Page 95 of Thicker than Water
“Be that as it may,” Lavinia says. “This does not bode well for relations between the witches of the Triple Council and the northern vampire alliance.”
I clear my throat. “High Priestess, you should be aware that Tudor Thornblade and Oana Ionescu chose to attack Elmwood Academy of their own volition. Me and my sisters, Renata Espina, Alexandra Price, and Hallie Johnson…we had nothing to do with his plan…”
Lavinia Nox raises her hand as she interrupts me. “I’m sorry, but I find that very difficult to believe. Vampires always follow their Creators, this is a well-known magical tenet. You say that you didn’t support the vampire’s plan to attack the school, and yet you did nothing to warn Amrita Vyas or any of the Triple Council members about your Creator’s nefarious plans.”
To everyone’s surprise, Amara steps out in front of me, face-to-face with her High Priestess.
“That was my fault,” she says.
“Amara,” Lavinia says with a gasp. “What are you-”
“I was captured by a rival vampire gang,” Amara explains. “But Celine rescued me. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been killed.”
The Hecate witches whisper and look back and forth between Lavinia and Amara. A pale, red-haired witch grasps her chest in shock.
“Whatis going on?” Lexi hisses to Xia.
“Don’t drag me into this,” Xia whispers back.
“Amara, be very careful what you say,” Lavinia says in a low, warning tone.
“I’ll say what I please,” Amara retorts, fire in her hazel eyes.
“Amara, you don’t have to…” I start.
“Yes, I do,” Amara says. She turns to address Amrita and my sisters. “I’m a Hecate witch, I have been all along.”
“What?” Renata says.
“You’re awitch?” Lexi splutters.
“I thought you looked familiar!” Amrita gasps. “Amara Moonfall, isn’t it? Marcus Moonfall’s daughter?”
“That’s right,” Amara confirms. “I’ve been a Hecate witch for two hundred years. So when Lavinia became suspicious of Tudor, she sentme undercover to spy on his business.”
“And I was right,” Lavinia replies. “Tudorwasplotting against us all along!”
“That doesn’t give you the right to spy on us!” Renata replies, tossing her hair back angrily. She reaches for the dagger in her belt.
“I’m the High Priestess of the Hecate coven!” Lavinia Nox responds, a halo of bright light radiating from her. The witches around her reach into their robes for their wands, eyes shining yellow. “I won’t tolerate such insolence from a vampire. And I’ll do as I see fit, to maintain the peace of this region! If I have to, I won’t hesitate to unleash my full force.”
I’m about to speak, but Amara turns toward her High Priestess, her palms turned upward, golden energy magic pooling around her fingers. From out of nowhere, a small hawk - the same one that came to me in the woods - swoops down and lands upon her shoulder.
“If youdareto harm any of these vampires, or any of the their guard,” she shouts, her eyes a brighter yellow than any of the other Hecate witches, “you’re going to have to go through me first, Lavinia!”
I stare at her in amazement. I don’t know how I never realized her true identity. She looks like the powerful, incredible witch that she is.
And the woman that I love.
Her declaration causes quite a stir among the witches. They look to Lavinia in confusion, not willing to turn against her. The red-haired witch beside Lavinia turns and whispers urgently in her ear.
The High Priestess glares at Amara with a deep frown on her face. For a moment, I wonder if there will be another battle tonight. I hope not - I can feel the pull of the dawn approaching, and I know the witches will have the advantage.
But Lavinia Nox shakes her head in disappointment. “Fine. There will be no bloodshed tonight. Let it be remembered that I took pity upon you all, and turned the other cheek!”
With one final withering glare in my direction, she storms out toward the elevators.
“But that doesn’t mean this is over! You haven’t heard the last of the Hecate witches,” she shouts, as her and her witches file back into the elevator.
