her, we will never get any sleep,” Tara pointed out.
“Good point,” Elias agreed.
Gabby smiled to herself. She liked this group of people who’d openly brought her into their fold. She wanted to be a part of them and not fear losing them. That meant she was going to have to grow a pair and quit being afraid. Fear was good sometimes. It could keep you from doing something stupid. But fear could also be paralyzing, so much so that it kept you from experiencing amazing things in life.
Gabby was not going to let that happen. She lifted her hand and placed it on Liam’s chest, right over his heart. She felt it pounding in rhythm with her own. It felt so right. And she felt so complete with him.
“I love you, Gabs,” he whispered. “That’s never going to change.”
She drifted off to sleep with his promise seeping deep into her soul. She latched onto it with both hands and vowed to herself that she was going to hold onto him just as fiercely.
Chapter 17
“Why don’t we just start without the demon?” Aradia asked.
Danni, High Priestess of Cornwall coven, rolled her eyes at the witch. She had no clue what she was saying, or she wouldn’t even suggest something so stupid. Then again, Aradia was of the bloodline of one of the longest generational witches in their coven, she should know better. Dealing with demons wasn’t exactly a new thing for them. “We owe a blood debt to the demi-lord,” Danni snapped. “Or have you forgotten?”
Aradia flinched at the high priestess's words. “What does that have to do with scrying to speak to our sister?”
The woman Aradia referred to as “sister” wasn’t their blood sister. That was just the term they gave to any member of their coven. Once upon a time, Danni had cared for each of them as if they were her own blood family. That had been before Collin, her brother had left her. Danni’s own flesh and blood had turned his back on her. Now, he was completely out of her reach because the royal elementals had taken him to one of their realms.
“We do not make a move without Dolion’s permission or guidance,” Danni said. “We made our bed when we got involved with him. My hope is the outcome will be in our favor.”
There were murmurs around the room from the five other coven members present.
Danni had summoned the most powerful in their coven, and though the others knew portions of what was going on, they couldn’t help in the battle to come. They would be more of a liability than an asset.
They only had to wait another few minutes before Dolion finally appeared in the room. The six coven witches took a step back, but Danni held her ground. She’d learned long ago not to show weakness to those who worked dark magic. It made them think you were easy prey. Danni would not be anyone's prey.
“It’s time,” Dolion growled, his sharp teeth snapping together. “Osiris is close to breaking my spell on the royals. We need to act quickly.” He glanced around the room at the other witches and smirked at their obvious fear. “Do you have the spell to begin the process of opening the gates?”
“Of course,” Danni huffed. She wasn’t incompetent. “I wouldn’t have contacted you if I did not.”
“And is your witch ready?”
He was speaking of the witch that was currently waiting on them to give her the signal to unleash their secret weapon. The weapon that would distract the light elementals so they could get their plan underway.
“She has been waiting on us.” Danni walked over to the center table and looked down into the scrying bowl. Her herbs were already there, along with the dagger she would use to cut her hand for the blood sacrifice the magic required.
“Then do it,” Dolion barked.
The high priestess picked up the herbs and crushed them. She dropped them into the bowl and then picked up the dagger. She sliced it across her palm and forced herself not to hiss at the sharp pain.
Danni squeezed her hand into a fist and let the drops of her blood fall into the bowl. Then, she began to chant. The witch picked up a large dragon’s tooth and stirred the mixture. After several minutes, a face appeared in the bowl.
“Mother,” said the woman who stared back at Danni.
“Rory, it is time,” Danni said. There was no affection in her voice.