Page 29

Francesca has three daughters. Josephine would sooner cut off her nose than help her mother at this point in her life.

Her younger sister, Penelope, is barely a teenager and lives with Roman and Josephine.

She has no contact with Francesca or her father.

It’s weird to think Roman basically has a teenager at home.

They also have another sister who’s a few years younger than Josephine, who has the ability to heal.

However, she along with Josephine’s mother and father, tried to do a ritual which backfired on them.

It caused Josephine’s curse to rebound onto them.

So now Francesca, her husband, and their middle daughter can’t touch anyone without feeling pain. How sad for them.

“We’re not in the healing business any longer.” Francesca glares at me, ice coating her glass where she holds it.

“Right, because your punching bag is gone.” Roman sets his glass of wine down so hard the red liquid splashes over the side and stains the white tablecloth beneath it.

“Or maybe it’s because my brother sucked all the magic out of you.

Although it looks like it’s starting to return.

” He stares pointedly at the iced over glass.

Francesca has water magic. The fact that she can’t control it is telling.

“What a relief, right? Even if it’s a bit glitchy. ” Roman chuckles to himself.

Bram, Roman’s brother, has the ability to literally suck the magic out of a person. That’s exactly what he did to Francesca at a recent coven event. Her magic has obviously replenished, but wouldn’t it be incredible if it went away forever? Tucker’s too.

“Please, everyone. We haven’t even started eating yet.” My mother waves her hands and a small army of servers file in with food. “It’s in an amuse-bouche.” She laughs as the servers bring in small plates with mini bites of food. They’re all very pretty, but I have no idea what anything is.

Lucida is sitting in the seat to my right, and I turn to her. “So how is it that a magic spell that should have the best interest of the coven, at its core, selects candidates to be part of our council who are under house arrest for having betrayed said coven?”

“Ambrose.” My mother’s fork clinks against her plate.

“I think it’s a fair question,” Piper says from farther down the table.

“Since when do you have a thought in your head?” Tucker snorts, and then hisses, his fingertips gently probing his nose.

“You’re right,” Lucida says. “It’s a fair question. And one I’m looking into.” Lucida scans the table, taking in every one of the individuals who might be the future of this coven. The direction our town could take swings wildly in two extremes.

“There’s no going back now,” Lucida says calmly, but her eyes tell a different story. She’s pissed. “The spell has been cast and what’s done is done. But I’m confident that our trials will weed out those who don’t deserve to be in power.”

“By whose determination?” Francesca asks. She’s at the opposite end of the table, as far away from other people as she can put herself. “Sometimes the weak need a firm hand.”

“And sometimes compassion goes further than brute force,” Odie signs.

Anastasia sighs loudly. “What is she saying? Nobody knows what she’s saying.”

“Several of us know what she’s saying. I don’t think you’d get it anyway.” I pop one of the tiny toasts in my mouth. “Mmm, delicious.”

Anastasia sneers at me, but the servers come through with the next round of plates. A salad this time, with spiky greens, strawberries, and walnuts. I hope no one has any allergies here, because apparently, we don’t give a fuck.

“We’ve rewarded those in society who can’t survive on their own.

The weak are now more important and have more power than those who rightfully should sit at the head of the table.

” Francesca holds her glass of wine by the tips of her fingers, sitting back in her chair.

She looks at my mother with a raised brow.

Tucker nods as he sneers down at his plate before pushing it away. Not a fruit and veggie man then. I imagine he likes to masticate his beef while it’s still practically mooing.

“Exactly. This new generation is pathetic. They think the world owes them and they haven’t worked a day in their life.”

I blink a few times. That feels pointed, except I have a job. I’ve just hired very fine people to run Roth entertainment so that I don’t have to be involved in the day to day. Isn’t that the smartest business move of them all?

I grab my bottle of wine and pour myself a glass. Actually, there’s still room for more. The ruby liquid nearly wobbles over the lip of the glass as I lift it to my mouth. Someone else is going to have to drive us home at this point, because I won’t be staying sober for this dinner.

“Remind me, Tucker, what is it you do for a living?”

Tucker glares at Lucida. “I was part of the council before some bitter bitch tried to kick me off.”

“Actions have consequences,” Lucida replies calmly. Tucker’s nostrils flare. He looks ready to launch an assault at Lucida but changes his mind.

“Yes, they do. It’s a good thing there are some of us at this table who know how to run this coven.

I can’t image the fuckups that will happen if it’s left in the hands of certain individuals.

” Tucker leans back as our plates are cleared away.

His cold eyes narrow as he looks at Piper.

“Take her, for example. How’s a sad little mouse like Piper going to contribute to the council?

She can’t even defend herself.” Tucker snaps his fingers, and a tiny ball of fire sparks and evaporates.

Piper flinches, and Tucker laughs. “See. Just a scared little mouse. She’ll be so easy for people to manipulate.

She even fell for whatever ploy this one sold her to marry him.

I guess all it takes is a pretty face, huh, Niece? ”

“Stop talking to my wife,” I snap at Tucker.

“Don’t want people to know how you’ve taken advantage of a malleable woman?”

“It’s not worth it, Ambrose.” Piper looks up at me, a sad smile on her face.

“Always trying to convince others to be weak, just like you.” Tucker clucks his tongue.

I slam my hand on the table, making the china and silverware clang and wobble. “You are a disgrace.”

Tucker’s fisting his knife in his hand, looking ready to lunge across the table at me. I welcome the fight. I grin at him even as my mother is gasping next to me.

“Ambrose, honestly. We have company.”

“This isn’t my party, Mother. And I don’t allow people to speak to my wife that way.”

My mother tugs on my sleeve. “This is a family matter. It’s her uncle.”

“And he’s not worthy of sharing the same air as my wife,” I bark out. “I know how to be civil. I’m not sure he does. If he won’t behave himself, then Piper and I will be leaving.” I start to stand, but my mother waves her hand like a startled bird.

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. I think everyone can comport themselves in a respectable manner, can they not?” Her voice rises almost to a shout as she glares at Tucker.

“Bianca. Of course. Some of us just let the wine go to our heads. Ah, steak.” Tucker practically rips the plate from the server’s hand. “Finally, some real food. None of this rabbit food nonsense.”

I’m halfway out of my seat. Piper and I stare at each other. One word is all it will take and we’re out of here. She shakes her head, and I sit back down with a sigh.