MINERVA
I hadn’t realized how much I miss my friend. Now seeing Sara Beth in the flames, I long for home. “It’s good to see you.”
“And you. Are you all right?” Her face is slightly distorted in the flames, but she’s still lovely, and energy sparks around her.
“We’re fine. I’m not alone, Sara Beth. My aunt and Mr. Allen are here with me.” In case she wants to share any coven business, I want to make sure she knows who’s present.
Her eyes narrow. “Oh?”
Speaking in this fashion is usually a private matter. I know what she’s thinking. We’ve been friends since the cradle. Still, I’m not backing down from what I think is right. “We had a difficult night, and I feel it necessary to have some support for the story. I would not wish to leave anything out.”
“What happened?” Her voice is sharp in the way it often gets when she’s acting as the high priestess.
I tell her everything that happened last night. I try my best not to leave out any details. I explain my inability to protect Aunt Bellamy from the tainted wine and what was done to Phillip. I go into great detail about the ritual circle I created in the garden, how I purged the sedative from my aunt, and the fact that I needed Jonah to lend me his earth magic to break the curse on Phillip.
If I were home, I might have confided the more intimate details of my relationship with Jonah, but that is not fire talk, and my aunt’s presence keeps me silent.
Aunt Bellamy says, “Sara Beth, dear. Can you hear me?”
“I hear you, Bellamy.” Her lips twitch in half a smile that is gone an instant later.
“I felt darkness coming for me. The tainted wine made me unable to fight off whatever it was. It was as if I were stuck in a mud pit and a snake slithered closer. No matter how hard I pulled to run, my legs would not budge.” Bellamy rubs her hands up and down her arms.
Jonah says, “Mrs. Honeywell said he was coming for her.”
“I assume that is Mr. Allen,” Sara Beth snaps.
“Forgive me, High Priestess. I am Jonah Allen, and this is my hearth fire. I didn’t mean to offend, only to add my memory of the night to what the ladies have already told you.” Jonah takes the blanket off the back of his sofa and wraps it around Aunt Bellamy.
Sara Beth can be extremely formal at times, and she is mistrustful of men in general. Long ago, Orin was her lover. She chose the coven over him and he became evil. The Windsor coven only recently allowed a man in after centuries of banning them. Sara Beth’s mother famously hated men, though I don’t know why exactly. She sighs. “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Allen. I’m sure all of this is upsetting for you. How is your apprentice now?”
“He is surprisingly well considering the ordeal he’s been through for several weeks now. He is willing to help us if we have need.” Jonah adds the last and falls silent.
I know by the way Sara Beth purses her lips that she’s making decisions that make her uncomfortable. I wish I had more information for her. “I’m not sure our small band is enough to fight whatever is happening here.”
“Do you think the entire coven has turned to dark magic?” Sara Beth whispers out of the flames.
Thinking through what I know, it’s not enough to form a conclusion. “I just don’t know. I’m sure some have been possessed, and it’s wearing on them. Patricia Mason is a shell of a woman. A younger witch, June Wharton fades in and out of a kind of stupor. I can’t say whether or not they’re dark or possessed as Trina was. How many would actually have to worship Orin or Forrester, or whatever he is? Is he demon or witch? Would one or two let him in the door and then he warps the minds of those he needs at a given moment? Did they use a spell to liven up Patricia last night for our benefit? I have more questions than answers, Sara Beth.”
I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. I want to save good witches, but am I deluding myself to believe any of these Kent witches are still of the light?
“Minerva, the fire will wane soon. Listen to me. You have better instincts than anyone I’ve ever known. If their nature is ambiguous, assume they are dangerous. We can sort out the details later.” Sara Beth’s face warbles in the fire.
“What are your instructions?” I ask.
Usually very assured, Sara Beth blinks several times. “Find out when and how he intends to return to Windsor. The king’s safety must be your first priority.”
“Of course.” I nod as the vision of my friend fades from the fire.
The fire dims to embers, and Jonah adds wood before kneeling next to me on the rug.
Aunt Bellamy clears her throat and stands. “I’m going to get some fresh air. This business will take a lot out of us before it’s done, I think.”
I wish I could disagree with her, but I fear she’s being gentle with her thoughts.
When the door closes and we’re alone, Jonah takes my hand. “I agree we need to protect the king, but how are we to know what the coven’s plans are?”
Having his touch brings me strength, and that makes me afraid that I’m not strong enough. I pull away from him and swallow down the tears building inside me. “I don’t know. Perhaps I’ll ingratiate myself with them.”
“Far too dangerous.” His eyes flash with warning, and inside he’s making commands for me to stay out of danger that he wisely doesn’t voice.
Bristling at his thoughts, I appreciate his self-control. I stand and pace the sitting room. I may desire to protect myself from heartbreak, but I have no doubt about Jonah’s loyalty. “Be that as it may, I have a duty to fulfill. I’ll not put you or yours in danger again. I would ask you to protect my aunt as a personal favor to me.”
He steps in front of me, halting my movement. “This is not your task alone. It is ours to complete together.”
“Sara Beth sent me.”
He holds up his palm to stop me from saying more. “Goddess outranks your high priestess. Goddess said we must do this together. She said we would fail individually. I want to protect your aunt, Trent, and Phillip as much as you do, but we shall have to find another way.”
My heart aches with the thought of him coming to harm. “You and I join the Kent coven together?”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “They’ll not have me, as they don’t consider me a witch.”
“Then I go alone.” I’m at once relieved to have him in less danger and terrified to enter the coven house alone.
“I don’t think we can be separated, Mina. We’d both become ill.” He sits on the sofa.
“I’d forgotten.” I laugh. “You’ve been near for so long I forgot what happened when we tried to sever the bond. Perhaps distance won’t matter. You went to the woods by the stream, and I was not sick, only worried that you’d been harmed or worse.” If he’d been killed that day, I’d never have forgiven myself.
“We’ll have to test it if you intend to go to the coven.” His heart is pounding.
I can feel it as if it were beating against my own. Pressing my hand atop his, I use my magic to ease his worry. “I cannot be turned to dark, Jonah, and I can take care of myself.”
His heart steadies. “I know, but when Orin figures out that you’re spying, he might do far worse than turn you to dark magic.” He shakes away the horrors his mind creates.
“Tell me another way.” Perhaps there is something I haven’t thought of. “I will listen to any suggestions you have. I don’t want to…be…go to the Kent coven. It is my duty to protect the king and the Windsor coven. We know Orin intends to get to the king, and we know he has already done damage in Maidstone. He tried to come through one of our witches and failed. He tried to drown me in the bath. It makes sense that he’ll try again using witches he trusts. Somehow, we must find out who those witches are and when they will move on Windsor.”
He lets out a long breath. “Phillip should pretend he’s still cursed for the time being. If they know someone broke the curse, they’ll assume it was you and the danger to you will increase.”
“First we’ll need to see how far apart we can be without becoming ill.” Even the idea of being away from him makes my stomach clench.
He takes my hand. “No time like the present.”
Together, we walk out the front door. He gives me the saddest smile and cups my cheek. “I hate this, Mina.” He presses a kiss on my lips.
If I was a smart woman like Sara Beth, I would tell him that sex is all he can expect from me. I should warn him off loving me. I might tell him that I’ll never love him, so his devotion is wasted on me. My heart refuses to let me say any of that. “Shall I walk toward Maidstone, or remain here?”
“I’ll go saddle my horse. I’ll ride out, and that way, I’ll know the distance when I begin to feel unwell. The creek is only half a mile, so that far, we already know is safe. Maidstone is five miles. If I make it all the way to town, we’ll have our answer.” He turns right and heads toward the barn.
“Why don’t you come and sit with me?” Aunt Bellamy asks from a chair on the porch.
I startle then sit. “I suppose you heard and saw all of that.”
Her soft smile has always comforted me. “I didn’t need to see or hear any of it to know the two of you are…involved.”
“It’s an unwanted complication. I should have been smarter.” I wish the entire situation away.
Hooves on the dirt lane force me to look. Jonah waves as he heads to the main road. He looks very fine on the black giant of a horse.
Once he’s out of sight, Bellamy asks, “Are you in love with him, little one?”
I can’t be. I pushed away that side of me long ago. Even so, I can’t bring myself to outright deny it. “I have no time for such things.”
“Yes. You have to protect the king, the coven, and your heart from breaking. It’s quite a lot for my sweet girl to have to take upon herself.” Bellamy’s eyes fill with tears.
“Why are you upset? Didn’t you want me to fashion myself into a good and useful witch?” I lean forward and take her hands from her lap. Even when she’s in a state, her gray hair is perfectly coiffed, and likely magic has been employed to keep it from moving out of perfection.
She brushes away her tears and smiles tiredly. “I wanted you to be happy. My sister wanted you to be useful. You only wanted to find love. Then, when you thought you found it, he broke your heart.”
The flood of memories is so thick I want to brush them away. “I nearly killed Marshal. Who can blame him for running?”
“It was not as dramatic as you say, Minerva. He was singed, and you healed him despite your panic. He could have stayed, and perhaps there was a way to work through the effects of your magic. He could have run and kept silent. What he did showed his true colors, and you should be glad of it.” Venom rings in her normally kind tone.
“I remember, Auntie. There’s no need to go over it so many years later.” For me, it’s like Marshal Mead ruined my life in my hometown yesterday. He ran and told everyone he could find how I had set him aflame. Our family was already known to be witches, but we had to leave our home after that. My mother never forgave me. Though, when she died, I felt her rancor lift.
Aunt Bellamy was the only person who took my side. “He should have been punished. I could have given him some very ugly boils that would have pained him for years.” She rubs her hands together gleefully.
I can’t help laughing. “We would never have found our little farm, and I would never have moved to Windsor had things been different. It all worked out as it should.”
“Has it?” Bellamy stands and looks over the property before turning to me. Her shoulders are rigid and her voice stern. “I think the damage is far worse. You lost the baby, and you’re not willing to allow love into your heart, little one.”
“Marshal loved me. He loved me so much he wanted to marry me. He followed me for a year making me promises.” My stomach tightens, and I swallow down the threatening tears. “Then that day that drove us from our home, we consummated our love, and by Goddess, I set him on fire. Even as I healed his burns, the way he looked at me tore my heart from my chest. I swore then and there never to allow any man to have so much power over me. Would you have me break a vow made in the presence of Goddess?”
Bellamy points a finger at me, her eyes narrow, and she scolds, “It was a ridiculous vow made by a very hurt girl. I would have you grow up and look at the heart of the man who loves you now. Goddess would not have brought us here if she had no plan.” This is the most passionate I’ve ever seen my aunt get over any subject besides inflicting Marshal with boils.
It takes an effort to draw a deep breath. “Prudence sent us here. You use the name of Goddess like she waved a hand, and we appeared in Jonah Allen’s yard.”
Bellamy’s expression softens. She leans toward me and presses her palm to my forehead. “Minerva, you do not look well.”
“I think—I can’t—” It’s hard to breathe, and my stomach clenches painfully. I clutch my stomach, falling forward off the chair. My knees hit the wooden porch painfully.
Aunt Bellamy screams for help.
Everything goes black.
I wake, and Jonah is looking down at me with worry. “There you are.”
“Thank Goddess you’re awake,” Bellamy cries. “She’s awake,” she calls out of the room.
I’m in bed. Soft pillows have replaced the hard wood of the porch. “What happened?”
Bellamy leans her face between mine and Jonah’s. “You stopped breathing. I prayed Goddess take me too.” Tears stream down her face.
I pull her into a hug. “I’m here, Auntie. I’m fine.” I have dozens of questions and wait for Jonah to supply the answers.
“Mrs. Honeywell, why don’t you let Phillip make you a nice calming tea in the sitting room?” Jonah lifts her gently away from me and guides her to the door, where Phillip and Trent are looking in.
The three leave, and the room seems very small with just me and Jonah. He sits on the edge of the bed. His pain is so acute that I feel it in my soul. He brushes my hair from my cheek. “I went too far. I didn’t account for the effects of our separation being worse for you. I should have turned back the moment I felt ill, but I went another quarter mile. When my chest ached like it was full of water, I returned. As I drew closer, and your mind was lost in some kind of fog, I raced to get back to you.”
He hangs his head and stares at the coverlet.
“I felt ill, and it was hard to breathe. My aunt and I were arguing. I thought the old argument was the cause. How could I have been so stupid?” Still slightly dizzy, I shake my head, and it forces me back against the pillows.
Jonah stands and shuts the door.
“Jonah?” My aunt will conjure all kinds of notions with our being alone in the bedroom with the door closed. I don’t want to answer the questions yet.
“Let them think what they want. I need to speak to you, and prying ears will not do.”
Worry tightens his handsome face. His hulking form with that scowl might frighten others, but I know the gentle nature of his heart.
He sits at my hip, leans in, and brushes his lips across mine. “This was entirely my fault. If I had known the effect on you would be so severe, I’d never have left your side.”
I love the way his feelings for me are so clear in his mind that it pulses all around us. “How can you be so sure of this? Why are you not worried that I’ll cast you aside at some point when our purpose here is finished?”
As steady as the tallest mountain, he looks me in the eye. “It’s possible.”
It’s strange to worry for him almost as much as I fear for my own pain. “Don’t you think it wise to protect your heart from damage similar to that which your mother wrought? Don’t you worry that another woman’s rejection will break you?”
His breath comes faster, and his pupils dilate. Taking my hand, he traces my fingers. “I am a man of logic, Mina. I cannot protect my heart from within, and you are already inside and have been since long before we met in this life.”
My emotions are rising so fast that tears spring up, and I have to dash them away. “Did Goddess tell you that?”
He shakes his head. “I do not need anyone, man or god, to tell me what is so obvious.”
“I’m not as brave as you. I bore the shame of a man’s rejection once and could not survive it again.” Wishing it is different won’t make it so.
My pain reflects in Jonah’s expression. “The boy who you burned? Goddess saved your heart for this moment, sweet Mina. It could never belong to another because you promised it to me so many lifetimes ago. Perhaps you might forgive Marshal and set that part of your life free.”
“Can you forgive your mother?” My temper rises even as I hear the truth. I know he’s right, but the hurt still twists in my gut.
His sad smile is my punishment. “Mother did her best. I’ll not lie. I wish she had accepted me, but I see now that too was part of my path to you.”
“You deserved better, and you still deserve more than I can give you.” My chest aches as I’m breaking my own heart.