Wolf's Claim (The Royal Heir #3) - Jen L. Grey Page 0,59

dug into my skin, and she closed her eyes as if she was trying to focus on my hand.

She better let your hand go soon or I'll be removing it for her. Mason's body tensed beside mine.

I wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but she was obviously searching for some sort of answer.

With her free hand, she reached for the marble once more. Right before she picked it up, her hands began to shake. Her mouth began speaking words that none of us could hear. Only witches were allowed to hear the words of a spell.

After a few seconds, she let go of my hand and opened her eyes. "This is not good."

"Agnes, please." James leaned across the table, his eyes seeking out hers. "What's going on?"

"It's unprecedented that we would turn on one of our own." Agnes's shoulders sagged, and her voice was full of heartbreak. "But in all truthfulness, she hasn't been part of this coven for over twenty-five years."

My heart stopped. "Are we talking about Rose?" If she was, this was worse than I had anticipated.

"Yes, unfortunately, we are." Agnes dropped the marble back on the table and shook her head.

"All she's ever been is heartbreak for you." Star shook her head and almost spat the next words. "Rose has gone too far. We should've killed her when we had the chance."

"I don't understand. She told me she was part of this coven." If she hadn't been for twenty-five years, that means she wasn't protecting her coven from vampires at all.

"She was." Agnes seemed to age at least ten years right in front of my eyes. "She was my best friend growing up, my sister really."

"Then why the hell is she causing problems?" Mason was almost rigid at this point. "And you're allowing it?"

"No, no I'm not." She blew out a breath. "She was the witch we kicked out over twenty-five years ago, but in fairness, not all of this is her fault."

"Don't even try to give that excuse." Star slammed her hand on the table. "Let's be real, Mom. She has always had a choice, no matter if you want to put blinders on or not."

Well, okay then. At least, we knew Star was the priestess’s daughter.

"How the hell couldn't it be her fault?" I hated how witches spoke in riddles. The only other race that was worse than them were fae, and thankfully, they avoided coming over to Earth as much as possible.

"Well, I had always been afraid that this day would come, yet here we are." Agnes squared her shoulders and met my gaze. "See, Rose isn't a full, one hundred percent witch."

"Say what now?" That didn't make any sense. "She did spells. The whole fucking shop was glamoured."

"I'm not saying she can't practice magic because she is mostly a witch." Agnes huffed, and her eyes darted to the marble. "But she's part vampire as well."

"What the hell?" Mason was poised like a snake. "How the fuck is that even possible?"

"Language, please." Agnes narrowed her eyes at both Mason and me. "Her mother had been bitten during Rose’s birth. You see, a witch's natural affinity to the elements makes them not able to survive the change just as a wolf can't."

"Then, how the hell is she alive?" Kassie growled the words.

"Patience is a virtue." Agnes glared at her before turning her attention back to me. "Now where was I?" She tapped her finger against her lip. "So, her mother had been rushed here after one of our own found her in the woods in a horrible state. When my mother and father laid eyes on her, they both knew she was doomed. They figured the baby was too, but once Rose was born, well, she was fine."

"So you guys let her stay here." Even though my words may have sounded like a question, it was anything but.

"Yes, my parents took pity on the child. After all, it wasn't the baby's fault, and my mother made a decision she might not normally have done. She decided to raise her as one of her own."

"What influenced that decision?" I had to make sure I had a clear picture.

"Me. I had only been born a few months before. She was a new mother, who had battled multiple miscarriages." Agnes's lips spread into a sad smile. "I was her miracle baby, and Mom hoped that Rose was another gift from the goddess herself."

"But she was part vampire?" At least, now it made sense why she was so