The raccoon reacted instantly and sank his claws into Lorcan’s shirt to break his fall. The fabric tore under Franz’s weight and the creature scrambled to catch its grip. Reeling from the scratches, Lorcan jerked away from Genevieve, who leapt away from him and towards me.

  Before I could dodge her, she caught me by the back of the neck. Her powerful fingers closed around my jugular. At this rate, I’d break my own neck if I fought back. Too fast for me to see, she dove forward and sank her fangs into my neck. I froze in horror as the needle points pierced my skin and then I was overcome with pain—searing and burning. I stared up at the ceiling as an awful, bone-numbing cold began to flood my body.

  I caught a glimpse of Lorcan and Joseph as they blipped in and out of focus, first appearing here then appearing there around the cabin. Each time they reappeared, their fangs were fully extended as they attempted to shred one another.

  My attention returned to the fact that I could feel my blood pouring into Genevieve’s mouth. Every time I tried to push her away from me, she latched on even harder. It was akin to trying to shift away a boulder that’s landed atop you—impossible. The pain was ever-present and a moment later, I couldn’t see anything. Everything was suddenly black and I had to wonder if the reason why was that I was close to death.

  I can’t go out this way! I yelled to myself. I can’t have come this far only to die like this, in ignominy!

  Then the anger within me, the blend of my vampire and witch sides, suddenly rose to the fore yet again.

  As Genevieve continued to slurp my life blood, whatever power was still left within me allowed me to raise my palms towards her. And then I called to the goddesses within one last time, pleading for them to unite once more and make themselves known.

  As I felt the energy blossom between my hands, my vision resurrected itself and I watched the glow of blue and black energy develop between my fingers and blend into a glowing gray. Once the energy was strong enough, I released the glowing ball into Genevieve. It blasted her backwards and she slammed into the far wall.

  Suddenly beyond exhausted, I collapsed to the floor, too weak to hold myself up any longer. My life’s blood dripped down my neck, pooling on the ground beneath me as the cold took root in the bottommost corner of my being and I wondered if I’d ever get warm again. And then I wondered if I’d even have an ‘again’.

  All strength drained from me and my head flopped to one side. Through the open cabin door, I saw Poppy, and the others standing tall and strong in the front yard. Fifi was with them. Everyone looked up at the dark night sky where above the trees, hundreds of dark figures hurtled through the darkness.

  The coven.

  The witches plummeted on my friends, their grotesque features twisting in disgusting grimaces. As I watched, Roy returned to his human form, as did Louisa. And each reached down into the duffel bag Lorcan had provided, pulling out a weapon with which to defend themselves. Poppy swung a 12-gauge shotgun to her shoulder and fired into the cloud of witches.

  Then my vision blurred and I felt myself succumb to the darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I wasn’t sure how long I was out, but when I opened my eyes, the cabin sounded unnaturally quiet. I blinked and Lorcan’s face appeared above mine. I tried to open my mouth to speak, but he quickly silenced me.

  Engulfing me in his strong arms, he picked me up. Even though I couldn’t hear what he said, I could read his lips.

  “Everything is going to be alright, my dear,” he said, his eyes soft. “I’ve got you,” but his features contorted in an expression that appeared a lot like worry and his lips trembled when he said the words.

  The desperation in his eyes revealed the lie. We both knew I wouldn’t be all right, but at least he was here with me. At least, I could die in his arms, right where I belonged.

  He glanced down at the bite in my neck and winced. Then his eyes darted up to meet mine again as he tried to cover the truth yet again. His eyebrows came together in an unspoken question. And then I understood. He was asking for my permission—asking if he could turn me to save my life.

  I tried to nod, but I couldn’t.

  He tried to stroke my cheek. My head lolled to the side, so he had to support it in one hand. He turned me toward him and lowered his lips to kiss me. I savored the last delicious taste of him…

  He straightened up then and his expression changed.

  He said, “You will be all right,” and this time, he meant it. I could see as much in his eyes. He bent lower, moving his face toward my neck. I tensed for his bite, but my consciousness faded before it came.

  ***

  Sunshine woke me.

  I squinted and looked through a window I didn’t recognize. And I didn’t recognize the view beyond the window either. Broad daylight flooded the neighborhood outside as I struggled to sit up, but someone tapped my arm.

  “Not so fast, hotshot. Slow down before you fall over.”

  “Poppy?” I said as I looked up at her and my head started pounding like an SOB. “What happened?” And then I remembered and my stomach fell. How was it possible I was lying in the sunlight if Lorcan had turned me? “Why isn’t the sun burning me?”

  “The sun burning you?” Poppy asked, sounding surprised. “Why would it burn you?”

  “Because… didn’t Lorcan…. didn’t he turn me into a vampire?”

  “Of course not!” she laughed as if it were the silliest question possible. “You’re still as much a witch as you always were… well, a Blood Witch anyway.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Poppy nodded, apparently realizing she had a tale to tell. She leaned over me and took my hand and gave me that mothering smile of hers that almost made me jealous of Finn.

  “That horrible, awful vampire Genevieve bit you and did a good job of nearly draining you, but you were able to overcome her with your magic… at least, for a little while.” She paused for a moment. “And then Lorcan was on her. You should have seen him, Wanda. I’ve never seen him so… feral before. He was like a wild animal trying to protect you.”

  “Really?” I didn’t want to admit that I liked the sound of that—Lorcan like a wild animal trying to defend me.

  Poppy nodded. “Once Lorcan managed to get Genevieve away from you, he sealed the wound to stop you from bleeding.”

  “I’d already lost so much blood though… so why didn’t I die?”

  “Once we got you to the hospital, I was able to give you my own blood.”

  “The hospital?” I asked in alarm as I tried to sit up again but Poppy wouldn’t allow me.

  “You’ve been here ever since, Wanda.” She furrowed her brow at me. “What made you think Lorcan turned you into a vampire?”

  “He said… he said he’d do it to save my life.” I collapsed back into the hospital bed as I tried to understand how it was that I was in a human, mundane hospital. This could be very bad.

  “Well, I guess Lorcan figured there was another way to save your life and that he wouldn’t have to turn you,” Poppy answered cheerily.

  “Poppy, how can I be at the hospital?” I continued, looking around myself. “Mundanes aren’t supposed to know…”

  “It’s okay,” Poppy interrupted, lifting her hands as if to settle me. “Olga bewitched all the doctors, nurses, and the rest of the mundane staff so you don’t have to worry about them learning too much.”

  I felt a huge breath of relief soar through me. “Olga’s okay then?”

  Poppy nodded. “Yes, she’s in significantly better shape than you are, though the doctor believes you’ll be able to leave the hospital tomorrow or the next day.”

  “Olga’s fine?” I repeated, just to make sure I’d heard her right.

  “Yes, she’s fine, Wanda. She thinks you’re a hero. She keeps going on about how you broke that last ward to free her. She says you’re ten times the witch your mother is.”

  “Mother will come after her… after us both, probably.”

  Poppy shook her head. “Don’t worry, Wanda. We’re a few steps ahead. Olga will be staying in one of Lorcan’s rentals for now, but you’ll have to decide what you want to do about her later. Obviously she can’t return to the Crescent Circle Coven.”

  I nodded. “Right.”

  “It’s up to you whether you want to allow Olga to stay in Haven Hollow, but you don’t have to think about that now. All you should be focusing on is healing.”

  But, thinking about whether or not Olga should stay in Haven Hollow was now firmly on my mind. In order for Olga to stay, that would mean I’d have to form my own coven. Being Astrid’s legal guardian was one thing, but I couldn’t allow another witch to move into town without bringing her under my own sanctum spell. And that would mean forming my own coven. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

  The other option was evicting Olga from Haven Hollow. I didn’t doubt my power in that regard. I could evict Olga if I wanted to. If she thought that highly of me, she might even go of her own accord. But, did I want her to go? I really didn’t like the idea of throwing someone out of town, especially someone like Olga who had nowhere else to go. I knew what it felt like not to belong anywhere.

  Poppy patted my hand. “You have a lot to think about. I’ll leave you to rest. I know Lorcan wants to see you. As soon as he wakes up, I’ll send him over.”

  She started to get up, but I grabbed her arm. “Poppy, will you sit with me for a few minutes more?”

  She smiled that reassuring smile of hers that always promised everything would be okay. And I was grateful to her for it. “Sure.”

  I took a deep breath. Here went nothing. “If I’m going to start a coven in Haven Hollow—and I’m saying if—then… I think… I think you should be in it, too.”

  “Me!” she exclaimed, her eyes going wide as she shook her head. “Wanda, you’ve had a near death experience and you really need to rest. We can…”

  “No,” I interrupted. “I want to talk about this now.”

  “Okay…” she started because she wasn’t one to argue. “Why are you thinking about forming a coven?”

  “Because Olga has nowhere else to go and I don’t feel right about kicking her out of Haven Hollow.”

  Poppy looked at me in surprise for a few seconds. Then the surprise melted into an expression of pride. “Wow, you really have…”

  “I can’t handle a pep talk at the moment. I’m going soft and I know you’re all for it, but I’m not sure how I feel about it so let’s just skip that whole conversation, okay?”

  She smiled even wider. “Okay.”

  “So, will you be in my coven if I decide to form one?”

  “But, I’m not a witch.”

  I shook my head. “You have more power than many witches I know. You have more power than even you’re aware of, I’d bet.”

  “I don’t have as much power as you do.”

  “I wouldn’t have as much power as I do if I weren’t a Blood Witch and didn’t rely on your potions. And we all know a potion is only as powerful as the person who brewed it.”

  “Still. I couldn’t join a coven.” She giggled at the thought. “I’ve spent most of my life avoiding witches like the plague.”

  “This wouldn’t be a coven like the ones we’re both used to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, this would be a coven that didn’t discriminate. I wouldn’t allow any of the members to bear grudges against you because you’re a gypsy. I mean, if they decide not to like you because you’re always so annoyingly happy all the time, that I can’t do anything about.”

  She laughed.

  “I mean it,” I told her. “I want you to think about it, even if you decide you don’t want to join. I want you to consider yourself as much a witch as Astrid or me. You have as much right to join as anyone does.”

  She smiled, but this time she didn’t argue. “All right. I’ll think about it.”

  So that was the end of that conversation. Even as I continued to ponder the idea, it seemed more and more foreign and strange. Me—starting my own coven? Mother would have a conniption… and that was one of the reasons the idea suddenly appealed to me even more.

  But, really, what reason did I have NOT to start a coven? I had three witches (if Olga agreed to take part and I couldn’t imagine she wouldn’t) even if one of them was technically underage—four if I considered Poppy as good as a witch.

  True, Poppy hadn’t said she’d join and I hadn’t asked Olga yet. And there was still a chance Olga declined. For all I knew, she might decide to go back to Germany. Then Astrid and I would be on our own again. Maybe that was for the best.

  “Oh, and Wanda?” Poppy started.

  I looked over at her. “Yeah?”

  “Olga got all those bad reviews you were worried about sorted out,” she answered with a wide grin.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean… if you look at your Yelp reviews, you’ll be very happy to find you’re back up to four and a half stars.”

  “But how is that,” I started as Poppy shook her head.

  “Witch magic, I guess,” she answered. Then she stood up and smiled down at me again. “Anyway, I’ve got to get going because Marty and the guys are looking after Finn and I promised them all pizza.”

  I nodded as I looked up at her. “Thanks for everything, Poppy.”

  “You got it.”

  “No, I mean it,” I insisted. “I really… appreciate you.”

  She just smiled even wider at me and reaching down, patted me on the shoulder. “We’re family, Wanda.”

  I nodded. “Yes, we are.”

  Once Poppy left, I turned to gaze out the window, watching the wind whip through the branches of a nearby pine tree. The boughs tapped against the window pane and the sound was somehow comforting. I stared out that window for what felt like a long time but was probably only a few minutes. As I watched, the sun sloped to the other side of the sky.

  A knock on my hospital door broke my reverie and I as I turned to see who it could be, the door opened just a smidge. Peeking through the opening was Olga.

  “Come in,” I said.

  She entered the room with Franz perched on her shoulder. Neither of them looked the worse for wear. “Vanda, I come to check on you.”

  “Well, it’s looking like I’m going to be okay.”

  “I fery grateful to you, Vanda. You come and you save my life.”

  “Well, you don’t need to be grateful,” I answered, thinking I might wait to ask her about the coven idea. For now, there was another topic on my mind and I figured Olga was probably the only one who could answer it.

  “Vell, I grateful, all zee same.”

  “Olga?” I started.

  “Ya?”

  “Why was Mother… why was Celestine so determined to keep you locked in that cabin? I mean… why did she go to such lengths to keep the place warded, hexed, booby-trapped, and all that?”

  Olga cocked her head to the side and was silent for a few seconds. I noticed her white hair now cascaded around her neck and shoulders, ending at her waist. When she shifted, I was able to catch sight of the bandage and tape across her neck. She’d come close—maybe as close as I had—to meeting her maker. We were both beyond lucky to have survived.

  “I believe your mozer knew you vould come after me,” she said finally.

  “But why was it so important to keep you away from me?”

  She nodded and grew quiet again, as if she were searching for the right words. “Like some ozer vitches, I vas gifted wiz second sight. An’ in my visions, I see you zreatening Zelestine’s reign.”

  “Threatening Mother’s reign?” I repeated, shaking my head. “I don’t understand.”

  “I see in visions zat Zelestine’s control vill be zreatened by you, Vanda. I cannot say much more zan zat. But if I vas able to see such zings…”

  “Then Mother saw them too because she also has second sight,” I answered for myself as dawning realization hit me. Mother had gone to all these lengths to keep me subdued and under her thumb because she considered me a threat. How I’d ever threaten her ‘reign’ as Olga called it, I had no idea.

  “But that still doesn’t explain why Mother went overboard to keep you locked up.”

  Olga nodded. “Zelestine did not vant us, you and me, to ever cross paz.”

  “She didn’t want us to cross paths because she thinks you’ll have something to do with me threatening her power?”

  Olga nodded. “Ya, I zink so.”

  More and more of the puzzle pieces started to fall into place as I realized Olga hadn’t been banished for her love of mortal men—she’d been banished because Mother never wanted her to come into contact with me. The ironic part of this whole situation was that if Mother had never relied on Olga’s magic to try to ruin me, I probably never would have ever met Olga in the first place.

  Before either one of us could say anything more, there was another knock on the door. We both looked towards it as Lorcan pushed it open. A cautious smile spread over his lips when he saw me awake. And seeing him did something to me—I was suddenly filled with warmth and I wanted nothing more than to throw my arms around him and just soak in his presence.

  It was then that Olga gave me one last smile before she stood up.

  “I vill leave you boz to it,” she said.

  “Goodbye, Olga,” I answered as she nodded towards me. “And thank you… for everything.”

  She gave Lorcan a broad smile as she walked past him. Apparently, not all witches disliked vampires…

  But, Lorcan only had eyes for me. “My dear, you gave us all quite the fright. How are you feeling?”

  “Better, I guess.”

  He walked up to the hospital cot and stood as close to me as he was able. Then he reached down and took my hand, where the IV wasn’t inserted into it.

  “I am pleased to know that.”

  I drew him down to sit beside me, in the chair Olga had just vacated. “Sit. I want to talk to you.”

  “What would you like to speak about?” he asked as he took the chair and pulled it closer to me. He never released my hand. When he faced me with that handsome smile, it made my heart do flips, even as I berated myself for that exact fact. When the old and staid Wanda was going to return was anyone’s guess but I sorely missed her.