Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten Read Online Free PDF Page B

which is why I asked you to come here before we meet with the Council. I also know you were wondering why I chose you as my successor.” She paused to pour the tea. “And what you said a few moments ago is why. You have a great deal more wisdom than even I realized. Your personality may differ dramatically from mine, but, at your core, you have what it takes to lead the coven. In many ways, you are exactly like your mother.”
    My chest hurt at her assertion that I resembled my mother. I liked hearing it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make my heart ache. If my mother were here, she would be the High Priestess.
    Belinda’s eyes grew distant, as though she were looking through the walls, out to something only she could see. “We need to begin your training immediately. Though you probably know everything you need to about coven politics, there is information only the High Priestess and her successor are privy to. We’ll begin today.”
    Since my throat was tight, my only answer was a nod. We sipped our tea in silence for a few minutes. All I could think about was how proud my mother would be that I had been named successor and that I wasn’t certain I wanted to take on that responsibility. I was all too aware of the scrutiny Belinda had faced when she succeeded my mother. Just thirty-six at the time, many of the elders of the coven considered her to be too young. Now, four years later, she proved herself to be an excellent High Priestess.
    “Since we have time, why don’t we have lunch before the meeting? You need to get up to speed on what’s happening and what will be discussed this afternoon.”
    I blew out a sigh. “Yeah. That’d be a good idea.”
    *     *     *
    Two hours later, we were on our way to Lex’s home. The Council, the pack, and Belinda had decided to gather away from the Coven House, the large house that held our library, for security purposes. After my lunch with Belinda, I was nervous about the situation I was walking into. I had no idea how bad things had gotten.
    Apparently, the Faction was no longer recruiting only vampires. Their reach was now extending into the shifter community. There were also rumors that Cornelius had acquired a powerful warlock to his ranks. That was unsettling. Black witches and warlocks practiced the darkest of magic; death magic. The law of magic states that what a witch casts, she receives in return. Warlocks and evil witches used spells to circumvent this law, casting their negative energy onto others. It was a never-ending cycle and it brought suffering to innocent people.
    Every instinct I had screamed that this would be war. A war that could out the supernatural community to humans. If that happened, well, I’m sure the government would keep us in very comfortable testing facilities that supplied the finest sedation available. There was more than survival at stake. The outcome of this fight could change the future of supernatural beings forever.
    My mood was somber as I pulled up in front of Lex’s home. It seemed the size of a vampire’s home was directly proportional to their age. The older they got, the bigger the house. It must be nice to have centuries to build up your bank account.
    Belinda was silent during the drive from the restaurant. After I turned off the car, she faced me. “Kerry, I want you to watch and listen during this meeting.” When I started to scowl, she shook her head. “Don’t take my words the wrong way. I’m not telling you to keep your mouth shut. I need you to watch the others closely. If you notice strange behavior or you think one of them is lying, I want you to use this.”
    She handed me a truth amulet. They were hard to come by as the level of skill and power required to make them was rare among witches. This one was set in a bracelet in order to camouflage its purpose.
    A truth charm was simple but only worked on one person if you were standing directly in front of them. An amulet could work in a much larger