I nodded but I made a decision right then. If Kai didn’t find where Layla was hiding Sadie and Tara soon, I was going to finish this by myself. I quickly cleared the thought so he couldn’t pick up on it. It was the only thing left to do.
Fighting with Prudence had given me an idea. After dropping Kai off at home, and setting up the guest room for my mom, I called Sylvia and the coven over and we all met inside the barn. Since I wasn’t allowed to leave the mountain anymore this barn had become my little meeting place.
When Sylvia and the others had gathered, I stood and addressed them all. Sylvia had once told me that the only real way to harm a witch as powerful as Prudence, was to use her full-given magical name in a spell.
“Prudence has powerful magic and she just tried to kill my mom and capture me, so I want your help in finding out her full-given magical name,” I told everyone gathered.
Some of the women gasped, and I saw many shake their heads. They looked afraid but Sylvia seemed to consider my words. Sylvia was the one who named me. Someone had to have named Prudence. If I could find them and get the information out of them, Prudence was mine. Layla was too powerful with Prudence helping her. I needed to even the scales.
“I know what you’re thinking, but the person who named Prudence is dead,” Sylvia said.
I gasped. “How do you know that?”
Sylvia looked at Gretchen. “Because it was our old coven leader. Prudence killed her the moment she named her. To keep anyone from ever having control over her.”
I sank down and put my head in my hands. No. I needed to catch a break! “Prudence was in this coven?” I said in disbelief.
Sylvia sighed. “Only for a short while. After she killed Gloria, she ran and started her own dark coven.”
Gretchen moved forward and placed a healing hand on my back. “I have an idea if you’re open-minded.”
I felt waves of peaceful energy saturate my body as I looked up at her. Her hair was half up, half down with a crown of braids. I envisioned Gretchen and Sylvia kicking back the witches’ wine on Friday nights for fun and had to stifle a chuckle.
Gretchen was looking at me oddly as her hand hovered over my back, then she smiled. “Oh, you’re pregnant,” she declared as all of the witches gasped in excitement.
My mouth dropped open as I ran my hand over my flat belly. “What? It’s too early to tell,” I told her, but I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. Holy shit. Excitement mixed with fear bubbled up inside of me.
Gretchen raised one eyebrow. “Not for me. I always know.”
Sylvia came over and gave me a hug. “Good for you, dear.”
My hand still rested on my flat belly. Suddenly, my wolf felt very protective. Wow. It was happening. I needed to get rid of Layla and Prudence fast, so I could focus on becoming a mother and starting a family with Kai.
I looked at Gretchen. “I have an open mind. What’s your idea?”
Gretchen nodded. “You’re a powerful seer. That means not only can you see the future, but you can see beyond the veil. We put you in a trance and you contact the dead spirit of Gloria so she can give you Prudence’s full name.”
Genius! But Sylvia looked worried, shaking her head no. The other witches were tossing salt and praying and acting all kinds of scared.
“Gloria died a gruesome death, she was betrayed. I don’t think contacting her spirit will be a good idea,” Sylvia told the room and a few witches agreed with her.
“No, it’s a good idea. I’ll be fine,” I told them all sternly. I knew my eyes were yellow. I needed the upper hand with Prudence and this was the only way to get it.
Sylvia looked to the other coven members, unsaid words passed between them. They all nodded. “Fine, but invite your shaman. He can help protect the open portal to the spirit world,” Sylvia told me with once flick of her slender hand.
Nahuel. I nodded and walked outside. Reaching into my shirt, I produced the protective pouch that Nahuel had given me. I buried the arrowhead into the earth and waited. A little while later, Nahuel walked out of the woods. He never ceased to amaze me and I wondered if there were limits to his power. So far, I had seen him stop time, change into a panther, and materialize out of nowhere. What more was there, I wondered.
“This mountain has seen a lot of death lately. It needs to be cleansed,” he said cryptically. His smooth, graceful walk reminded me of his panther form. Hair in a long, thick braid, jewelry littering his fingers, Nahuel looked his usual shaman self.
I smiled. “Hey, it’s good to see you.”
He nodded and peered at me with kind eyes. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
I shrugged. “Sorry. I need your help now, though. The witches and I want to contact a spirit.” I chewed my nail nervously, not sure what he would think of my statement.
Nahuel nodded calmly as if this were a normal request. He pulled out a dried sage bundle and touched his palm to it, igniting it with flames. Oh yeah, add materialize fire out of nowhere to his list of amazing acts. After blowing on it, he fanned me with smoke.
Then he scanned my face seriously. “You seem different.”
I grinned. “I think I’m pregnant.”
His calm façade broke and he lit up with a smile and brushed ash across my forehead. “That’s wonderful but that’s not what I meant. Your eyes are green not blue, the black chunk in your hair. I think you’re letting the Devi take control.”
His words sent fear rippling through me. I touched my cheeks with a shaky hand. My eyes were green? I had forgotten about the chunk of black hair. Oh, shit. “Maybe that’s a good thing?” I offered. Maybe the Devi needed to take control so I could kill Layla once and for all. Yeah.