last month I’d been too stressed about getting Saffie back to even eat proper meals. That sleeping potion Henley gave me was the only reason I was still standing. The fact that she was sleeping safely in a room downstairs…I didn’t even have words to describe the relief.
“Um…guys?” Bentley called out over the laughter.
There was something in the sharpness in his voice that sucked all of the humor from the room. Everyone froze, their gazes locked on him.
“Ah, shit,” Deacon tossed his napkin on his plate. “Just rip the Band-Aid, dude.”
“No. No, no, no.” Royce shook his head and turned back to the fried chicken. “If he doesn’t show us it didn’t happen.”
“If only it worked that way,” Henley grumbled.
We all knew what was about to happen. The tone in his voice, the edge in his eyes…and the way he held his left arm behind his back… they were all giveaways. He’d gotten another message from the Goddess. My stomach sank. I glanced to Tegan and arched one eyebrow.
She pursed her lips and watched her brother. This feels like a warning, not a quest.
That didn’t make me feel better at all.
Bentley walked over to me and stopped.
I cursed. “All right. Let’s see it.”
He held his left arm out and pushed his long sleeve up to his elbow, revealing two rows of elegant black script. “This one is definitely…fascinating.”
“What’s it say, boss?”
I leaned forward and read the words out loud, “Fasten thy rope of will and deed, Changes are swift in speed.”
Silence.
“Hold up.” Hope sat her cup down and the thud echoed. “Did that just tell us to buckle up?”
Tegan snorted. “Yup. It sure did.”
“Changes are swift in speed,” I repeated. My pulse quickened. “I think that’s fairly obvious.”
“Changes? What kind of changes?” Chutney screeched.
Willow glanced to Savannah and her cheeks flushed. “Yeah, what kind?”
We’re going to lose someone, or more than one. I couldn’t help it, that was my first thought. I couldn’t think of any other changes the Goddess would need to warn us of besides changes to The Coven itself. My stomach turned. I felt all my Coven-mates’ eyes on me, but I kept my gaze locked on Bentley’s arm.
Tegan cleared her throat. “I think we need to be ready…for anything.”
“I don’t like that!” Royce hissed and rubbed his temples.
The whole table erupted into chaos. Everyone was shouting over each other, throwing out theories and fears like they were candy on Halloween night. I cursed and scrubbed my face.
“What’s going on here?”
We all gasped and turned to the door as Constance’s voice ripped through the craziness. Her and Daniel stood in the foyer, hanging their snow-dusted coats on the racks by the door.
“CONSTANCE!” Everyone yelled. “DANIEL!”
“Welcome home!”
“How was your honeymoon – I mean, vacation?”
“Did you bring anything back?”
“You both look so tan!”
“Where were you again?”
Questions fired at them from everyone before they even got their coats up.
“Hey Deacon?” I yelled.
Deacon nodded and whistled the way only a New Yorker could. “Aight, folks.”
Daniel chuckled and hurried toward us. “Is that Em’s fried chicken I smell?”
Easton lifted a piece in the air to show him. “You know it.”
“Well, I’d say we picked the right day to come home.” Constance chuckled as she walked up beside him. “So, what was everyone yelling about?”
Everyone pointed to Bentley.
He raised his arm up for them to read.
Silence.
After a long moment, Daniel sighed and shook his head. “Well, love, I think that’s the sign you were looking for.”
Cooper frowned. “Sign for what?”
Constance smiled and looked right at me. “I want to step down as Coven Leader.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bettina
Constance smiled and looked right at my brother. “I want to step down as Coven Leader.”
Ohhhhh shit.
Silence fell around us. I didn’t even think people were breathing.
Daniel wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled at us. “Yeah, this is what I expected.”
And then the room fell into utter chaos. Everyone jumped to their feet and shouted questions in her direction.
Royce held his hand up. “Hold up, if this is the change the prophecy is warning us about—"
“Changes. Plural, cousin.” Deacon grinned. “This is clearly just the first.”
“Why you gotta kill my buzz?”
“If anyone is, it’s Constance.” Deacon pointed to our current female Coven Leader. “Ask her.”
Royce spun around dramatically, then tossed his imaginary long hair over his shoulder. “Girl. What is going on here?”
Willow held her hand up. “Are you retiring from The Coven?”
Constance smiled and shook her head. “Maybe one day I’ll retire but as of now, no. I’m not ready to leave.”