Page 51 of The Darkest Night

The older woman hesitated before accepting her hand, her grip firm. “Hello…Mae.” Her shrewd gaze shifted to Violet, Miles, and Nikolai. “Now, how about we all sit down and you tell us what happened today?”

The High Priestess and her advisors listened attentively as the four of them recounted the deadly turn of events at the cemetery in Ridgewood.

“The fox transformed into a giant beast?” Abraham said skeptically after they finished.

From his appearance and demeanor, Mae gathered the sorcerer was Bryony’s aide and bodyguard. His familiar was an owl with limpid, yellow eyes.

“Yes,” Violet replied, unfazed.

“You should have seen her weapon.” Miles’s eyes gleamed with worrying enthusiasm. “That thing is wicked.”

Hellreaver vibrated against Mae’s chest, annoyed.

Why does that human keep using derogatory terms to describe me?

Mae remembered what Miles had said in the foyer.

“They’re not derogatory terms,” she murmured. “He means you’re cool.”

Nikolai looked at her with a faint frown.

Cool?Hellreaver sounded puzzled.But I was forged in the fires of Hell.He paused.Is that man an imbecile?

Mae sighed. “Cool is the same as amazing.”

Oh.Hellreaver sniffed, pleased.And so it should be. I am the most wondrous thing in this world, after all.

Brimstone smirked.

I can see your mocking smile, fox.

Brimstone’s grin widened.

Oh, really? What are you going to do about it?

A crimson haze trembled around Mae as the weapon and the fox faced off against one another.

She looked skyward.

Dear Lord, please give me the patience not to strike these fools.

We heard that!Hellreaver snapped.

Mae realized everyone in the room bar Nikolai, Violet, and Miles was staring at her warily.

“Who are you talking to?” Bryony asked carefully as the red aura faded.

Mae indicated the pendant and the fox. “Hellreaver and Brimstone.”

“You mean to tell us you can commune with your weapon and your familiar?” a witch asked in disbelief.

“That’s preposterous!” Abraham scoffed. He turned to Bryony. “I know you want us to accept this woman as the Witch Queen of prophecy, but there are limits to the claims she and her friends are making!”

“Are you accusing us of lying?” Violet said in a dangerous voice.

Nikolai looked at Mae, his expression resigned. “This might go faster if you just show them.”

“Yeah,” Miles concurred, scowling at Abraham.

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