Witches’ Ball
I stood in my purple velvet hooded cape and black ankle-length corset dress Sylvia had given me. “How do I look?” I asked Kai.
He smiled. “Like a sexy little witch.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some big, black-rimmed, clear glasses, and put them on. I chuckled. This was his disguise? Nerd glasses? He crossed the room and stood in front of the hall mirror pulling something out of his pocket and sticking on … a little mustache? Turning to face me, he opened his arms wide.
“How do I look?” he asked, smiling.
I busted out laughing. “Honestly? Like a total creeper.” But he was pretty unrecognizable with that mustache so I think the plan would work.
Before he could retort, Max knocked on the door. I had agreed to allow Kai and Max to drive me to Sylvia’s and then home from the ball.
Max took one look at me and chuckled. “Where’s your pointy hat?”
I gave him the middle finger and he laughed. Max had become like a brother to me.
“Really? This mustache wielding weirdo is standing right here and you’re going to make fun of how I look?” I queried Max.
Max glanced at Kai and the corners of his lips curled.
Kai glared at me. “Mustache wielding weirdo? For that, I might sleep with it on.”
My eyes widened. “Oh God, please don’t.”
He chuckled as we walked into the garage.
We all piled into Kai’s Audi and after a short trip down the mountain we pulled up to Sylvia’s yellow house. It was modest and craftsman style, nestled on large acreage. I recognized all of the cars; the coven was assembled. Reaching over the seat, I kissed Kai, recoiling at the tickle of his fake mustache. “Love you.”
His face looked worried. “We will be across the street. Any issues and you can just use the mate bond.”
I gave him a look that said he was zapping my fun and then turned to Max. Flicking my fingers at him quickly, I shouted, “Hex!” and both Kai and Max roared with laughter. Jumping out of the car, I approached the front door, inhaling deeply. Sage, lavender, and frankincense. Being a witch came with the bonus of good smells. Upon entering the house, I saw that everyone was getting in a circle. The aura of magic was present.
Sylvia smiled at me and waved me over. “Quick, we were just about to start a protection spell.”
I snuck into the circle and wedged myself between Sylvia and Gretchen. We all held hands and I nodded to the others in greeting.
Sylvia raised up her interlocked hands high and we all followed. “Spirit! Tonight we gather with other magic users. Protect us from energies that are not of the light.”
A fine mist dropped down from the ceiling and settled over us.
“Keep our magic strong and encased within our bodies. Do not allow energy vampires to take from us!”
I widened my eyes, reminding myself to ask about that one later.
“So be it!” she shouted and we chorused her.
*
After a forty-five-minute drive, we arrived in downtown Portland at the conference center. Navigating our cars into the packed parking lot, we found a spot near the back. Exiting our cars, we all walked as a group to the door. Sylvia hung back behind the group and linked arms with me.
“You look deliciously witchy tonight.” She winked, her eyelids were dusted with deep purple eye shadow and a smattering of glitter. Her long auburn hair glistened in the soft glow of the street lamp.
I smiled. Sylvia had quickly become one of my favorite people. I noticed she was letting the group get far ahead of us.
“What’s with the black hair?” She raised an eyebrow.
Shit, I forgot. I ran my fingers through it and briefly told her about healing Emma. Her face fell as she listened and clutched a medallion on her chest before letting out a shaky breath. We stopped walking. I didn’t want to think about this; I was hoping everyone would forget about it. Now, I worried just how bad it was.
“What does it mean?” I met her green eyes. Only they weren’t just green now, they were swirling with cloudy white. She was getting in the zone.
“Aurora, if your goal is to safely split from the Devi and walk away with your life, I think you just made it ten times harder.”
I cringed. I had to say it out loud. “You think the Devi has black hair? That this is her?”
She brushed her soft fingers over my cheek like I was a treasured daughter and nodded. “I do. I think you have bound yourself to her even deeper now. I also think I would have done the same to save a friend.”
Returning the nod, I bit my lip.
She perked up. “Come on, let’s have some fun. Nothing we can do about it right now.”
We walked the length of the parking lot and were nearing the entrance when Kai spoke into my mind.
‘Have fun.’
I spun around and squinted across the street. Kai and Max sat on the balcony of the bar. I glared and Kai raised his glass, tipping his head to Sylvia.
Sylvia chuckled. “Alphas have some serious control issues.”
I nodded in agreement and followed Sylvia through the double doors of the giant building. Two very handsome and identical twin warlocks bowed as we entered.
“High priestess,” they said in unison, bowing low and giving her a smoldering look. They looked about late twenties, whereas Sylvia was at least forty.
Sylvia batted her eyelashes. “Hello, boys. A pleasure as always.”
I grinned. There had to be a story there and I was dying to know. But before I could ask, I felt a large blanket of power saturate my body. I struggled to breathe for a second.