Chapter 40
Kiana
There were five guards outside her house. Apparently, Troy had upped security for the alpha
meeting.
Claudine noticed.
“Worried about something?” She asked as she got out of the car.
“Not at all,” Troy said easily. “I simply want to make sure my witch knows she’s safe now.”
One of the guards opened the door to the cottage and glared at me. It took me a moment to recognize Roy, but I tried not to show my discomfort as I walked passed him. Irene was waiting for
us with a tray of tea.
She was as white as a sheet.
“Alpha,” she greeted. “Kiana. Alpha Frost, welcome.”
Her gaze slid by Claudine, and her eyes widened. “Cam?”
“Hello, Irene,” Cam said in a hard voice. “You seem surprised to see me.”
“I was expecting your father.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, I am so sorry, Cam. They told me a witch was
killed, but I had no idea it was Bao.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but Cam looked anything but sympathetic. There was clearly some history there, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“And how did you know Bao?” Claudine asked.
The kitchen was getting a little crowded. Troy cleared his throat. “Guards, Bridget, see to the
perimeter. Irene, if it’s not too much trouble, perhaps we can take the tea to the living room and get
settled.”
Eyes wide, she nodded and carried the tea from the kitchen. We followed behind. I sat on one side
of Irene on the couch, and Troy stood behind her, protectively, Claudine and Cam sat in the chair
across from the table and stared while Irene poured the tea with trembling hands.
“Bao helped train me,” Irene explained.
“Bao had been my witch for two decades,” Claudine cut in darkly. “And I’ve never set eyes on you. Do not lie to me.”
I glared at Claudine. “Perhaps if you don’t interrupt her, Irene can explain fully.”
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“This submissive wolf has teeth. How interesting. You are right, of course. My apologies. Continue.
“It was ten years ago when our paths crossed. I had been invited to a coven and was on my way there. Bao was searching for an herb rumored to grow at the top of the mountain. I was procrastinating in my journey. The Spellkyn coven was a powerful one, and I didn’t think I was powerful enough to join.”
Everyone inhaled sharply but Cam and me. She clearly knew the story, but I didn’t even know what the Spellkyn coven was. “I thought the Darkwyn den was the only coven here.”
“There was a time when there were several covens here,” Irene said with a soft smile.
Witches and wolves shared these mountains. The Spellkyns and the Darkwyns were sister covens. They helped secure and protect the other smaller covens in the mountains. Anyway, I helped Bao look for the herb, and he stayed with me on the mountain for nearly a week, helping me hone my powers. I’d kept in touch with him through the years until….”
“Until?” Cam prompted. “Why did you stop speaking to my father? He was heartbroken, you know. There was a time when he thought surely you were dead.”
“When I left the Spellkyn coven, I worried about retribution. I feared he and any other witch I was friendly with would be a target, so I cut ties with them. I am sorry to say that I never spoke to him
again.”
“And this Spellkyn coven? Are they responsible for your attack and his death?” Claudine hissed.” What secrets are you keeping from us, witch?
“The Spellkyn coven is responsible for the death of dozens of witches,” Irene said in a hard voice.” And the Darkwyn coven culled them for it. Two witches escaped, but they were killed over a year ago. There are no Spellkyns left. That is why there are no more covens in these woods.”
Claudine frowned. “How have I not heard of this before? Wolves share these woods, and I knew of
no battle between witches.”
“It didn’t involve the woods, so the Darkwyn coven kept it quiet. It was our burden and our shame,”
Irene said bitterly.
I touched her arm comfortingly. “Witches are being attacked again, Irene. Are there any
similarities?”
“The Spellkyns were accused of stealing power,” Irene said slowly. “And killing for it. It’s against
witch law, but it does happen. It’s happening now, but the Spellkyns are dead. If any of them
remained, one of the Darkwyns would have seen it, and I did not recognize my attackers.”
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“Tell me, how is it that someone as young as you survived when the man who helped mentor you is dead?” Power emanated from Claudine. Troy growled, but Claudine didn’t back down. Her eyes glowed silver as she leaned forward, and I could see the fury in them. “Perhaps it is you that is behind these attacks. Seeking refuge with the Darkwyn coven or conspiring against them?”
I felt the magic brewing in Cam just before it lashed out. This time, I was not the target, but before I could blink, Irene was on her feet and Cam was against the wall.
Holding her hand out steadily, Irene narrowed her eyes at Cam. “You dare to come into my home and threaten me?” She hissed. “You are half the witch your father was. Perhaps you’d like to join him.”
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