I spun around and spotted Bettina strolling across the parking lot with an unfamiliar guy. The dude had on a black beanie and dark-rimmed glasses. His hands were stuffed in the front pocket of his red-hooded sweater.
“Tegan?” I said.
“I don’t know.”
Bettina was full smiles when she bounced back up to us. “Hey, guys, this is my friend Dean.”
Her friend smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He waved. “Hi. So, I hear you’re trying to get into the mountains this morning…but…uh…her dad’s van didn’t want to start an hour ago when I tried to move it. We can try again, though.”
One of us can make it start, right? Tegan’s thoughts slipped into my mind.
I nodded. “Thanks, Dean. Let’s give it another shot and see what happens.”
I held my hand out for the keys, and Dean’s eyes just about popped out of his head. I frowned. Dean’s face paled. His gray eyes widened. He stared at my arm like it was going to bite him, then he met my stare. I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong when he narrowed his eyes and scanned each of my friends’ arms. His jaw dropped, but he recovered by wiping his face with his hands. His gaze met mine and held for an awkwardly long moment.
I frowned. “You okay, Dean?” Do you know what our Marks mean?
A light flush filled his cheeks. He nodded. “I was just thinking…why risk getting broken down in the mountains where there’s no cell service and stuff, right?”
“We have to get there, though.”
“Well, I have a van full of supplies that need to be dropped off at our other location. If you promise to drop the van off once you get into town, then I’d be happy to let you borrow it.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and held it out. “Should be right on your way.”
I frowned and took the paper. The address listed was in Eden. The name on the receipt read Constance Bell. Also known as one of the two Coven Leaders. I think you do know, Dean.
Dean cleared his throat, then he bowed his head ever so slightly. “What do you say?”
I had no idea who this Dean guy was. I’d never seen him before, but he definitely knew what the Marks on our arms meant. I nodded. “Deal.”
He smiled and this time it wrinkled his face around his gray eyes. “Follow me.” Without another word, he turned and walked across the parking lot.
I waved for my crew to follow. “Let’s get going.”
Tenn?
I froze at the sound of her voice in my head and not for the first time wished I could respond to her in the same way.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me again,” Bettina mumbled once everyone else had left.
Can I have a second to say bye to Bettina? I won’t tell her anything, I promise.
I glanced over my shoulder and met Tegan’s gemstone eyes. They were sad and wistful, like she thought she had to say a permanent goodbye. Bettina fiddled with the frayed hem of her shorts and stared at the ground. Cooper had warned Tegan she couldn’t tell her friend the truth, but I didn’t see why that meant she couldn’t tell her a lie. Hell, we’d been doing just that to Tegan for her entire life. If anything, she’d earned the right to keep her one Sapien friend. Especially since Bettina was at The Gathering and never had her memory swayed.
“Florida is gorgeous in the winter, you know.”
Tegan’s eyes lit up. Can she?
I winked then turned to catch up with the others. By the time I got over there, Deacon was already in the driver’s seat. Dean stood in the open doorway pointing toward the dashboard.
“Uh, boss?”
I groaned. “Royce, for the last time.” I loathed when they called me that.
“There’s nothing in the van.”
I frowned and peeked inside. Sure enough, the inside was completely empty, not even a seat or stray box. There weren’t even windows. It was like a jail cell on wheels. Willow and Chutney climbed in and propped themselves up against the far wall.
“What are you thinking?” Cooper leaned against the open door. “Suspicious, no?”
“He said there were supplies to deliver, but there’s nothing inside.” Royce rolled his sapphire eyes and shook his head. Ever since Henley was taken, he’d lost a little pep in his step. And he’d taken to wearing all black, except unlike me, it seemed he was dressed for mourning. “I’d say that’s suspicious as hell.”
Emersyn pushed past us and stepped inside. She crouched in the middle of the van and raised her nose in the air…then sniffed. She turned her champagne eyes back to us and shrugged. “Smells like dogs.”
Royce scoffed and rested his forehead against the side of the van. “Where’s Tegan? She’s good at not believing a word people say.”
“Maybe he has to go get the supplies still?” Willow asked, though she didn’t seem concerned at all. She was huddled up next to Chutney looking half asleep.
“Nope, supplies are all here,” Dean said, suddenly behind me.
I must’ve made a face because his smile vanished.
He held his hands in the air. “Constance called me this morning and told me The Coven was in town and to keep an eye out in case I could help you. Although I never expected to get the chance, so this is cool.”
“You know who we are?” Cooper asked.
“He saw our Marks.” I held my hand out to our new friend. “Thanks, Dean. We’ll return the favor one day. Oh, and keep an eye on Bettina for us.”
Chapter Nineteen
Tegan
My dad used to take me camping in the Smoky Mountains once a month growing up, even if it was just one night. It was kind of our thing. He always said he wanted Bentley and me not to be afraid of the wilderness but to welcome the comfort nature could give us. It was on one of our mountain adventures that I was first intrigued by witches. I thought it had to be real, because the forest around me felt more alive than the bustling city of Charleston.
Guess it all makes sense now.
The crazy part about our drive into Eden was that I recognized almost every part of it. I knew exactly where we were. My father must’ve wanted us to know where Eden was even if he couldn’t tell us. Eden was the homeland for witches. The location had moved a few times in the millenniums since Adam and Eve fell from the Garden, but it was always a safe place for our kind. Nothing could hurt us inside Eden. No demons, no fairies, no living or dead creature from another realm. Sapiens couldn’t even find it if they wanted to.
The drive was as gorgeous as I remembered, too. Narrow, winding roads tucked away between peaks and valleys. Rivers and creeks rippled in the distance just out of sight. Every shade of green a person could think of danced by, flowing in the wind. I spent most of the drive crouched between the driver’s and passenger’s seat because the only windows were up there, and I wanted to see. But mostly because Tennessee was in the back and I just couldn’t handle being locked inside a small space with him after the way he’d kissed me the night before. Butterflies bounced around in my stomach at the thought of it.
“Okay, this is it. Turn here.” Cooper pointed out the passenger window. “Then park right up at the front of the building.”
Deacon whistled. “This place looks exactly like I remember.”
“Yeah. Time doesn’t really show around here.” Cooper leaned over the seat and looked at the rest of our group. “Tenn, you want to take lead on this?”
Tennessee mumbled something under his breath, but he climbed to his feet and moved to the sliding door. He took a deep breath then pulled the handle. Bright light spilled inside, blinding me from seeing anything outside of the van. I blinked and glanced away. When I turned back, Tennessee was out of sight. I meant to scramble to be the first one out of the van. I wanted to see Eden. I’d been dreaming about it for weeks. Except now that we were here, my body froze. One by one my Coven-mates hopped out until I was left alone inside.
I didn’t know why I was so nervous. These were my people. They were supposed to have my back, just like Dean. But I couldn’t help but wonder what th
ey’d think of me. Would I live up to the former High Priestess? I’d heard wonderful things about her. Would they like me at all? What if they see my glyph? My pulse quickened and my palms got sweaty. If The Coven Leaders found out about my soulmate glyph, would they strip my magic right then and there? Would they search everyone else just in case?
A tan hand with two shimmering silver rings gripped the edge of the van door. I knew who it was without his IV Mark. Tennessee leaned inside the van, and his mismatched eyes found me immediately. “Coming, Kitten?”
I smiled and heat rushed to my cheeks. He called me that on purpose. I crawled to the edge of the van then knelt right in front of him. I placed my hand on his chest and almost sighed at the warmth of his skin seeping through the cotton.
He ducked his head down to meet my eyes. “Talk to me.”
“What if they see?”
He smiled and took my chin between his thumb and pointer finger. “If Cooper or Kessler haven’t figured it out, and they see us together every day, then there’s absolutely no reason anyone else will. We just need to be careful and behave ourselves while we’re here.” He tipped my head back and pressed his lips to mine.
He pulled away far too soon.
I groaned and licked my lips. “Is that what you call behaving ourselves?”
His heavy gaze dropped to my lips, and then his mouth was on mine again. His fingers dug into my jaw, pulling me in. He brushed his tongue against mine, and all of my control snapped. I grabbed his face with both hands and yanked him closer. It was stupid and reckless to be kissing him like that in the very place we could have our magic stripped, but I couldn’t stop myself. Every time he touched me, it got harder and harder to stop. Maybe it was because we had to hold back every day, or maybe it was because we’d almost died. All I knew was the silky feel of his hair tangled around my fingers and the gasps for air we took from each other.
He jumped back and cursed a line of words I’d never heard him say. His face was flushed and his lips were red. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Maybe we better stay away from each other until this is over.”
I nodded even though it killed me inside to agree. We couldn’t get caught. I loved him more than anything else, which was why I couldn’t ask him to give up his whole world for me. That wasn’t the way love was supposed to work. Happiness wasn’t supposed to come at a cost. No, if we were going to be together before we were middle-aged, then the rule was going to be changed. And now I knew what I was fighting for once we closed the gaps. I had to focus my efforts on that for now, but after Samhain, my own battle would begin.
I took a deep breath then jumped out of the car. I’d lost my backpack in the plane accident, but it didn’t matter. I had everything I needed on me. My Tarot deck and cell phone were stuffed in the inside pockets of my leather jacket, along with some of the crystals my father gave me. My mother’s white-hilted dagger was strapped to my right thigh, ready for action. And Keltie’s jewels were still wrapped around my ears and finger.
Without looking back at my soulmate, I stomped forward to catch up with our friends who were standing in a circle up ahead. The brick building just behind them sprawled out on both sides with EDENBURG EST. 1693 carved into the bricks above the doors.
Tennessee walked silently behind me. Only the heat of his aura told me he was there. When we approached the group, Royce turned to look at us.
I smiled and forced a laugh I prayed they believed. “Sorry, Keltie’s ring slid off, so I had to find it.”
“Well, well, well,” an older man with a thick salt-and-pepper beard said with a cocky grin on his face. “Tennessee, you seem to be having many problems lately, don’t you?”
What the hell? I frowned and glanced back at my soulmate, but Tennessee just narrowed his pretty eyes. His lips pressed together in a firm line.
“You jealous?” Deacon snapped.
The big guy in the red-and-black-plaid shirt step forward with his chest puffed out. “Excuse me?”
“I could arrange some problems for you if you’re jealous.” Deacon leaned forward and narrowed his purple eyes into slits. His voice was silky smooth and dangerous. “It’s kind of what I’m good at.”
The other man raised his bushy eyebrows. His brown eyes were as wild with anger as the energy pouring out of him. “Are you threatening me, boy?”
“Keep bullying our Emperor, and you’ll find out.” Deacon leaned back on his heels and crossed his arms over his chest. Red lightning flashed in his eyes.
In that moment, I understood why the Goddess chose him…and it made me smile.
The man arched one eyebrow at Tennessee. “Got the Devil on your side, do ya’?”
Tennessee grinned the most devious, mischievous smile I’d ever seen from him. “We have a job to do, Timothy. Let’s shelve this adorable rivalry for the time being.”
Timothy? My eyes widened. This big, burly man with a bad attitude was our Judgement Card? I looked down at his left arm, and sure enough, there was the XX Mark. Wow. I never would’ve expected such open hostility from a Coven Leader to one of its own. Especially Tennessee. But then his words registered. Rivalry. Timothy knew the throne really belonged to Tennessee. That had to drive him nuts.
The double doors behind him flew open, and a woman ran out. Her blue eyes were wide and her skin pale. The heels of her flats clacked against the sidewalk as she ran over. She narrowed her eyes on the big guy with an attitude. “Timothy, we talked about this.”
He snarled without taking his eyes off Tennessee. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“No, but keep it up, and he may be,” she snapped.
Timothy’s face paled. He spun toward her. “Excuse me?”
She put her hands on her slim hips and arched one blonde eyebrow. “Did I stutter? Perhaps you forgot that The Coven is a team, not a dictatorship. We work together, not bully our own.”
“Listen here…”
“No, you listen. Coven Leaders can and will be changed out at its own discretion. Do you really think they’ll pick you over him?” She nodded her head in Tennessee’s direction with a smug smirk on her pretty face. “Keep it up and I’ll hold a reelection right now.”
Timothy glared at Tennessee a few moments longer. “I’m going to check on Walter,” he grumbled. Without another word, he pushed past us and stomped out of sight.
“That man. I don’t know what has gotten into him.” The woman sighed and pushed her sandy blonde hair out of her face. “Tennessee, I’m sorry.”
He smiled. “Thank you. That was quite the defense. I’m not sure I deserved it.”
“Of course you do,” Emersyn snapped. Her golden eyes were narrowed and watching Timothy’s back as he walked down the sidewalk. “That behavior was rude and unprovoked.”
I adore you, twin. So feisty.
“You see, Emperor. I believe we discussed this before.” The woman chuckled and shook her head. But then she looked at me, and her eyes sparkled. “High Priestess, Empress, it is an honor to meet you. Welcome to Eden. I’m Constance Bell.”
My sister shook her hand first. “I’m Emersyn. Nice to meet you.”
I held my left hand out, and she shook it immediately. I looked down and spotted her XI Mark on her arm. Justice. My jaw dropped. “Constance? As in our Coven Leader?”
“For now, at least.” She smiled a warm, friendly smile and nodded. “Come, Kenneth is waiting for us.”
Chapter Twenty
Tegan
Constance led us inside the brick building and out the back doors. We followed in silence, just the thud of our footsteps hanging between us.
This was what we left Tampa for. The quest. The first line of the prophecy said Where only Eden and the chalice knows. That meant we were officially starting. There was no more prepping or planning, no waiting around. This was it. Now we just had to hope Kenneth knew where we were supposed to start. Because no one else knew, and Henley couldn’t afford to wait.
We walked across a massive court
yard with a sprawling green lawn and oak trees around the edge. There were benches and picnic tables along the sides, but they were all empty. At the other end of the courtyard, a brick building stood basking in the sunlight. It looked like something you’d find in England or France. It had to be three or four stories high, but it was hard to tell with the tall, arched windows. The glass panes reflected the cloudless sky.
Thirty feet later, Constance pushed through the grand glass doors. The bright daylight cast everything in a white shine. After a few seconds, it settled and I gasped. The entire back wall was made of glass, and it overlooked a gorgeous mountain-scape that had to be breathtaking in the fall. In the middle of the room, there were a dozen sofas and lounge chairs, all in varying shades of brown leather and condition. But none of this was what captured my attention.
It was the books.
I almost squealed in delight. It’s a library! Along both sides of the room, there were three floors, lined with racks of books. The mahogany wood, vaulted ceilings, and dim golden light from the lamps made it feel like we’d stepped through a time portal. I wanted to spend hours and hours in there just discovering all the material.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Oh, this is just the academic section for Edenburg students. Wait until you see the fun parts.” Constance chuckled and waved us along.
She led us around the corner and up a wooden spiral staircase. The floor creaked and groaned under our weight. When we made it to the top, we found the most elaborate attic I’d ever seen. It stretched the entire length of the building. The ceilings were vaulted with mahogany wood. There were different levels with staircases leading up to balconies and more books. There were no lamps in sight, only floating orbs of shimmering golden light. Magic.
Books floated around the room, from desk to bookshelf. There were quills with long feathers scribbling on parchment. A fireplace at least ten feet wide crackled from a nook off to the left. In front of the fireplace, a cauldron sat with bubbling liquid inside and a spoon stirring itself. In the far corner, an entire wall was stacked with long swords that seemed to be from different eras.
The Rebel Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 3) Page 12