken me. When I was a little girl I’d dreamed of this. I used to pretend I was in The Coven and fighting off imaginary demons in my house. Sometimes Mom and Uncle Leyka would play along.
My heart sank. Mom and Uncle Leyka. I missed them so badly. Once this initiation was done I would have Tegan portal me to her on Crone Island. She could meet Riah, for real. She’d like to see Olli again.
Just have to get through this first, Saffie.
Because I’m joining The Coven. ME.
I looked up ahead as I walked and spotted The Coven standing in a circle, just like they had been for Tegan’s Leader ceremony. Except this time it was just us. No spectators. No witnesses. No audience whatsoever.
A bitter cool breeze swept through the trees, brushing over my skin and through my hair. I frowned and glanced around. It was January. Winter had long since begun. The air was crisp and cold. Snow clung to the tree branches and leaves around us yet none was on the mostly brown dirt and dead grass here. We were barefoot in our sleeveless sheaths. We should’ve been freezing. Yet, not a single one of them looked cold. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t cold. Even the dirt under my feet was warm, so much so that I hadn’t realized this until now. I hadn’t even realized it before during Tegan’s ceremony.
It had to be from Emersyn or Tegan, but I wasn’t complaining.
Cooper stood at the edge of the circle, right at the opening. He smiled down at me as I approached. “You ready?”
I nodded. “I am so ready.” And I was. Truly. This was a fantasy come true.
“Then in you go.” He winked and gestured for me to walk ahead. “This will be quick.”
My heart pounded in my chest like a hammer. I stepped inside the circle and Tegan materialized in front of me.
She grinned and hooked her arm around mine, her crystal crown sparkling like ice in the midday sun. “Willow, you’re up!”
Willow nodded and rubbed her hands together. Pink and orange flames flickered around her hands, and then blue lines shot out over the field.
I cleared my throat. “So how does this go?”
Tegan giggled. “Every single person asks that, don’t they?”
“Yes,” Constance said with a little chuckle. “And always right at this exact moment.”
“When shit’s about to go down.”
I looked to Deacon on my left. “This is why you were warning me?”
He threw his hands up. “Brace yourself.”
“There’s no reason to be afraid, Saffie. You’re clearly tougher than the rest of us. Whatever happens here will be over quickly.” She squeezed my arm, then pulled hers free and pointed in front of her. “All right, go stand in the center of the pentagram. All you gotta do is open your magic up, and we’ll do the rest.”
Center of the pentagram? I frowned and followed her point, and my jaw dropped. Black lines shot across the field in the shape of a pentacle and a circle around it. Oh. Okay. I hurried over to the center like Tegan had instructed. Once there, everyone else began to move into place. Tegan reappeared at the top point. Bentley was on my right and Cooper was on my left. Behind me on the two bottom points stood Emersyn and Tennessee. Everyone else spread out around the circle.
I wish Riah was here. I was acting tough and brave, like this was no big deal, but part of me was quite concerned with whatever Jackson and Deacon tried to warn me about.
No one spoke as Bentley flipped through the book in his hands.
A swarm of monarch butterflies flew around me in a swirling formation. Birds sat in the branches, singing me the songs of their people. At the edge of the forest, bunnies and squirrels hopped out from under the bushes like they wanted to watch. I giggled and then the squirrels ran over to sit by Chutney’s feet.
“Mom?”
Devon nodded. The air around her shimmered, and then there were two of her standing there. I gasped and turned to ask what was going on, only to find there were about a dozen of her. Blue mist rose up from the ground around the outside of the circle then shot up into the air, to the tips of the trees far above our heads. Something moved in my peripheral vision, and when I looked, I found the moon sinking lower and growing fuller. Stars that hadn’t been there suddenly twinkled in the midday blue sky.