Page 9 of Chosen, Eternally

I ’m not usually someone who makes stupid choices—and I really hope today is not an exception.

After our conversation, I decide that leaving James alone in my apartment with all my weapons and potions seems like a marvelously idiotic idea, so I decide to bring him with me—hidden beneath a very strong Invisibility spell and a tricky, yet effective Linking spell that stops James from getting more than six feet away from me.

You know, just in case he flips his switch and tries to make a run for it.

Additionally, in order to protect him from the sunlight, I cast an Engulfing spell that will keep him from bursting into flames.

Magic is useful like that.

It’s still dangerous to bring him along, but what else was I supposed to do?

I mean, I couldn’t just leave him alone, and I had research to do.

And there was no way I was going to tell The Society he was still alive, so I couldn’t leave him with them.

Definitely wasn’t going to tell them about the whole vampire thing.

At least not until I find the person responsible for infiltrating our team and faking James’s death.

Clearly, this is a collaboration between the vampires and one or more of the witches, and something about certain people’s general shitty attitude and his post as a pathologist tells me I already know who it is.

So after checking in with The Society and providing proof of life, I head over to the city morgue.

It doesn’t take much to convince the front desk and security guards to let me through. All I need is a Compelling spell to get them to agree and hand me the keys and a Memory spell so they forget I was even there.

In the main computer, James and I quickly find his autopsy report.

In it, it’s clearly stated that James’s cause of death was due to an animal attack—pretty standard when hiding a vampire-related death.

However, even in the rush to falsify reports, there are no fake pictures, no made-up descriptions of injuries like there usually would be.

Nothing. The whole thing is basically blank.

Of course, since they didn’t find a body, it’s logical. James was never really dead, was he?

Now he is , I think glumly. I shake my head and try not to dwell on that for the moment.

But still, shouldn’t they be putting in a little more effort? Doctor some pictures or something? It’s just the sloppiness that surprises me. This isn’t our regular MO.

When I check for the name of the examining pathologist, I find the exact thing I need to confirm my suspicions:

Patient: Kittle, James

Age: 28 years old

Cause of Death: animal attack

Chief Pathologist/Examiner: Dr. Ian McCaffrey

Notes: N/A

There it is.

Ian’s the one who signed off on this farce.

“Holy shit,” James whispers when I show him the file. “That motherfucker seriously signed off on this. Your own Handler fucking betrayed you and your entire operation.”

I swallow and nod. “Ian and I have always butted heads, but this is…”

With the ire and fire of a thousand suns, I pull my phone out of my pocket, take pictures of the report, and message The Society requesting an emergency meeting without giving many details as to why.

I anxiously pace around The Society’s headquarters—an old Victorian home that looks practically condemned on the outside but has everything needed to manage a tactical operation and probably even an apocalyptic event, CCTV of the entire town, weaponry, ingredients for any type of potion you can dream of, and an underground library so large it rivals the Library of Congress—all while wondering how the hell I was going to break the news to everyone that we had a traitor in our midst. A traitor who, for some inexplicable reason, has been working with the vampires.

I don’t know why the hell Ian did what he did, but I know he double-crossed us, and it’s vital we figure out why and put an end to it.

A restrained James stands beside me as we whisper to each other what the plan should be. No one who passes by can see or hear him but me, so I look psychotic, but that’s fine.

“Catie.” Matilda, my friend and one of the members of The Society’s Council, interrupts our conversation. “What’s going on? What’s the emergency?”

James tenses beside me, but I’m so relieved to see a friendly face that I sigh.

Matilda and I used to be very close—though not as close as James and I have been.

During our early childhood years Matilda and I spent almost every second together, especially since our moms used to be best friends.

When my mother killed herself after my dad left and I had to move into my aunt’s house, Matilda came over to check on me every day.

Unfortunately, we’ve grown apart since college, but there has never been any bad blood between us.

There isn’t a doubt in my mind this woman had nothing to do with any of this.

“I think it’s best to tell everyone at once, Tilly,” I say, glad for her arrival. It gives me the final confidence to walk into the main office where I spot the leaders of the council seated around the round table.

Tilly walks over as head representative of her family beside my aunt Cybil, who, as Keeper of our History, was probably already in the office to begin with. It’s where she volunteers on days the shop is closed.

As Handler of the Chosen Protector, Ian is seated at the head of the table. I take my assigned spot at the other end while James stands beside me, undetected.

Bringing in a vampire into our headquarters is madness, it’s true. I’m just glad no one else can see him but me.

“This is highly irregular of you to call for an emergency meeting, Hecate. I’m surprised you didn’t come to me first before triggering our emergency comms policy. You know these protocols are reserved for real emergencies, correct? Not one of your silly dramas.”

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes at him and instead settle for smiling tightly in his direction. After, I greet all twelve members, calling each one by their first and last names, doing my best to show them some kind of respect and admiration.

To be honest, if there were a “Most Respectful and Obedient Protector Award” I would not be the one winning it.

I am the first to admit that over the past year, I’ve been surly and despondent.

Definitely a tad rebellious. A particularly gigantic pain in The Society’s ass.

However, because I’ve done a fantastic job at fighting vampires and keeping the supernatural order in Salem, The Society hasn’t given me as much shit as I deserve.

Still, it makes me nervous for what I’m about to say.

Because what if they don’t believe me? What if it’s a miss, and this whole thing gets turned around on me?

After all, I’m the one harboring a fucking vampire.

I’m the one literally sleeping with the enemy—though they definitely don’t need to know about the multiple orgasms James just spent the last twelve hours giving me (who knew vamp sex was so fucking hot, anyway?).

“This isn’t a silly drama . And I don’t think bringing this concern directly to you would’ve been a good idea—especially when it’s in regard to your traitorous behavior.”

There’s a collective gasp around the table, and if I weren’t so nervous, I’d almost laugh.

Ian narrows his eyes at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you working with the vampires. About you creating some sort of fucked up alliance and lying to this entire council.”

Rex Shepherd, one of the oldest members of the council, speaks up first. “What’s the meaning of this, McCaffrey? What is she talking about?”

Ian scoffs. “I don’t know what she means. I have dedicated my entire life to The Society and its cause—unlike Miss Goode, here, who didn’t even want to accept the Protector role to begin with.”

Now I allow myself to roll my eyes at him.

“ As if . Sorry for having one goddamn moment of hesitation while I decided whether or not to take a fucking life-changing responsibility on. But that was a year ago, and you and I both know that as soon as the Initiation ceremony was complete, I have been nothing but dedicated to my role as Protector.”

“I wouldn’t have hesitated for a single second . In fact, no one at this goddamn table would’ve thought about it twice.” He grits his teeth like he’s holding so much more back.

“I find it a bit hard to believe that in the past three hundred plus years, not a single Protector candidate has ever thought, ‘Oh, hey, maybe I don’t want to spend the rest of my life fighting vampires and giving up my future in order to keep the city safe. Maybe I want to think of my own happiness.’”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Cybil’s face drop in her hands, while some of the older members shift uncomfortably in their seats. The younger members and I, on the other hand, remain a bit lost.

Ian’s eyes brighten with an evil smirk on his face, as if to say, ‘I’ve got you now, kid. ’

“Oh, there was definitely one other person who thought of rejecting the role. But she crumbled under the pressure of it all before she could even formally decline. See, the Goode family is made up of weak blood,” he sneers.

Cybil’s head snaps up and glares at Ian. “You shut your mouth before speaking another word against us.”

He laughs darkly. “Fine. I won’t say much more except for this: you know I respect you , Cybil, but your family is a disgrace. The Magicks selected two Chosen Protectors from the same bloodline—who the hell knows why—and both have ended up being massive disappointments.”

My stomach sinks. They can’t really be talking about… “What are you talking about? What do you mean?”

“Your mother. You didn’t know she was selected as Chosen Protector when you were just a child?”

“ What ?” I gasp.

I feel more than see the way James tenses beside me. His hands rest over my shoulders in a feeble attempt to calm me down.

“You never thought to tell me about this, Cybil?”

My aunt pulls her brows together, disgust on her face. “Why would I?”

“Uh, I don’t fucking know. Maybe because I’m the freaking Protector now?

You don’t think it was relevant?” My voice drips with sarcasm and disdain.

“Maybe because I’ve been begging for scraps of information about my mother for two decades, and you refuse to give me anything but crumbs?

Maybe I would’ve felt a bit more understood and less alone knowing that she went through the same thing. Had the same doubts?”

“She was a disappointment.” Cybil rolls her eyes.

“You cannot be serious. She was sick! She had a mental illness!” Someone must have possessed my aunt or something, because she would never speak ill of my mother. Never has in all these years.

“This… seems like a personal conversation,” Tilly breathes, pushing away from her seat as she gazes nervously at the council members sitting around the table. Each one looks more uncomfortable than the next.

“Sit down,” I command.

“Right.” She settles back in her seat, and so does everyone else.

“We haven’t even gotten to why I’ve brought us all here.”

“Fine, then. Get it over with,” Ian says, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

I sigh and take a deep breath. I’ll deal with my aunt later.

“Okay. Well. I’m here to accuse Dr. Ian McCaffrey of working with the vampires in order to sabotage this council, The Society, and my life.

I accuse him of faking the death of James Kittle, and of aiding and abetting his kidnapping.

I accuse him of using magic and influence to corrupt our governmental system. ”

“You’re incredible,” James whispers in my ear. I smile triumphantly, readying myself for my big win.

Except—

“Are you insane?” Ian’s voice booms. “How dare you accuse me of all these crimes? What kind of evidence do you even have? And why are you bringing up anything related to James when he’s been dead for over a year?”

“Because he’s not,” Cybil’s voice—small, yet strong—sneaks up on us.