Page 49 of Wicked Witch of the Wolf

“They didn’t want to actually commit the murder, but they were open to the idea of the coven being involved and resented me for rejecting the idea without consulting them first.”

“Bunch of cowards,” Ida said.

“Indeed. This reckoning has been a long time coming.” Margaux forked up a bite of egg, pausing before putting it into her mouth. “I thought putting Aldrich in charge of potion and charm sales would distract the forgetful old fool, but he obviously hasn’t forgotten how to betray his coven leader.” She ate the bite of egg and quickly shoveled in two more.

“So it was Aldrich who was fleecing senior citizens out of their social security checks.” Ida pointed at Margaux with her fork. “Should’ve known that old codger was up to no good.”

Margaux’s eyes went wide, and she gulped down the food in her mouth. “He didwhat?”

I filled her in on how the senior community in La Paloma had been suffering because the coven’s prices were too high for them to affordhealandpaincharms, and how Fennel, Cecil, and I’d been helping them out.

A crimson flush began at her shoulders and crawled up her throat to her face. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see smoke streaming out of her ears.

“Overcharging seniors for pain charms? That’s despicable. I-I didn’t know.”

Weirdly, I believed her. She appeared completely nonplussed, the shock on her face genuine.

“Is he the one who sold thepowercharm to my stalker, too?” I asked.

Her flush deepened. “No. That was me. I wasn’t awareof who your stalker was when I crafted it for him. He was a friend of a friend. Bronwyn’s already questioned me about it.”

Did I believe her? Maybe. And that was more trust than I’d have been willing to give her yesterday.

“Tell me about the coven members who turned on you,” I said.

“Carolina is a snob. Her magic is strong, but her will is weak, so she’s incapable of being any sort of a real threat. Same with Gordon, though he’s not a snob, just weak. If you fear being hurt more than you fear losing control of your spell, you’re useless.”

“And Desmond is lazy,” I said.

“They all are, really.” She sighed in a way that told me this fact annoyed her. “Aldrich used to be a strong witch. I suppose he could be one again if it was important enough to him. Also, Desmond might be lazy but he’s still an earth elemental, and I don’t have to tell you how dangerous they can be.”

No, she didn’t. Desmond being an earth witch worried me. I might be stronger now, but I still didn’t have the confidence I’d had before Mom died. And Margaux was right; if a witch’s will was weak, they weren’t much of a threat.

Margaux chewed and swallowed another bite. She didn’t appear to be enjoying the meal; it was more that she knew she’d need the fuel.

“Bronwyn’s phone is either turned off or she’s not checking it,” Maya said, finally looking up from Ida’s cell. “I’ve sent emails to both addresses using my online email. I didn’t tell her where I was, only that I couldn’t wait to see her when I was back in town.” She shrugged. “I changed the passwords of all my email programs, but I don’t trust Desmond not to be tracking it somehow.”

She tapped her nail on the phone’s screen. “I also sent her an anonymous email from a customer requesting a Maya death mask,” she said. Considering Bronwyn’s clientele, a Mayan artifact wouldn’t be viewed as a strange request. “Leaving off the ‘n’ was an obvious move, I know. I couldn’t help it—I was feeling desperate.”

“Nothing?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

I looked at Margaux. “Is it possible Bronwyn renounced the coven before you, and that’s why you were unable to contact her using the bond?”

“No. I would’ve felt it. She might’ve done it by now, though.”

“I don’t get it. Desmond wanted to kick you to the curb and take over, but don’t you need seven witches in a coven? Why would he alienate Bronwyn, too? Now he’s down by two, possibly three if we count Billy Lopez.”

Margaux cringed atkick you to the curb. “Billy’s still bonded to the others,” she said. “And you don’t need seven witches to form a coven. Surely you know that much.”

“Nope. The only lesson Mom ever gave me about covens was that it was best to stay away from them.”

“What were youthinking, Lila?” she grumbled under her breath. In a louder voice, she said, “A coven is strongest with seven, but even a five-member coven isn’t without power. The connection makes them strong. Don’t underestimate them.”

“Don’t intend to.” I shoveled my breakfast down and motioned to Margaux to do the same. We needed to get moving.

“I’ve got a question,” Ida said to Margaux, as she watched us power down her food with the table manners of two starving gorillas.

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