Page 5 of This Coven Won't Break
Lauren turns around, and her face lights up when she spots us loitering by the door. “Hannah, I wasn’t expecting to see you.” She’s all warmth and concern as she approaches. Lauren isn’t a member of the Witch Clans, but as a Wiccan high priestess, she has her own kind of power. Different from ours, less dramatic, but still real. It’s that power Gem is so excited to harness for herself. “How are you?”
I shrug and find my fingers reaching for the necklace again. “I’m okay.”
Her gaze drops to the tourmaline that she gifted me, a sad smile pulling at the corners of her lips. “You’ve been missed, Hannah. Please know you’re welcome back anytime.”
Warmth spreads through me, but I don’t see myself coming back. Not while there are Hunters to fight. “Thank you,” I say, not committing to anything.
“Now, Gemma,” Lauren says, shifting her focus. “Are you ready to discuss the wheel of the year?”
Gem casts me a glance before she nods and follows Lauren to the back of the shop, where they disappear into the privatereading room. It’s usually occupied by tarot clients, but she uses it for her students, too.
Once they’ve disappeared, I go looking for Cal. I find him along the opposite wall, wearing an orange Cauldron T-shirt, dark jeans, and black-and-white Converse. He’s buzzed the sides of his head since I last saw him, his blond hair still perfectly floppy on top. Cal is busy restocking the hand-packaged potion ingredients that Lauren blesses herself, but he stops to hug me tight as I approach. When he pulls away, I notice dark circles under his eyes that stand out against his pale skin.
“Are you okay?” I cringe as the question passes my lips. I know more than most how irritating it can be.
Cal reaches for another packet of dried herbs, this one labeledTo Bring Prosperity. “I’m fine. Why?”
“You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.” I settle beside him and pick up a shiny black bag that promises maximum protection. I run my finger along the gold pentacle emblazoned beneath the text. “Is everything going okay with the you-know-what?”
I haven’t heard much about the Council’s plans, but I know they intend to destroy the drug that temporarily stole my magic, including every bit of research it took to cook it up.
Somehow.
Cal glances behind us to make sure no one is close enough to overhear. He hangs up a handful ofOpening Your Inner Eyepotions, checks over his shoulder one more time, and then leans close. “There’s a raid happening tonight, actually.”
“Really? Where?”
“We found out where the Hunters are manufacturing the drug. There’s a team out of Boston in charge of infiltration and destruction.” A shimmer of hope lights Cal’s expression, and aconfusing mix of excitement and disappointment floods through me. Even though I know it’s an irrational hope, I wanted to be part of whatever happens next. I wanted to be the one to destroy the drug that changed my entire life.
“That’s great.” My enthusiasm sounds false even to my ears.
Cal nods, but his smile falters. “Archer and I wanted to go with them, but our orders are to continue watching over your coven in case of retaliation.”
A shiver of fear makes my fingers tremble. I reach for another black bag, this one promising to spice up the bedroom, and squeeze tight to stop the shaking. “What happens once the drug is gone? Is there anything I can do?” I mentally cross my fingers and hope I don’t sound as desperate as I feel.
But Cal shakes his head, and my chance at convincing him to talk to the Council crumbles. “The Elders are still arguing about what to do for Phase Two.” He must mistake my panic at the mention of Elders for confusion, because he clarifies. “Destroying the drug is Phase One. Phase Two is neutralizing the Hunters entirely.”
I nod, but I’m still shaken by the reminder that the Elders are involved in this. There are three on the Council—one from each Clan—and they have the final say on all witch matters. No one outside of Council members ever meets them, unless you’ve broken our most sacred law and exposed magic to Regs.
Like I did with Gemma.
A tremble of fear courses through me. Most witches who are brought before the Elders don’t leave with their magic intact. I hang the bag of blessed herbs and clear my throat. “So, what’s the plan for after? Do you know what options they’re considering?”
“Nothing concrete. There’s been talk of imprisonment.Draining financial resources. A couple key assassinations.” Cal pauses when I let out an involuntary gasp. “They’re trying to wipe us out, Hannah. It’s not like we can invite them to tea and ask nicely.”
The tiny muscles around my eyes tighten, and I feel my expression go hard. Biting words build at the back of my throat. I swallow down the bitterness as best I can. “Trust me, Cal. I remember exactly what Benton did to me. I know they won’t listen to anything we say.”
I can still hear Benton’s voice like it was yesterday. He called me a monster. Said he wanted to give me true humanity by taking away everything that made me an Elemental. And then he blamed me for ruining his plans and tried to burn me alive. I lean against the shelves and sigh. “I wish there was a reset button we could push and make them disappear. Or that we could go back in time and stop them from ever finding out about magic in the first place.”
Cal puts an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll figure something out. I promise.”
I lean into his touch and will myself to believe him.
While I wait for Gemma to finish her lesson, the shop gets too busy to talk with Cal. I wander the aisles while he works, straightening rows of candles while I wait for another opening. I’ll need to be more direct, since asking if the Council needed any help didn’t have the desired effect.
But by the time Gem finishes her lesson, I still haven’t found my opening. She emerges from Lauren’s private room brimmingwith energy. Her smile dims when she spots me. “Why do you have Veronica Face?”
“I don’t.” I glare at her when a passing tourist gives us an odd look. “Veronica Faceisn’t a thing.”
