However, it didn’t last. It took merely a second for the coldness to return. Rori frowned.
“I’m sure they would know, but they aren’t exactly up for chatter,” he said.
The tension in him released. Rori settled back into a more typical posture on the passenger side of the truck cab. However, he kept as much of a distance from Divina as possible.
Rori took out his phone and turned his focus to that. The glow of the screen illuminated his face in an eerie blue. He had eaten, so he wasn’t as pale as before. The lighting, however, seemed to highlight the lines of his face. Rori didn’t look as young as he once did.
In a matter of seconds, the feminine robotic voice of his phone announced that it was starting its route.
“We’re not going to Florida,” Divina said and turned the keys in the ignition.
“But the phone said we have to go this way.” Rori turned the screen toward her. He protruded his bottom lip in a pout.
“No. We came here for a reason,” Divina insisted.
“No ‘we’ didn’t.” Rori lowered the phone. “You came here on a mission”—he pointed toward her chest—“and kidnapped me. I am here against my will.”
His hand flattened against his chest. He regarded her with a wounded expression all wide and doe eyed.
“Gah!” Divina slammed her hands against the steering wheel. “Can you for once, just once, think of me and my needs?”
Rori’s face went blank again. Soon, his eyes narrowed at her.
“Fine!” he growled.
He tapped his screen a few times.
“If I do this, you can’t throw that lie in my face anymore,” he said.
“It’s not a lie,” Divina insisted.
He held up a finger near her lips. He wouldn’t touch them. Instead, his finger hovered just in front of her.
“You have no idea of my intentions. You’ve never understood. There are greater things at play than you know. So you cannot, and I will not allow you, to insult me about my intentions with you any further.”
She gaped at him. Upon closer inspection of him, it dawned on her. Divina had not only insulted him; she had hurt Rori. She blinked a few times as if unable to process this revelation.
“Make a left out of the lot,” Rori grumped, interrupting her thoughts. “I’ll get you to the Ember Witches, but I can’t guarantee they’ll see you. Hell, I doubt they just hang out there – it’s a meeting place. But I’ll show you what I know. On one condition.”
Divina eased the truck towing the wagon out of the lot.
“What is it?” she asked as she made the turn.
“We’re going to Florida after this, and you won’t question me again,” he said.
“Wha—”
“Tut.” Rori held his hand up once more. “No questions. Against my better judgment, I’m doing what you asked me. I’m getting you to the Ember Witches, so I would say you owe me.”
Divina sighed.
He lowered his hand.
She looked out at the road. “I would say you owe me.”
“I did. Didn’t you hear me? I said ‘you owe me.’ Really, Divina, you need to pay more attention if you’re going to see the big picture,” Rori replied looking at his phone. “Make a right at the third light.”
Chapter 11
After parking the vardo in a lot and disconnecting it from the pick-up truck, they rode in near silence. Rori begrudgingly gave directions as they drove.
Divina would think he was fucking with her if they weren’t there. And if for some reason, they were there, Rori wasn’t sure what sort of reception they would receive.
He couldn’t shake the bad vibe crawling up his spine. The closer they got to the convent the more intense the vibe became.
Finding no cars on Charles Street allowed Rori to breathe a bit easier. Maybe they wouldn’t be there.
Divina pulled over and turned off the engine. Rori turned off his phone. Divina looked past him, out the window, to the large white cement wall.
“What is it?” she asked.
He turned to regard the large, moonlit, neoclassical French colonial stucco-covered brick building with the white cross over the front. The completely unremarkable yet asymmetrical building lacked the typical ornamental nature of most houses of worship.
“The Old Ursuline Convent,” Rori answered.
Divina leaned closer to him. Rori pulled back as much as he could. He crammed his body against the door. He couldn’t risk them touching again. Her touch was too much for him. It had never been that intense before. Something told him that it was because he wasn’t taking her as his own anymore. He suspected the world fucked with him for going against the natural order or some shit.
“Why a convent?” she asked, clearly in awe of the rather ordinary building.
Rori opened the door to get some air.
“I’m not exactly familiar with all their history, but I would imagine that it was easy to hide in plain sight if you called yourself a convent. No one questioned a gathering of women praying if they wore habits,” he said with a grin.
She tightened her lips, not taking her gaze off the building.
“I guess,” she said and climbed out of the truck from her side.
Divina and Rori stood outside the closed gate. Beyond it were neatly trimmed hedges lining a small, maze-like path to the grand entrance of the building.
Rori studied Divina as she seemed mesmerized by the building.
“I can feel it,” she whispered.
Rori took a step away from her cautiously. Had he been too close? Did she feel the sparks as he had?
“The power,” she added as she raised her hands.
She spread her fingers and bowed her head.
“There is so much of it surging from this one building,” she said with joy.
“Oh.” Rori stuffed his hands in his pockets disappointed that she wasn’t talking about their connection. Was it one-sided?
The weather turned a bit chilly. While he had fed, the hooker hadn’t been a proper meal. Rather, her chemical-laced system proved to be too vile for Rori to enjoy. So, he had only eaten enough to stave off the urge so he wouldn’t attack Divina. Even with additional sips from other sources, he hadn’t really sated his hunger.
“They’re calling to me,” Divina said gleefully.
Rori forced a smile. “Goodie.” His sarcasm reflected his lack of enthusiasm.
The heavy, ecru gate creaked and slowly swung open.
Rori sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for the witches and their riddles. However, one look at Divina’s hopeful face, and he wasn’t about to pretend he would stay behind.
Divina took two hesitant steps toward the small parking lot before looking back at Rori. She smiled wide with excitement, but her eyes reflected caution.
Rori lowered his head and walked past her to take the lead. He resigned himself to the fact there was little he wouldn’t do for that woman. It unnerved him.
The entrance of the convent opened as they approached the step. Florence stood with a welcoming grin. Divina reached out to Rori, grabbed his arm, and held him tight.
Rori grit his teeth as the sensation radiated from his arm and spread throughout him. His fists tightened to the point they were white knuckled.
The intense heat flowed from his arm, over his chest, and down to his crotch. Rori kept his eyes on the Ember Witch in an attempt to ground himself. He didn’t want to show any signs of Divina having an impact on him. He couldn’t accept it. He had made his choice when he last saw them.
Florence’s gaze landed on him. Her smile faltered. She offered him a nod. A very subtle flick of her wrist, accompanied with a wiggle of her fingers and the hotness receded.
Rori frowned. While tingles lingered in place of the intensity of Divina’s touch, Rori wondered what the witch had taken away. Was it their connection? Did she know what the intense electric bolt feeling was all about?
“I’m Divina,” she introduced herself as they came closer to Florence
.
“Yes,” Florence nodded. “I know. I’m so glad Roricus brought you here. We have been waiting for you.”
Divina released Rori’s arm. “Why didn’t you just come and get me yourself?” Divina demanded like a petulant child.
Florence chuckled. She reached out to Divina, seeking to wrap her arm around her.
Divina hesitated, stepping back from the woman. She folded her arms over her chest. Divina stole a glance at Rori who furrowed his brow.
“She’s not going to talk to you about that out here,” Rori said motioning for her to go along with Florence. “You have to meet the elders of the coven.”
As skeptical of the witches as Rori was, she wouldn’t get any of the answers she needed if she didn’t play along with them, and knowing her, she’d need Rori’s blessing to do just that. So, he had to play the supportive part.
Divina eyed the two suspiciously.
Florence kept her expression positive, delightful, and overall nonthreatening.
Rori kept his face neutral, which was easier to do without the shooting heat from Divina’s touch. He had wanted her to join the Ember Witches. They were the only ones who could handle the potential within her.
He nodded toward Divina and gave her the go-ahead she sought. Essentially, he gave her permission to find out about the Ember Witches. No matter how much he doubted their intentions, Rori couldn’t deny they were right for Divina. She would learn the most from them. He would be a fool to prevent her from reaching her potential.
Divina hesitated a moment longer before she went along with Florence. Rori looked away, pretending there was something wrong with the sleeve of his shirt. The two women made their way through the museum. Rori kept a few paces behind them. He wasn’t about to abandon her to the witches.
The walk through the halls was quiet save for the sound of their footsteps on the marble floor. Rori used the time to brood. As they rode the elevator, he promised himself that it was worth giving up Divina to be Emperor.
He’d get to rule over his kind. He’d get prestige. He’d have a say over all kinds as being the emperor would put him on the Council of Others. Who didn’t want that? The Ember Witches had told him as much. He was immortal. She was not. Their mating was ill-fated from the start. Loving a mortal was fleeting. Being an emperor was forever.
Sure, he could turn her. But if he did, she would lose a part of herself. The connection to Earth, the part of her that was a witch would die with her when she died to become a vampire. She would come back a changed woman. She would be empty.
No. Rori could not sacrifice Divina’s nature for himself. Rori was a selfish ass, but even he had limits. Right?
Rori had seen the delight in her eyes when she cast her first spell that worked. He saw how eager she was to learn more. She had thrived since then, despite not having a coven. To take her magic away from her, no matter how much he loved her wasn’t right.
No. Emperorship was his future. He sighed. The Ember Witches and some wolf were Divina’s. His expression soured the moment the thought of the wolf entered his mind. The thought of a low-class mongrel with Divina, his Divina, had his blood boiling.
The doors opened to the subbasement. Rori followed behind and entered the all too familiar room. He watched Florence lead Divina into the center of the horseshoe table. He surprised himself when a smile crept across his lips, observing how maternal Florence appeared in her handling of Divina.
He wiped the smile off his face with his hand remembering how the witches had manipulated him. Perhaps this was all a manipulation; all a ruse to get Divina.
He remained close just outside the ring, protective, prepared to spring into action if needed. Though, he wasn’t too sure what protection he could offer against the most powerful witches of the largest coven in the U.S.
The thrum of energy between Divina and Rori had stopped. Divina had watched the hand motion from the dark-haired witch who had greeted them. However, Divina hadn’t had much time to wonder about it.
They had pulled up to this rather blank-looking building with a wall around it. Power radiated off it. There was no doubt the building belonged to the Ember Witches. There was also the nagging feeling of them pulling her.
Then the gates opened as if to confirm the sensation. The woman appeared, then they were in an elevator. Divina’s head spun. Maybe the lack of sensation between she and Rori had nothing to do with the hand motion of the dark-haired witch. Perhaps, the bombardment of the powerful auras of the thirteen witches seated at the curved table drowned out their connection.
The woman guided Divina toward the center of the table. Essentially, the witches wrapped around her in the same way the waves of magic coming off them did.
Once the woman patted her arm and turned to take her seat, Divina looked back toward Rori. He was her safe zone.
Rori stood back, out of the open circle of witches. He held himself in a loose hug. His gaze fixated on her. When their eyes met, he offered her a nod.
Calmness washed over her when she received his nonverbal blessing in this. Divina took a deep breath, raised her chin and rolled her shoulders back. She could handle this. Rori had wanted her to join them before. She could do this. She was meant to do this.
“Divina Bahari,” the woman at the center of the horseshoe table announced to the room of witches.
Divina’s head snapped back, and she took in the older, frail-looking woman with the cascade of gray hair.
“Yes?” she said. Her voice shook slightly.
“We are the leaders of the Ember Witch Coven.” The woman opened her arms gesturing to the women who surrounded Divina.
Divina swallowed and looked around at each woman’s face. They were of varying ages, appearances, and from what she could tell, power. Divina nervously shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
Did she belong there? Could she measure up to them? The feeling of inadequacy bloomed in her chest and sought to take root within her.
“As the most powerful coven throughout this country, we have branches in each state but the thirteen witches before you are the leaders,” the woman explained.
Divina nodded. She studied the woman speaking. The lines around her eyes and the deep creases at the corners of her mouth told the story of a woman who had seen much. Divina wondered what kind of person she was.
“I am Esmine Richart,” she introduced herself with a bit of a curtsy. “I am the witch designee for the Council of Others,” she said.
Divina’s eyes widened. Her mouth fell open. Esmine, she was Esmine. Divina was in the presence of Esmine, the most powerful witch on this side of the world.
Esmine grinned pleased with Divina’s response to her. Esmine waved a hand to her right. “This is Florence Beaumont.”
The dark haired woman who had brought Divina through the convent nodded. “We are delighted to finally have you here, Divina. We have been waiting for you,” she said.
The warm, welcoming tone Florence used washed over Divina. Florence’s words doused the flames of intimidation she felt. A smile crept on her face, and Divina felt soothed. The woman projected the power of a strong empath.
Esmine waved a hand to her left. “This is Jessa Soleil.”
A blond woman closed her eyes and nodded her head.
“These two women are considered my advisors, though every witch at this table advises me. As my seat on the council is to represent the best interest of the witches of this territory not just my own.”
Divina tucked some hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. Not about to forget she had come there for a reason, she steeled her resolve.
Looking over her shoulder for Rori gave her encouragement. His gaze remained trained on her. Nodding in his direction, acknowledging his support, she turned back to Esmine with her courage fortified. While she focused on the lead witch, she was addressing them as a whole.
“You could’ve summoned me if you wanted me here. I don’t understand why you kept sending Rori,” she said.<
br />
She attempted to sound confident, but the crack of her voice surely ruined that façade. Though, she told herself it didn’t matter how it came out. All that mattered was that she stood up to them.
Chapter 12
While Rori hung back, he watched Divina engage with the witches. He remained silent as they introduced themselves to her. He scoffed at their self-importance and hoped Divina would see through that.
The intention had always been to introduce her to the Ember Witches. Rori knew they were the most powerful witches in the country. The strength within Divina remained untapped. There was more power in her than any other witch he’d met. It would take the power of all the Ember Witches to harness that which was inside Divina if she were to go rogue. It only made sense that they’d want to control her for their purposes rather than risk having to fight against her.
He glanced around the U-shaped table of witches. From what he had seen last time, every seat contained a witch. He wondered whose seat Divina would overtake.
Then his eyes landed on the farthest seat. The seat, if he remembered correctly, belonged to the young redhead. The one witch who had tapped into what motivated Rori. The seat was now empty. He arched a brow in curiosity.
Rori scanned the others again; perhaps she had moved seats. He had assumed they were assigned a seat in designation of hierarchy. Maybe he was wrong.
Nope. She wasn’t at the table, and to the best of Rori’s recollection everyone seemed to be in their previous locations.
Had she been cast out for her comments? Surely she had helped their cause. Rori shook his head. No. If she wasn’t there, it had nothing to do with him or Divina. He didn’t know the witch’s story. He condemned the narcissism within him at the thought the missing witch had anything to do with him or Divina.
The pang of hunger twisted Rori’s stomach and surprised him. The hooker and the trucker he had at the rest stop weren’t enough to sustain him. He couldn’t take his fill of them.
He thought he had perfected the right amount to keep the hunger away. The cracking sensation of him being dried out without a full complement of blood told him that he’d guessed wrong in the amount he took that night.
The Witch of the Prophecy Page 7