Page 101 of Magic Touch
"It worked today." Minerva sits between Sara Beth and Trina.
Trina's color is coming back. "He'll come back. He wants the crown. But you did scare him, Sir William. I've never seen Orin afraid before."
My heart begins to slow. "His fear will turn to anger. If he's poisoned the Kent Coven, he'll infect those witches with his rage. Trina is right. He will come back."
"We'll have to make ourselves ready." Sara Beth lifts her chin and pulls her shoulders back. "King George must be protected. Power like Orin's can be seductive, even to someone who has much."
Henry laughs, but there's no humor in the sound. "If history is to be believed. The more power a man has, the more seductive the idea of gaining more becomes."
"Orin Sallows must never get close enough to tempt the king." Sara Beth stands.
Prudence goes to her and takes her hands. "I have some old friends in and around Kent. Some in the coven and some lone witches. I'll contact each one and see if I can denote changes. We'll gather information and then, it's likely, we'll have to send Minerva."
Esme grips Minerva’s hand. “You cannot send her alone.”
Smiling at her friend, Minerva says, "I cannot be turned. I can go to Kent with a glamor and not be noticed. I'll be safe enough. It would be nice if Great Mother could find me a witch in the light to stay with, but I can manage regardless."
"You might be impervious to dark magic, but you can still be killed." My pulse speeds up again.
"I'm more formidable than I look. Had you let my magic fly, you would have seen just how cruel my magic can be. Even a witch in the light is allowed to protect herself and those she loves. In fact, it's her duty. I'll be fine." Minerva presses her hand to Trina's forehead and the girl's worried eyes soften.
"I should go. It's me that Orin wants." I stand up.
Esme stands beside me. She doesn't want to go to Kent, but she'll never leave my side. I'm bolstered by that knowledge.
Prudence ambles across to me. She cups my cheek. "You have a wife with a child on the way."
Cheeks pinkening, Esme presses her hand to her abdomen. Wide-eyed, she stares from Prudence to me. "I think she's right."
Fear, joy, jubilation, and every other emotion known to man riot through me. "I...I still think I should go. Esme must protect the baby, and I must protect this coven. I have sworn to do so."
"And you will, but from Windsor." Prudence smiles. "You have Trina to heal and the shop. You have your own magic to gain training with. There is much for you here, William. This battle will return, and you must be ready."
I have no choice but to concede.
Once Esme and I have helped build new wards around the coven house, we go to the shop and do the same. By the time we get home, it's after midnight.
Rogers opens the door. "I'm glad to see you both safe, sir, madam. The staff was quite worried."
"Thank you, Rogers. You should get some sleep. Hopefully tomorrow will be a less interesting day."
"I pray so, sir." With a bow, Rogers goes down the hall toward the servants' stairs.
Having returned home earlier, Henry's waiting in the foyer. "Your mother is in the parlor."
He remains in the doorway as we pass.
Mother looks to have aged a few years since we left her this afternoon. Simon is sprawled across her lap, but raises his head when we enter. "If not for this ball of fluff, I'd have known nothing until Dove returned." She scratches Simon's head and is rewarded with a purr. "He knew the moment you were out of danger and relaxed as if none of it ever happened."
"He has a good sense of things." Esme says and sits beside Mother. "We sent Dove to you as soon as we could spare him."
Mother caresses Esme's Cheek. "I know, and I appreciate that more than I can say. However, I had to see you both for myself, or I'd never have found any rest."
I sit on the chair adjacent to the ladies on the sofa. "We are fine. It was not an easy day, but we are fine."
Mother looks from Esme to me. "But this ugly business isn't over yet, is it?"
It's the first time I can really see that Mother does have some sense that is a kind of magic. "No. I couldn't bear to kill, so the threat remains. Perhaps I bought us a few months by showing him I'm more capable than he thought."
