“Mav,” I started.

  He looked at me and shook his head. “I can handle this.” Then he turned back to face the woman who had given birth to him. “I think the truth is that you’re only thinking of yourself and that’s all you’ve ever done. All of you just can’t stand something that breaks away from your perfect little matriarchal hell. If I’d been born a girl with this much power, you’d have groomed me to replace you someday. But I have the wrong parts, and so my status as warlock challenges the status quo. Thus, I had to go.” I could see the anger in his eyes growing. “You turned me out on my own when all I wanted to do was be near you.”

  “I… I did it for your own good,” Tabitha said, the tone of her voice almost sounding frantic.

  “How can you stand there and say you did it for my own good? That’s nothing but troll piss!”

  Maverick’s voice broke and he turned away, his hands turned into angry fists at his sides. I’d always assumed he was a bastard because he was a warlock. All accounts said warlocks started as nasty pieces of work and got worse as time went on. Now I wondered if that was just another example of a smear campaign. Nothing Maverick had done to me was right, true, but I understood it now. When your whole family hated you, you hated them right back. When the woman you desperately wanted to love you spurned you and called you disgusting, you lashed out. If all you’d ever known was disappointment, then that’s exactly what you became.

  I wasn’t even sure if Maverick truly loved me the way he thought he did—or maybe ‘love’ was too strong a word—that he lusted after me might be a better descriptor. The truth was more along the lines of the fact that he needed someone, anyone, to give a damn, and he’d latched onto me because I’d been the least cruel.

  “Charmin—” Tabitha began, and I could have sworn her eyes were shiny too. Was she going to cry? It was almost unheard of. Witches didn’t cry.

  “Maverick,” he snapped. “Call me by my name.”

  I wasn’t sure what Tabitha was going to say to that, but it proved to be a moot point as Maverick seized Astrid by the wrist and dragged her toward the distant doorway. She didn’t fight him. She ducked her head, and I had the sneaking suspicion she was hiding tears. As I watched, Poppy started after Maverick and Astrid, Betanya and Olga directly behind her.

  Turning my attention back to Tabitha, I watched her discreetly rub the tears from her eyes as she scanned the crowd around us, meeting each eye in turn as though daring them to say something. Her glare was so steely, most everyone turned away. When she finally locked eyes with William and Amos, she actually jumped.

  “You! But you can’t be here! If Celestine sees you—”

  William let out a bitter laugh. “Nice to see you, too, Tabitha. And being spotted is a part of the plan. It’s high time everyone knew what Celestine was up to.”

  “You can’t!” Tabitha said as she shook her head and there was real fear in her eyes. “She’ll kill you.”

  “She’s already done that,” Amos answered. “And we think it’s high time everyone knew it. Scarlett agrees.”

  Tabitha ran her nails down her face as though she’d tear it off. Her eyes were a little wild.

  “Fools! You’re all taking an enormous chance! You have to know this will end badly. Don’t do this, please! For my sake, at least...”

  “Your sake?” William laughed.

  Tabitha continued to shake her head, more resolutely this time. “You don’t know the lengths I’ve gone to keep all of you safe. I can’t stop her, but if the secret is kept—”

  “It’s not enough,” William said softly. To his credit, he did look apologetic. “And if the secret is kept, Celestine is just going to keep doing this. Now that they’re in a coven, it’s your son or daughter next up to the chopping block, Tabitha, and you know that.”

  “Please,” Tabitha said in a small voice, and I was beyond surprised to know she had it within her to beg. Whatever this secret of Mother’s was, it was a doozy all right. “She promised. If you leave it be...”

  Lorcan stepped up next to me, sliding his hand into mine. The knot in my stomach eased when he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. When he leaned in to whisper, his breath ruffled the stray hairs I’d tucked behind one ear. He pulled me further away from the crowd, which was already engulfing Tabitha and the others, no doubt wanting all the juicy morsels of what had just gone down.

  “Are you following any of this?” Lorcan asked, frowning down at me.

  “Um, sort of.”

  Tabitha’s revelations had dumped new puzzle pieces onto the pile, and I thought if I squinted, I could make out a picture. An idea began to form in my mind. The answer was right there. If I could just—

  “Wanda!”

  I jumped and made a small sound of fright when Poppy’s voice carried over the crowd as she pushed through it. There was a murmur of protest but she shoved her way through until she reached us. As soon as she did, Lorcan’s nostrils flared.

  “She’s bleeding,” Lorcan said.

  “And it’s not just a scrape,” William added as he appeared behind her and Amos behind him. “The scent is too strong for that.”

  “Don’t you touch her,” I warned him.

  He smiled at me. “We wouldn’t dream of it,” he answered. “We’re here to protect… all of you.”

  “Yeah, lot of good you did.”

  I turned in the direction of her voice, watching as she pushed urgently against the crowd. I was about to start slinging hexes when William and Amos stepped in front of me and faced the crowd who had now turned their attention to us and were coming closer. The effect of William and Amos’ intense glares was like pouring oil on water. The witches around us immediately drew back, like we were something unworthy of touching.

  I found Poppy leaning against the window of Familiar Faces, panting for breath. There was a gash above her right eye. Blood was streaking down one side of her face, dripping down her neck, and gathering in her collar.

  “Goddess, Poppy! What happened?”

  Whoever was responsible would get a face full of fire. This hadn’t just been a little tussle. Whoever had done this had meant to hurt, or possibly even kill her. Just the thought of it made my chest burn with outrage.

  No one touched her! No one touched my best friend!

  “Betanya and Olga met up with us just now and we all followed Maverick and Astrid to the front of the building,” she started, sucking in deep breaths. “When Astrid opened the front doors and walked outside, Maverick followed her and we were maybe a couple seconds behind them. Then…” she took another breath. “A van sped through the parking lot and pulled up just out front and a group of human men jumped out of the van and they… they overwhelmed us!”

  “Overwhelmed you?” I asked as my stomach dropped.

  Poppy nodded. “They tased Astrid and Maverick,” she said as her eyes grew wide and she looked up at me with worry. “I tried to stop them, Wanda, but the biggest one hit me with something, and I think… I’m pretty sure I blacked out. When I came to, Betanya was doing a spell over me to wake me up and the men in the van were gone.” Her voice hitched, and tears began to pour down her cheeks.

  “Astrid and Maverick?” I started as my stomach dropped even further.

  “Are with them,” Poppy finished and took another inhale.

  “And you’re certain these men were human?” Lorcan asked.

  Poppy nodded. “They were out in the daylight and I didn’t get any sort of magical read on them. Neither did Betanya or Olga.” She took another breath as the other two witches in question walked up to us.

  “Whoever the men were, they had guns, Wanda,” Poppy continued.

  Fear was a cold weight in my stomach.

  “I think they planned to,” Poppy continued but then couldn’t finish.

  “Kill them,” I finished for her. “They’re going to kill them.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lorcan released my hand and lunged for Poppy, catching her as her knees gave.

  It was all that saved her from a painful impact with the marble floor.

  “M’Okay,” Poppy slurred. “Maybe if I get my potions, we could scry their location. There’s still time to—”

  “You’re not going anywhere,” I said, giving her a look that told her not to argue with me. “You can barely stand up. No…” I turned to face Lorcan and gave him a nod before turning back to face Poppy. “Lorcan is going to take you up to our room, and he’s going to dig out the spell-infused bandages I packed. Those should stop the bleeding and help you feel better. I’ll grab the potions and scry their location. They can’t have gone far.”

  “They won’t be far,” William said, and spat a curse. “We know a handful of the clan’s hideouts, and they’re within a few miles of the Sanctuary. The only problem is,” he started.

  “You can’t go with us,” I finished as I nodded. “Because it’s daylight outside.”

  “Right,” he nodded.

  “So, how is it that this other clan is out and about?”

  “Just as the Sanctuary is magicked for vampires, so are the clan’s hideouts.”

  I took a deep breath. “Courtesy of Celestine’s magic?”

  William nodded. “I wish… I could do more to help you, but the second I step foot outside, I’ll die.”

  “That’s okay,” I said firmly. “We can handle this ourselves.”

  “Sweetling,” Lorcan started, but I turned to face him and shook my head.

  “There’s no way I’m going to wait on this, Lorcan,” I explained. “Not when Astrid’s in danger.”

  I felt sick to my stomach. If there was one thing witches and warlocks feared above all else, it was falling into the hands of vampires. Such was considered the most undignified death imaginable. And if you were blooded or turned... that was worse. Much worse. Even I had trouble overcoming the taboo, and I was dating one of them.

  “Are you saying these rebel vampires have taken Astrid and Maverick? Why?” I demanded.

  “They were paid to,” Amos answered on a shrug.

  I stared at him for a long moment, and another puzzle piece slotted into place.

  “It’s Celestine who’s behind this, isn’t it?”

  This was the secret.

  It had to be.

  Mother was paying vampires to target undesirables. It was blasphemy of the worst kind. Something the goddess could never condone, and something that would earn the scorn of every witch who learned the truth. And that was exactly why Mother didn’t want anyone to know about it, the reason she’d bound everyone to silence.

  “Yes,” William said.

  The pinched look again. His hands balled into fists at his side, and I could practically feel him willing me to understand.

  “Though it’s only part of the secret,” he said. “Think, Wanda.”

  “There’s no time,” Tabitha said as she appeared behind William. Darla and Libby walked up behind her. “They’ll be quick about it.” And then Tabitha’s eyes went wide as she swallowed hard. “We… we have to stop them.”

  “We?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

  “Yes,” she insisted. “It’s my son and daughter.”

  “And Celestine is your sister.”

  She nodded. “And what she’s done… is wrong.” She took another deep breath and looked like she was seconds away from completely unraveling. “She promised to leave my babies out of this.”

  “You should have known better than to trust a word that came out of that woman’s mouth,” Amos muttered.

  Tabitha shot him a dirty look. “I-told-you-so’s can wait. We must get up to the room and begin the tracking spell. Even moving as quickly as possible, it could still be too late. Scrying takes time.”

  William’s smile surprised me. It was a little savage, flashing his fangs. The witches nearest us actually took off in the other direction, unwilling to be near a vampire when he looked so… well, vampy.

  “I’m going to get one of Scarlett’s packs, and I want you to meet me in the Blue Room,” Amos said to his brother who immediately nodded.

  Amos had gone from sober to furious, and there was something almost… feral about the look in his eye. If Mother had been within biting distance, she’d be missing a few fingers. He didn’t say anything to the rest of us, just turned on his heel and jogged in the opposite direction, knocking shoulders with a few witches as he went.

  “Where’s he going?” Poppy asked, trying to turn to keep him in her sightline. It cost her. She sagged in Lorcan’s arms, clutching her head.

  “Never you mind,” I said, then shifted my gaze up to Lorcan. “Get Poppy up to her room and take Darla and Libby with you. I wouldn’t put it past Mother to send someone after them as well. They are my ‘abominations’ after all.”

  “I’ll get them to a room, but I’m not staying,” Lorcan said, his tone harsh. “You need me.”

  I put a hand on my hip and gave him a look. “It’s daylight out there, which means you can’t be. You should be asleep in our hotel room right now. Only the magic of the Sanctuary is allowing you to walk around. I appreciate the sentiment, but you can’t help me when we leave, Lorcan. None of you can. This is a job for witches.”

  “Wanda,” Lorcan started, but I shook my head, shutting him up.

  “If you really want to help me, keep my friends safe. Poppy needs medical attention, and I trust you to help her.” I took a look at Poppy and then looked back at Lorcan. “She might need your blood.”

  Lorcan looked like he might argue, but William brushed past him, following in Amos’ footsteps. The rest of us fell in behind him. Lorcan swept Poppy up into a bridal carry, ignoring her feeble protests. She still seemed under the impression she could walk, despite the evidence to the contrary. Anyone else would have taken a well-deserved break, but not this gypsy. She fought to the bitter, and could-be suicidal, end. I’d have to order Lorcan and Libby to sit on her while we made our rescue attempt.

  “There has to be something else I can do,” Lorcan said.

  “Between Tabitha, Olga, Betanya, and I, we should be able to hold the vampires off long enough to retrieve Astrid and Maverick.”

  Whether they’d be alive when we found them was another matter entirely. I didn’t want to think about Astrid laying on the concrete floor of some warehouse, pale and still, with blood smeared around her mouth, but even that was preferable to the alternatives: that we’d find her dead for good, or not find her at all. And Maverick… he’d just begun to grow on me. I doubted we’d be friends ever, but I’d always regret not knowing him better if his life ended in a very permanent sense.

  “What happens if they’re…” Poppy began, eyes shiny with tears.

  I really, really didn’t want to finish that sentence, even in my head, but my mind supplied the word. Dead.

  What if Astrid and Maverick were dead?

  What if I’d unknowingly dragged them onto the killing floor?

  William had warned me that someone would try to kill Maverick. If I’d taken William’s advice and sent them both home, they’d be safe. And I was almost ninety-percent sure Astrid had been a victim of convenience.

  For whatever reason, Maverick was the target.

  I just couldn’t understand what he’d done to warrant this. He was an ass, yes, but not enough of an ass to earn himself enemies on the opposite coast. And vampire enemies, at that.

  Undead was bad, but I could actually stomach it. It would be an adjustment, especially for Astrid, who’d look forever seventeen, but at least she’d still be alive—in some sense of the word. I’d still have her in my life—she wouldn’t be cold and lifeless six feet under. And if Lorcan and I couldn’t remove our bond, I might even join Astrid on that side of the divide.

  And as to Maverick turning vamp? That was also better than him just being… dead.

  I ran my hands over my face and belatedly realized my cheeks were damp. A traitorous tear or two had escaped. I thought it could be forgiven under the circumstances because in many ways, I was as much a mother to Astrid as Tabitha was. In some ways, I was even more so.

  “We’ll face that problem when we come to it,” I muttered, remembering Poppy’s question. “We need to find them first.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Blue Room turned out to be a glorified walk-in closet, which was positioned by an actual janitor’s closet—probably to divert suspicion.

  It made me wonder if some hapless custodian had tried to open the door, hoping to grab a mop, only to meet with the unpleasant feeling of Scarlett’s wards. William gave a brief but thorough explanation of the composition of the wards so that Tabitha could dismantle them.

  That gave me pause.

  Vampires on the whole didn’t really give a damn about magic, inasmuch as it affected them personally. Aside from their Kiss, they possessed none of their own. So how did William know this much about the inner workings of witch magic? It wasn’t as if we bandied our secrets about. Thanks to months of exposure to me, Poppy and Lorcan knew more than most outsiders, but neither could spout off magical theory like this.

  Had Scarlett been spilling secrets to the vampires, and if so, why? Guy Velardi was the kingpin of all magical and mundane business in this area, but surely Scarlett wouldn’t have told his vampire guards anything but the basics? Stranger still, Tabitha looked unsurprised, as if she’d expected William to explain arcane secrets with apparent ease.

  I could only hope Poppy was feeling better. Lorcan had taken her to her room, and I trusted he’d know what to do to make sure she was okay. And luckily, he’d taken Darla and Libby with him because they were a distraction I couldn’t afford at the moment.

  When the last ward had been broken, Tabitha, William, and Amos squeezed inside. I followed, Betanya and Olga right behind me. A quick glance around revealed a silver circle set into the marble. It was etched with sigils and fairly hummed with energy. It was a permanent casting circle, which allowed a witch to simply step inside and get to work, no prep work required. The circles were expensive to make, but worth it if you had the time and resources. Scarlett had both, and the precaution made sense. You didn’t have time to prep a circle when bullets were flying. As a mob wife, that was a serious consideration.