Page 83 of Pure Magic
Taking Laura’s hand again, Sara Beth says, “Blessed be.”
The congregation repeats, “Blessed be.”
Fire streams from the two high priestesses’ hands and ignites the pyre under the bodies. Smoke pours upward to heaven.
In silence, we all watch as so many rise to Goddess as one.
Witches hug and kiss each other as the fire burns. Unlike the superheated fire we burned the demons with, this fire will be allowed to burn naturally. While it does, everyone will speak of the dead and each one’s life.
Making my way to Kaden’s tent, I avoid the crowd. It’s cowardly, but I feel some responsibility for the deaths. I can think of no way I could have acted differently, but it was my sister who instigated the killing.
Prudence waits on a stool by the tent flap. The fire dances in her watery eyes. “You know, it was that devil who invaded the heart of that young girl before she was old enough to fight back. Why he chose Ariana, I can’t say, but it was not your fault any more than it was hers. She was a tool badly misused. Kaden was seduced because of his love for her.”
“Your heart is too kind, Great Mother.” I kneel in front of her.
She pats my head. “It is not kindness, child. It is a sad truth that you and your family were dragged into this darkness. Your parents suffered, and now you suffer. If Kaden lives, he will suffer as well.”
“A fine picture you paint.” I get up and move toward the tent.
Prudence takes my hand with more strength than I would have thought possible for one her age. “Suffer now, and tomorrow, find light. Celebrate life and love. You have a lot to be joyous about, have you not?”
“I have family,” I admit. “I never would have believed I’d be accepted anywhere, yet these witches risked their lives to pull me out of Ariana’s grasp. They used their power to heal me, and even heal my misguided brother.”
Her grin is as hopeful as a young girl’s. “Tomorrow, start fresh in the light, Adam. Make your pact, and let the coven celebrate life and love.”
Hope blossoms in my chest. Laughter surrounds the funeral pyre as witches pass bottles of wine and talk about their lost members with joy. They will stay awake until the last of the fire burns out.
Sara Beth stands scanning the crowd then sees me by the tent and watches.
She says something to Laura before leaving the circle and making her way in my direction.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
SARA BETH
As we did all night, Adam and I sit outside Kaden’s sick tent. We were vigilant, keeping our eyes on Kaden and the fire burning down to embers.
Esme and Minerva took turns caring for Kaden after Prudence was convinced to go to sleep.
Hand in hand, we watch the sun rise in the east as it always does, as if the world had not nearly been lost in a pit of hell. “There is something hopeful in a new day.”
He squeezes my hand. “Indeed.” After a long pause, he says, “Prudence told me I should leave my regret behind me today and bring cause for joy to the coven.”
“Funerals are meant for remembering and mourning. Now we must find a way to go on and live in the light.”
Witches start packing up their tents and camps. The fire has burned all the way down, and only a few wisps of smoke remain. A few gather ashes to keep in memorial urns.
“I know we both are tired, and I’m in need of a long bath. I know I have less to offer you than you have on your own.” He stares down at our linked fingers.
“You are more than enough.” My voice is tight and full of all the emotions I’m holding in check.
Adam kneels in the mud in front of me. I’m already low since the stool has sunk three inches into the muddy ground. He takes both my hands. “I know I’m not nearly worthy of you, but I hope to be, one day, Beth. Even knowing it, I have to ask. Will you marry me? Will you be mine in this life and all those that follow?”
Emotions overflow, and tears wet my cheeks, blurring my view. His face is covered in grime, yet he’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. No proposal could ever be more beautiful. “I will marry you, Adam MacNab. I will marry you in a hundred lifetimes. You are the other half of me, and I waited all my life for you to come down from your Highlands and find me.”
Dashing away a tear of his own, Adam presses a hard kiss to my lips. “I apologize for keeping you waiting, my love. It would seem there were many things that had to happen before you and I were ready to accept each other.”
