A Crown Of Smoke And Ash - Sloane Murphy Page 0,88
stay as still as I can.
They quiet, the blessing over, but then the chanting ramps up, the ward being laid, and a gold shimmering dome appears around us. My hand starts to burn, and my head swims as they complete the ward. I shake my head to clear it, and Marie releases my hand. “Sorry, I should’ve warned you. Those with power in their blood can be affected by the spells. Though usually Hunters aren’t.”
“Well, what can I say, I guess I’m special.” I shrug it off, not paying attention to the look she casts my way.
“It would appear so. Now, let’s get this meeting started shall we.” She claps her hands, and everybody moves inwards, still holding the circle. A wave of a hand, and a round table with sixteen chairs appear. She winks at me and my look of shock, because apparently, I really don’t know much about Witches and their magic.
I take the seat beside Marie that she guides me to, and wait to see how this thing works, because I’m pretty sure, that despite my interactions with Witches in my past lives, I’ve never been this involved, or attended a Witches coven meeting.
“Marie Laveau requests this meeting on behalf of the Hunter, Remington Bennett,” the British woman, Lizzie, says from across the table. “For many years we have not picked sides in the ongoing feud between the factions, but from discussions we have had already, we understand that this is part of what you ask.” She looks at me, frowning, as if I’m nothing but an inconvenience.
“Actually, no,” I say clearly. “That’s not why I asked you here.” Murmurs ripple across the table as I pause.
“I asked Marie for her help, and in turn, the covens, for two reasons. One, to help me join the factions, back to the way life once was. I recently remembered what life was like before, when the factions weren’t constantly warring, and people weren’t pulled in a dozen different directions. A time of peace, that I would like to bring back.” I wait, letting my words settle, and am met with a variety of reactions, and so I continue. “Secondly, it has recently come to light, that rogue Lycans and Dracul are working together. They also have Witches and Hunters working with them. While I am not opposed to the factions banding together, as I just said, this particular union is not for the greater good. We also recently discovered that whoever is leading this band of rogues, is creating hybrids, mixing Lycan and Dracul with Demon DNA and bound together by magic. This is not something any of us have expertise in, and so we turn to the wielders of magic, for some assistance.”
“Those are some very large requests. Who is this we you speak of?” Demetera, the olive-skinned woman looks me over, her dark eyes suspicious and questioning.
“The we I speak of, are myself, and my bonded. Leviathan, Archangel of War. Roman Knight, Alpha of Alphas. Kain Michaels, King of the Dracul, and Creek Winchester, Hunter legend. Fallon and Colt have also been working with us. In fact, Fallon was present when a small group of these rogues attacked us.” Eyes wide, the Witches stare at me as if I’m a creature they’ve never encountered before, and I guess, I kind of am. A Hunter willing to work with the other factions in peace rather than war isn’t something any of us have known in a while.
“You mean to tell me, that you are bonded to all four of them?” Ilaria, asks, her English heavily accented.
“I am,” I tell them, and shrug off my jacket. I lift my hair, and let them see my Leviathan mark. “I am Angel blessed. Mate to a Lycan, bonded to a Dracul, and married to a Hunter.”
“That is some power you’ve managed to align yourself with.” Lizzie looks at me suspiciously.
“I do not care about their power. I care about them. Their power is just an added bonus with the potential threat that we are facing. A threat I am asking for your help with.”
“You wish for us to join your alliance? What would that require?” Bree, the quiet woman with long blonde hair asks. I smile at her, I always did love the Australian accent.
“I do. I would ask that should this threat rise, you help us should a fight be needed, but also for knowledge of how to stop the hybrids. Decapitation works we’ve learned, but other than that, they