Samuel parked alongside the perimeter, and we pulled in right behind him.
“I hope we don’t regret this,” Aidan mumbled. “There is no way we’ll make it out of here alive if they turn on us.”
I had to trust my gut. “We’ll be fine.” I opened the car door. It was time to figure out the whole truth about why I was here and what they expected from me.
Chapter Nineteen
When I stepped out of the car, I could feel the witches’ eyes on me. Hoping I was overreacting, I glanced in their direction and wound up catching one set of eyes.
“Don’t be nervous.” Amethyst walked over to me. “Allowing you to stay is a coven decision, so all witches are present.”
“I’m not sure that’s comforting,” Beth grumbled and slammed her door.
“It’s fine.” Amethyst waved her off with a giggle. “Come on.” She took my arm and pulled me toward the grassy area.
As I passed Aidan, he snagged my hand.
“Do not go anywhere without me,” Aidan said quietly so only I could hear him. His body was tense like he was prepared for an attack any second.
Finn stood off to the side as Samuel ran to an older lady who looked strikingly similar. She had to be his mother.
“I guess we’re taking up the rear,” Coral said from behind us as she caught up with Beth.
“It appears that way.” Beth chuckled. “But I’m okay with it.”
The woman standing front and center nodded, causing pieces of long, blonde hair to fall over her shoulders. She was about Amethyst’s height, and her eyes were a pale purple.
She pulled Amethyst into a tight hug. “It’s good to see you, but what was the emergency?”
It was close to ten at night on a weekday, so it probably seemed random that we’d come here so late.
“Mom, she’s the girl.” Amethyst pointed at me.
Of course, this would be her mother.
“The girl?” Her mom asked the words slowly and scanned me from head to toe.
“She has the pentagram mark.” Amethyst motioned to the other witches who were near enough to hear.
“But she reeks of shifter.” The witch closest to the lady wrinkled her nose at me. Her long, carrot-colored hair and freckles made her expression that much more disgusted.
“Because she’s a hybrid.” Coral’s tone was impatient, and she gestured to my ear. “Emma, show them the mark.”
I was prepared to ask if I should sit and beg too. If this was what it took for them to help me, it was a small price to pay. I moved my hair to one side of my neck and turned so the witches could see.
“Dear Goddess.” Amethyst’s mom placed a hand on her chest. “It’s true.”
Murmurs came from behind her, and Aidan tensed even more. I wasn’t quite sure how that was possible.
“Then there is only one answer.” Amethyst’s mom nodded at me. “You are allowed to stay with us.”
I warned them to make sure they understood what they were risking. They couldn’t go into this blind. “Look, there is a group of shifters who want to kill me.”
“You act as if that is out of the ordinary, but it doesn’t matter. You’re one of us and marked,” a woman who was a few people back called out. “We protect our own.”
The other witches mumbled their agreement and then began making their way back to the houses.
Okay, I hadn’t expected that. “Uh… where are they going?”
“The decision has been made.” Amethyst’s mom held out her hand to me. “I’m Beatrice.”
“I’m Emma and this”—I nodded at Aidan—“is my fated mate, Aidan, and then my best friend, Beth.”
“I don’t get anything but wolf shifters off the two of you,” the carrot-haired woman stated as she pulled Coral into her arms.
“They aren’t hybrids.” Coral hugged her back. “Guys, this is my mom, Rowan.”
Now that she’d mentioned it, I could see similarities. “Hi.”
“And this is my mom.” Samuel dragged his mom over.
Her eyes were the same sage color, but her hair was a dark brown. She was the shortest among us, and there was a kindness to her. “My name is Sage. It’s an honor to meet you.” She bowed her head.
Yeah, no. That wouldn’t work. Right now, I wanted time alone so I could scream, cry, fall apart, or something equally dramatic. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep myself together. “Look, it’s been a long day.”
“Of course, dear.” Beatrice’s kind words were soothing. “Let’s get you all settled in, and we can reconvene in the morning.”
“That’s probably best.” Aidan’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. “She’s been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours.”
“I can only imagine.” Rowan squeezed Beth’s shoulder with a thoughtful expression. “Would you like to stay with Coral and me?”
“Sure.” Beth appeared beside me. “Is that okay with you two?”
“Of course.” She didn’t need our permission. I trusted Coral, so it wasn’t a huge deal.
“Then, Aidan and Emma can stay with me.” Beatrice motioned to the house right across from us in the middle of the neighborhood.
“I’m staying in the same room with her,” Aidan said matter-of-factly, not to be argued with. “I can’t leave her side with what’s going on.”
“I didn’t expect you to.” Beatrice patted his arm and reassured him. “We have an extra bedroom with a queen-sized bed. You two should be able to manage.”
My body heated. We’d be sleeping together. Under normal circumstances, I’d have been thrilled, especially since this would be our first time, but I was exhausted.
“Yeah, we will.” Aidan squeezed my hand gently.
“All right, Rowan and Sage, you all come over in the morning, and we can talk over breakfast.” Beatrice waved at us to follow. “We can figure everything out then.”
Aidan and I followed behind her.
“Hey, wait up,” Amethyst called out and walked beside me.
“I have some clothes you can wear until we can get you some of your own.” Amethyst cleared her throat and shrugged uncomfortably. “Sorry, Aidan, you’re out of luck.”
“I’ll be fine.” Aidan scanned our surroundings, looking for any threats or for anything that could go awry at any second.
“Night guys,” Samuel called out as he, Sage, and Finn headed toward a house together.
“Are Finn and Samuel related?” I’d never gotten that vibe from them before, but Amethyst had mentioned that he was adopted. I’d assumed it was by a family member.
“No, but Finn has lived with them since he was a baby.” Sadness filled Beatrice’s words.
“Not with his parents?” Maybe I was getting the final piece of the puzzle.
“His parents died a year or so after he was born.” Amethyst’s shoulders sagged, and she rubbed her hands together. “They died protecting his aunt, his mother’s sister.”
“From what?” That was horrible. Who could’ve done something so horrible?