Page 93 of Magic Touch
Sara Beth swallows and kisses Trina's forehead. "Rest now, then we'll get you cleaned up. Minerva, give her a sleeping draught, please."
Esme helps me to my feet, and we follow Sara Beth and the others out of the bedroom. I'm too tired to stand on ceremony. I wait for the ladies to sit before taking the first seat at the table, accepting a glass of wine and something I guess is a restorative from Prudence.
She presses her withered hand to my cheek. "You did well, child. A rare marvel you are."
I sip the wine then hand it to Esme.
She only takes one sip then hands it back to me. "You need it more, William. What you did was... I don't know... I've never seen anyone enter another person’s consciousness, draw them out of their own hell, then push out the demons. Your magic is far beyond what we have ever imagined."
"I couldn't have done it without you, and I suspect a few others who lent me their energy. I am grateful." The restorative starts to work its magic, and I'm able to sit up straight as the witches gather around the table.
Once everyone is seated, Minerva closes the bedroom door and sits to my left. She pats my arm. "I think she'll be all right with time. She's been through a lot, and it will take a great deal of healing to bring her all the way back."
"Who is Orin Sallows?" I fix my gaze on Sara Beth.
She sighs. "He's a witch who came from Windsor. I heard a rumor that he recently became high priest of the Kent coven, but I didn’t believe it."
"Tell him the rest." Sylvia takes the pitcher of wine from the center of the table and pours a glass.
The other witches take wine and wait with me for more information.
Sara Beth's cheeks pale and her confident eyes are wary. "He was born in Windsor, but my mother sent him away, citing the barring of men from this coven."
I wait, sensing there's more.
"And because he was my suitor. Mother didn't approve of him. I see now, she was right. At the time, I was devastated. Orin begged me to go with him when he left, but I couldn't leave my mother. I was young, barely sixteen. What did I know of love?" she asks, as if the past means little, but there's pain in her eyes that tells another story.
"Do you think he wants vengeance on this coven?" I clutch my wine a little too tightly.
Esme presses her hand to mine, and I ease my grip. I can't help my protective instincts. It's who I am.
Sara Beth shrugs. "I can't imagine he's waited all this time to seek revenge for a broken heart. If he's dark, and it seems he is, he'll want more than revenge on me. He'll want access to the crown."
"He'll not have that." I slam the cup on the table. The wine splashes over my hand, and I take a long breath. "Forgive me. I let my emotions overrule my good sense."
Standing, Sara Beth takes her wine and sighs. "William, you have in less than twenty-four hours saved this coven and that child." She points to the closed bedroom door. "You may rant all you want."
With a chuckle, I lift my cup to her before we both drink. "What will you do? Will you attack Kent?"
Thoughtful, Sara Beth paces the room. "No. We cannot leave the castle unprotected. That is likely what Orin wishes. He knows we don't have the numbers to mount an attack and protect the king. He must have grown very powerful to have sent that thing last night, but he cannot have sent it from Kent. No. He must be close."
I stand and face her. "How can I help?"
Stopping her pacing, she faces me across the table. "Sir William Meriwether and Esme O'Dwyer."
Esme pushes her chair back and stands beside me.
Sara Beth takes a long breath and holds it before letting her shoulders down. "It is my fervent wish to invite you both to join Windsor Coven. My heart is heavy with so much regret for things that were done in the past. Let me make amends and welcome you into this family of witches."
Inside Esme I feel trepidation turn to joy. It's surprising, but there's no mistaking her desire to be a part of a family of witches.
"I would ask for a condition," I say, and Esme smiles up at me.
With a loud laugh, Sara Beth says, "There should always be conditions when an invitation is issued."
In a calm, soft voice, Prudence says, "Perhaps there should. We have too long been of a single mind, and it nearly got us all killed and left the crown vulnerable to dark magic."
Sara Beth sits. "What is your condition?"
