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6

CALLIE

"Everyone? Can you come in here?" James's voice breaks me from a trance.

I've been in the living room alone, keeping a book afloat, strengthening my endurance and focus. I gladly hop up, eager for a break. It's tough work, especially as everyone is expecting me to be some kind of leader almost straight away.

We've been trapped in this house for weeks now, and we're all about to go nuts. Not for the first time, I wish my cat was still part of me, and she could help me escape from the pressure of living with so many people around all the time. I'm used to being on my own. Before I came here, I roamed the world in search of the supernatural and answers I thought finding proof of them would bring.

A snort escapes me. I suppose I got those answers after all.

Everyone has shown me most of their magic skills, and I’ve been able to do everything so far. Now, it’s more about endurance and focus. They say doing spells safely in my living room is a hell of a lot different than doing them in a battle, and I believe them.

Sugar and James are already in the kitchen when I arrive, both of them looking at the same letter.

"What is it?" I ask, dread settling in my stomach.

"Wait for everyone." James sighs and rubs his eyes. Whatever it is, he isn't a fan of it. I wonder if it's someone else from his past trying to get into contact. He seems to hate that.

Unable to help myself, I cross the space between us and wrap my arms around his waist. He drops his hand and looks at me, a ghost of a smile on his lips. I reach up and run my fingers through his blond hair, rubbing the back of his neck. A groan slips from his lips that has my blood turning to fire.

“Wow." Sugar's voice breaks through the moment between the two of us.

I jerk and look at her, having completely forgotten she was there.

“What?” I cock my head to the side in what I hope is a playful manner to take some of the sting from my words.

“It’s just weird to see James with someone," she admits.

I laugh. “He’s a little less uptight, right?”

“Yeah,” Sugar says, nodding. “He looks like he wants to be fucked rather than having that sour puss on his face all day.”

“Hey!” James says, but there's no real fight in his voice. He knows we're right.

I rub the back of his neck harder, just the way he likes, kneading the tense muscles.

Sugar sighs. “I’ll go round everyone up.”

The second she disappears from the kitchen; I shift my other hand from around his waist and grab his erection.

“Fuck, Callie, anyone could walk in.”

“You’re the one with the boner,” I say, rubbing him between my fingers.

He jerks against my touch and starts to pant. “We don’t have time for this.” He doesn't have to say the other part of that protest, now isn't the time for it either. We have too much to do and far too many people around. But I'm tired of not being with them as often as I want.

“Time to make you come. Depends how long it takes." I look up at him through my lashes, trying to look as seductive as possible.

From the look on his face, I've been more successful than I imagined.

“Callie,” he groans my name.

And now, I don’t care why he wants everyone in here; I just want to watch him break. I want to watch him as he comes, right in his pants, just because I’m touching him.

“Doing magic makes you horny,” he says, bucking into my hand.

“And you love it,” I whisper.

Will walks in a second later. "What's up?" When his gaze lands on us, a smirk twists his lips. “I know you like an audience, but does everyone need to see this?”

James pulls back from me really slowly, but the look of regret on his face eases the sting of losing a hard dick. I bite my lip, my gaze sliding over him. But we’ll finish things later...

A second later, Hank walks in. “What’s up?”

Will doesn’t hesitate. “They want to fuck with an audience.”

I feel my cheeks heat, though whether it's from embarrassment or desire, I'm not too sure. “We do not!”

“Can anyone join in?” Hank asks, and I don’t know how he manages to keep a straight face.

“No!” I say. Was I horny as hell a minute ago? Now I’m just burning with embarrassment.

“I actually just need to talk to everyone about something,” James says, and I realize his cheeks are bright red too.

“Rain check on the group sex thing,” Hank says.

Will grins. “But it does have an expiration date…”

“Guys!” I scold, just as some of the others walk in.

I shoot my guys a warning look. If they embarrass me in front of everyone...

But luckily, Will’s teasing look falls away. "I think we’re just waiting on Theresa and her guys now.”

They crowd in with Fran right behind them. The small kitchen is crammed full of people. We should really find a better place to bring everyone together. This is getting ridiculous.

Everyone looks exhausted and like they’re waiting for the next shoe to drop. Which I don’t blame them for.

James hands me the letter he and Sugar had been reading.

I glance down and start to read the words.

James,

I wouldn’t be me if I hadn’t done my research since coming to town. And now I know the truth: not only do you know our would-be queen, but you’re also helping her. Callie, the beautiful niece of King Robert and a woman so many witches think could bring about a new kind of peace with the humans. And a woman who so many witches think could disrupt everything and cause a full civil war between their kind.

There are so many interesting rumors, all with a thread of truth within them. But what I do know, we need to talk. I know you’re in hiding, but here’s my phone number. Call me.

Benny.

I stare at the letter in confusion, then glance back up at James. Why in the world is this letter important enough to gather all of us here? And who is this Benny?

James answers as if reading my mind. "Benny was a friend in boarding school. He was in town when I went the other week."

"Wait… wasn't he the guy you were disguised as?" Hank asks with wide eyes.

I look back at James. He disguised himself as someone. Is that how he was able to safely go out a few weeks ago?

James shrugs. "Yeah, it made for an interesting reunion. But after he realized who I was, he decided not to kill me."

“Kill you?” I repeat, shocked.

“I don’t exactly blame him. Not many people go around looking like someone they’re not unless they’re looking for trouble.”

“Okay,” I try to figure what the heck to do with all this information. “Who is this guy?”

"He works for the Witch Queen of England, which, as you know, doesn't just mean England. She runs the biggest coven in the world."

I knew that from reading a book Theresa gave me about the various covens. It’s a bit outdated, though, and named a king as ruler of that coven. "What is he doing here?"

"He was sent by the queen to spy, see what's going on, and see if the king is about to be replaced. The queen doesn't care for our king, it seems."

“So… he’s on our side?” I ask.

"I wouldn't go that far." James frowns. "I haven't seen Benny in years. He was a good guy in school and my friend. I think he has good intentions now, but I can't be sure."

I’m still figuring out the witch politics, but the idea that my uncle and his witches are the small fish in a bigger pond opens up my world. What if we could get some of them on our side? Wouldn’t that help our cause?

Maybe it’d even make it safer for people when I try to get the throne. Maybe my uncle will be less willing to hurt and kill everyone if we’re backed by another coven's Queen.

“Could this Benny help us--?” I begin.

" What’s this boy's name?" Fran asks, pushing forward. James jumped up to let her sit at the table, even though two of the chairs weren't even taken.

"Benedict Slomin."

Fran's face darkens. "I know of him. He came to the last Witch Games.”

When I stare at her in confusion, she clarifies. “The Witch Games happen every decade on an uninhabited island. We all spend time together, practice our magic, and bond. It’s something that was decided a long time ago to prevent wars between different covens.”

“You met him there?” I ask, still confused.

“I heard about him from other people who met him there, and Benedict Slomin doesn’t have a good reputation. He’s said to be cruel without remorse and someone to avoid if at all possible.”

James winces, and it hurts my heart to see. A part of me hopes that the rumors were about a different man. It doesn’t seem like James trusts easily, so to hear his friend might not be the good guy he thought must be hard.

Fran fixes her sharp stare on me. "Stay away from this man," she warns. "He is as likely to kill you as help you. He’ll do whatever gives him the upper hand. He is charismatic, intelligent, but dangerous and cunning."

I look at James again, needing to know, but hating to ask. "Do you think this could be true? You knew him."

James looks between Fran and me with a worried expression. "I don't know. I can't say no, though. He was determined and very smart in school. Anything is possible."

“Okay,” I say. “We tread lightly with this Benny guy. Does anyone else have anything to say?”

Theresa steps forward. Today, her dark hair has been braided down one side, and between her leather outfit, and the way she holds herself, she looks every bit the badass witch. "The solstice ceremony is fast approaching."

There are some murmurs from her men behind her.

"We all know you will need to be there to claim your place as heir, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure you get there. But...” Theresa hesitates. “I want to remind you that there is a chance the magic will not choose you. It seems unlikely, but I wanted to make certain to remind you. I personally believe if you were not meant to rule the coven, you wouldn’t be such a natural, but we have to be ready for the possibility."

I tense. The looming solstice had been bothering me, but what if the magic didn't choose me? My Uncle will surely kill me, then. And nobody would ever be able to stop him. Once the magic chooses either me or my baby cousin, it’s cemented. The only way to depose him would be if another coven killed him and took over power forcibly.

And that’s easier said than done.

"Her uncle certainly isn't a natural, at least," Timothy mutters.

I give one of Theresa’s lovers a sharp glare. "What do you mean?"

He looks taken aback as the room's attention shifts to him. But the big bond man draws himself up taller. "I mean... he has to steal power. He's done it for years. I thought that was common knowledge. He uses Objects of Power, steals people's powers, and manipulates it from them. If he was really that powerful, he wouldn’t need to do any of that shit. Right?"

“Right,” I say, kind of surprised. I knew he was taking powers, but I assumed he was just a power-hungry asshole.

“That’s another thing,” Anton, the older gardener says, nervously touching his dark mustache. “Hasn’t anyone wondered why the king gave Callie her powers back?”

His words drop between us like stones, and my stomach turns.

“The king isn’t a fool. Everything he does is for a reason…,” Anton says, his dark eyes meeting mine.

"He gave my powers back so he can steal them," I whisper.

And now I'm more worried than I was before. If my uncle is really as smart as everyone says he is, and if he gave my powers back to me to steal them, is all of this part of his plan?

Which means we’re falling right into his trap…

“We just need to keep Callie safe a little longer,” Will says, and there’s steel in his voice as he runs a hand gently down my back.

He’s right. But how many more people will be hurt before then?

Too many.