Sylvia patted my hand gently. “Just a security measure. It will ease.”

Looking around the room, I was left speechless. We were in the opening of a grand circular conference hall. Black velvet drapes lined the windows, giving complete privacy. Dozens of large round tables with black linen cloths dotted the open floor. Above the tables, pink glass lanterns floated in the air. They were magically suspended! I glanced towards the back of the room and saw an elevated stage. Looking around the room, my gaze rested on hundreds of witches and warlocks engrossed in conversation. Off to the right were merchant tables with trinkets.

“Cool!” I told Sylvia, as she pulled me over to where the coven stood at a refreshment line.

Sylvia chuckled. “That’s nothing. Wait until you see the belly dancers perform.”

My eyes widened. Belly dancers? This night was going to be so awesome. It’s just what I needed after being locked up on the mountain for months.

As we passed a group of witches, I felt a darkness come over me. A slight change in my mood and a subtle pressure on my skin.

“Half-breed,” one of them spat at me.

My mouth dropped open but before I could retort, Sylvia’s hand flung out and white mist hovered around the witch’s throat. She was gaping like a fish, but no sound came out. One of her friends glared at Sylvia.

“That was uncalled for!” the friend told Sylvia.

Sylvia shrugged. “It will wear off. Eventually.”

I snickered as we met up with Gretchen and everyone. Half-breed. Ouch, that was harsh. I was tempted to go back and beat the shit out of her but thought better of it. Now that we were farther from them, the dark mood and pressure on my skin was gone.

“They are from Prudence’s coven,” Gretchen told me, indicating the group.

My eyes widened.

She put her hands out. “Don’t worry, she’s banned from attending. Anyone who openly does dark magic is banned.”

“Openly.”

She shrugged. “Others hide it but we know who they are.” She glared again at the group of dark witches.

“Hey, Aurora,” a familiar male voice said behind me. I spun around and saw Adrian. The warlock who was also a police officer and had helped me and Kai out of a bind.

“Hey, Adrian. How are you?”

He wore a deep green cloak. “I’m great. According to the palm reading I just had, I’m going to win the lottery next Thursday.”

We all laughed.

Sylvia rolled her eyes. “Who told you that?”

“Mary,” he responded.

Sylvia chuckled. “She isn’t even a seer witch! How can the high council allow her to run a palm reading table?”

Adrian shrugged and eyed Maureen, a witch in our coven who had the affinity for Alchemy. She could turn any metal into gold.

“Not everyone has an alchemist in their coven. We’ve got to make a living somehow.” His tone was respectful but slightly clipped.

Sylvia raised an eyebrow. “Fair enough.”

I turned to Sylvia. “You read my palm and you aren’t a seer witch.”

Adrian laughed. “She’s a high priestess.”

Sylvia merely nodded as if that explained it.

“Right.” I was trying to keep up.

“Good to see you, Aurora, Sylvia.” He bowed and walked off to greet some others.

“Are alchemists rare?” I whispered to Sylvia.

Sylvia nodded. “The rarest. We’re lucky to have Maureen.”

*

Interesting. A tiny, old witch tapped the microphone on the stage. “Please take your seats! We will open with a blessing ceremony and then the program will begin.”

We found our table. Whiteraven Coven was scrawled in gold lettering on a pretty card. We were closest to the stage and I found myself wondering if Sylvia was somewhat of an honored guest. A lot of people in the magical world treated her like she was important. I took off my cape and draped it around the back of my chair, taking a seat.

‘Are you okay, your energy feels muted?’ Kai’s voice broke into my mind.

‘It’s just a protection spell. I’m fine. There are lanterns suspended in mid-air, so freaking cool!’

He chuckled. ‘Witches.’

The witch on the stage said a blessing over all of us, invoking the Goddess and asking for prosperity, love, and health for all of us in the year to come. I felt good when I was here with my coven. I felt like a witch. I didn’t feel much like a werewolf. It was weird and nice. As much as the pack was my family, so was Sylvia and this coven. As if reading my mind, Sylvia met my gaze and winked.

The tiny, old witch on the stage smiled. “Now the moment you have all been waiting for!”

I heard bells jingling behind the stage curtain and the music suddenly changed to a Middle Eastern beat. “Back for the fourth year in a row! The Pink Ladies!” the witch cried out, leaving the stage. The curtain suddenly pulled to the side revealing a dozen or so young, beautiful belly dancers. They swished their hips in unison with the beat, shaking the gold jingle bells from their pink silk outfits. Everyone burst into applause and I joined them. Grinning, I watched two of the girls twirl in circles holding long, pink scarves that swirled in the air around them.

They rolled their abdomens, showcasing their flat, perfect bellies, and as the beat picked up they ran down the steps off-stage and approached our table, circling us. Then they threw their hands in the air and pink glitter dust fell onto our heads. It smelled like roses and the second I inhaled it, I bubbled with laughter as an elated feeling came over my body. Sylvia was grinning at me as the belly dancers went to the next table throwing their arms high in the air and releasing more pink glitter. I laughed again, because Gretchen was laughing and it was hilarious to me for some reason. I felt stoned. It was so awesome!