Page 116 of A Resistance of Witches

Lydia forced a smile. “Ursula, you look very nice.”

Ursula did not return the compliment. “My apologies, Grand Mistress. I didn’t realize you had company.” She turned to leave.

“Stay!” cried Sybil. “We still have time before the initiation. Sit. Have a drink with us.” She called for another chair, as well as a glass. Ursula scowled, but sat when the chair and the glass arrived. “Lydia and I were just discussing arrangements for this evening.”

Lydia looked on in dismay as Ursula reached for the decanter and filled her glass with wine. She held the liquid to her nose and inhaled. Then she brought the glass to her lips and frowned. A small, wine-soakedfleck of dust clung to the edge of the glass. She looked at Lydia over the rim, holding her in her icy blue stare.

Sybil glanced at Ursula. “Everything all right, dear?”

Lydia felt herself flush under Ursula’s gaze. With as much ease as she could muster, she reached for the decanter, refilled her own glass, and drank. She smiled at Ursula.

“Fine, Grand Mistress.” Ursula drank her wine and said nothing.

Sybil cleared her throat. “As I was saying, after her initiation, Lydia will lead the coven in the Unmaking ritual. A fine beginning, don’t you think?”

Ursula paused. “I was under the impression you would be the one to lead us, Grand Mistress.”

“I’m afraid there is no other option,” Lydia said. “Since theGrimorium Bellumis bound to me, no one else can touch it, let alone read it.”

Ursula looked at her, the disdain barely hidden on her face.She knows, Lydia thought.I can fool Sybil, but not her.

Just then, Eva entered the room without knocking. She looked pale and skittish as she walked to Sybil’s side and whispered something in her ear. Sybil’s face grew serious.

“Thank you, Eva,” she said quietly. The girl saw herself out, closing the door behind her.

Sybil looked at Ursula. “I’m afraid we’ve lost track of two of our guests.”

It took Lydia a moment to realize what she meant. “Henry and Rebecca?”

Sybil nodded. “Johanna went to check on them earlier this evening. It seems they’ve gone missing.”

Lydia could feel Ursula’s eyes on her. “Where could they have gone?”

“Nowhere far. My worry is that they may create some disruption during the ceremony.”

Ursula stood. “I’ll find them.”

Sybil frowned. “You’ll miss Lydia’s initiation.”

“A small price to pay.”

Sybil sipped her wine. “Agreed. Be back by sunset. You must be present for the Unmaking ritual.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. As you said, they couldn’t have gone far.” She gave Lydia one last withering glance and took her leave. Lydia tried to appear relaxed, even as a tangled panic snarled inside her breast.

Run, she thought.Both of you, run as fast as you can, and don’t stop.

Thirty-Three

Lydia walked through the labyrinth of corridors, with Sybil just ahead of her, leading the way. Their footsteps echoed through the halls of the magnificent castle, and many sets of eyes seemed to watch, peering down from paintings and tapestries. Sybil stopped before a door, ornately carved from amber-gold wood, much like the door to Lydia’s own room, and Lydia felt her heart quicken.

“Are you certain this is what you want?” Sybil asked. “If you upset yourself before the ceremony—”

“I’ll be fine.” Lydia looked into her eyes. “She’s my mother. I need to at least try to make her understand.”

Sybil squeezed her arm. “I’ll be with you the entire time.”

She pressed her hand against the door, and as she did, a flicker of light ran through her moonstone ring. Lydia had seen the other girls wearing a similar piece of jewelry, and hadn’t thought anything of it. Now she understood. It wasn’t just a ring.

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