Page 98 of Witch Unbound
“Our daughter,” the other said.
The third didn’t speak, he simply placed his hand on the small of Evelyn’s back. “You should eat and keep your strength up.” His voice was a deep rumble that reminded me of Tor.
This was insane. This was everything I’d been told couldn’t happen. They’d have to have had sex, penetrative sex, right? Unless this was some kind of turkey baster situation, but I didn’t think so.
This was a secret. This was what Meredith wanted to show me, but why?
The scene blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, I was standing in front of Evelyn, my hands on her shoulders as a chant rose up around us. Her guys stood behind her with their heads bowed.
The anchor’s eyes were closed, her face serene.
The doors opened behind her and a woman stood framed there. She was younger here but there was no mistaking who she was.
Anna raised her chin and glared across the room at Meredith.
“What are you doing here, Anna?” Meredith asked. “You weren’t invited.”
“To tell you that we have decided that noonewitch should have ultimate access to the power of the cosmos. It’s an affront to the coven, to the scales of power themselves. No one being should be that powerful.”
Evelyn turned to look at Anna. “What the heck do you think I’ll do?”
“Anything you want,” Anna said with a sad smile. “With that much power at your disposal, you can do anything you want, and if you turn on us, then we’re doomed.”
“I would never do that.”
Anna focused her attention on me. On Meredith. “I implored you to find another way. To set a boundary, but you refused to listen. You refuse to accept that we cannot fully trust this child of Croatoan because she is made from the very being that threatens us all. I have no choice but to end this now.”
“What are you talking about?” I could sense Meredith’s confusion and panic, then comprehension surged through her mind. “What have you done? How did you block this from me.”
“You aren’t the only one with skills, Meredith. As your sister, I inherited many of my own, some of which I chose not to share with you.” Her eyes were suddenly dark and filled with sorrow. “Know that I do this for the future of the coven and for all witches.”
She stepped back out into the hall and the doors closed.
“What is this?” Dottie asked.
“What is she doing?” One of Evelyn’s mates rushed toward the door and tugged, but it refused to open. Instead, it was engulfed in blue flame.
The shifter leapt away from the fire. It spread around the perimeter of the room so fast it was almost impossible to track, and before we knew it, we were surrounded.
“Meredith, do something!” Dottie cried.
But Meredith’s mind was gripped with terror. “There is nothing we can do now.” She looked at Evelyn, and grief filled her. “I’m sorry, my child. I’m sorry I failed you.”
Evelyn’s mouth turned down, hand going to rest on her abdomen, regret for what should have been a palpable force beating off her. Her mates surrounded her, shielding her with their bodies. Cradling her between them.
Dottie opened her mouth to speak, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty, but her words were washed away by blue flame.
My chest swelledwith a deep breath and my eyes snapped open to find Sloane hovering over me. What the heck had I just seen?
“No…No, you can’t silence me,” Meredith cried.
I scrambled to sit up, palms braced on plush carpet, to find Anna wrestling with Meredith’s ethereal form.
The truth. I’d seen the truth.
“Did you see?” Meredith screeched at me. “Did you?”
Anna tensed and then froze.
