Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

I woke in the soft embrace of Rene's bed; the night had set, and I could see clouds through the filtered moonlight and the cracked curtains. As I stretched beneath the cool, luxurious sheets, Rene's hand slid over my stomach. I tried to avoid thinking about the events in the training facility and the memories of last night's shower and his gentle touch flooded back, warming me.

The water had cascaded over my skin, in a soothing caress that washed away the pain of my actions. His eyes were on me with a mix of hunger and concern, but he kept the promise that rest was paramount and had simply taken me to bed.

I had marveled at his selflessness, how he hadn't risen from the bed, and remained like a sensual sentry at my side, despite not needing the rest himself. His fingers had traced soothing patterns on my back. As if he were writing a script in an ancient language only he could read. I was aware he was branding me in some way. Making a silent promise that he would guard me until I rose.

When my eyes had closed and sleep had snatched me from the waking world, I had felt cared for in a way I had never known before. The tenderness reminded me of the growing connection between us. I was falling in love with him, and that was scarier than any magic or enemy.

Rene kissed my cheek. "Are you ready to face the high priestess?"

I put my hand over my eyes. "I was literally just thinking this was a wonderful way to wake up. But you just ruined it."

Rene chuckled. "I would much rather remain in bed with you than meet with Ursula."

I slipped my hand around his neck and pulled him closer. My lips touched him gently and as our kiss became more fevered, he growled into my mouth.

"We could play hooky," I whispered eagerly.

"I am unfamiliar with that term," Rene said."

I winked. "It's when you skip class."

"I think we need to keep this appointment. Are you always going to entice me with sex to attempt to get your way?"

My jaw dropped before I snapped it shut. "That depends on if it would work."

He leaned closer, so his lips touched mine. "In many cases, it would."

I swallowed hard. "Good to know."

Rene rolled out of bed with the gracefulness of a cheetah, and I scooched to the side as he entered the closet. It didn't matter which of the hundred suits in there he chose. He would look like he just stepped into a photo shoot.

I slipped from the bed fully naked and entered the closet. Rene had chosen a black suit but was only wearing the pants. He was doing up his shirt as I moved to my side of the closet and began to flick the hangers to the side.

"Are you stalling, Raven?" he asked.

My fingers paused on a dark-blue pantsuit. It wasn't something I would have worn normally, but it was beautiful, and I decided to try it. "I was just allowing you to admire the view."

Rene leaned toward me and kissed my cheek. "Then I appreciate your thoughtfulness." He left the closet with his suit jacket in his hands as I pulled on my undergarments.

I slipped on the tailored pants and marveled at how well they fit me before choosing a cream blouse. I slipped on the matching jacket and accessorized with a tan belt. I had to admit I felt like a million bucks when I left the closet to join Rene and his appreciative gaze alerted me he agreed with my assessment.

Rene was ready, looking like a Greek god, so I dipped into the bathroom and quickly brushed my hair before we exited the suite. There were always glances of apprehension when I descended the stairs to the parlor, but several men glanced at me with obvious interest. While everyone knew I was Rene's fledgling, they were oblivious to our relationship. I couldn't blame them for that either. As amazing as I looked, Rene was otherworldly beautiful.

Cass was waiting for us by the front door, and she opened it to allow us to exit. The limo was in place at the end of the canopy, and we passed the series of lights that accented the shrubs before getting into the back seat.

Rene guided me beneath his arm as we pulled away. "These tests do not hurt the witch in any way, correct?"

I patted his leg. "Not at all. Every magic has a signature of sorts. Provided it is not a brand-new magic and something that a coven member possessed at some time in history, the high priestess can identify it."

"What if you possess a new magic?"

I shrugged. "It's possible, but unlikely. We are talking about every witch that ever lived."

Rene shifted in his seat as the hum of the road attempted to soothe my frayed nerves, but the closer we got to the coven building, the more I fidgeted.

Cass leaned forward in her seat. She was wearing one of her favorite one-piece leather suits, but no jacket and her weapons were distinct and threatening on her belt. "We don't have to do this, Raven. I don't care what Rene or Ursula say."

I smiled. "Thank you, Cass, I appreciate that. I do. But I need to know what is going on with me... magically speaking. I seem to have ridiculous amounts of power, and I don't want to be out of control again. If I don't get myself sorted out, I could hurt someone, and that is not an option. Every witch has to swallow her pride at some point in her life."

Cass leaned back in her seat. "Really? I don't get the impression that Ursula has tasted much in the way of crow."

I chuckled. "True. While it's a bit before my time, I have heard the stories. Ursula began to develop her magic, far younger than most witches do. She was more powerful than any other coven member by the time she was nineteen. So yeah, she doesn't know what it's like to be second best."

Cass crossed her arms. "Until now. Have you considered that she is jealous of you?"

I pursed my lips. "There's no way to know I'm more powerful than her. No one in the coven knows the true extent of her magic, with the exception of Brigid. The high priestess must groom her second and that is Brigid."

Cass glanced at Rene. "Your magic isn't the only thing she is jealous of."

I frowned. "She hates vampires. Regardless of how hot Rene is, she would never be jealous of our... relationship. She can't even be sure I have one with him."

"It's obvious to most people Rene is taken with you, but it isn't his looks she is jealous of."

"His power."

Cass nodded. "Ursula is like every high priestess ever born in that regard."

I contemplated her words as we drove the rest of the way to the coven building. The gravel crunched beneath our tires and my shoulders sagged. Cassara's assessment made me even less enthusiastic about my impending tests.

We entered the coven building to find Ursula and Brigid standing at the head of the table. There were various crystals, potions, and other implements on the polished wood. I recognized many of the items from my testing as a teen, but several were new to me.

The high priestess stood like a figure of ageless wisdom and her eyes held an ancient knowledge, but they gazed at me with a mixture of trepidation and anger. When she beckoned me closer with a curt gesture, I feared Cass was right.

"We will begin the tests. I will start with proprietary powers. This is the same test you took as a young girl."

Rene moved closer to me. "Explain the tests to me."

I touched his arm. "This test will expose telekinesis, protection barriers, glamors, and other similarly common powers."

Cass nodded. "We know you have those. What is the test called?"

"This is the test of bronze. The most common powers belong to this category."

Cass grunted. "Like the witch Olympics. That's just great."

I pursed my lips so I wouldn't laugh. "Yeah, basically. But some bronze-level magics are still very powerful."

She shrugged. "I noticed that when you blasted Kirnen."

Ursula pointed to the circle of salt near the table. "Stand in the circle, Raven."

I moved to the salt circle as instructed and waited for the first test. Ursula flicked her wrist, and a bronze-colored fire ignited the circle. She could make that fire any color, but the high priestess was a traditionalist, and the fire moved toward the middle before winding its way up my legs. It danced over my clothes, but this was a fire of magic and there was no heat and no pain. It swirled around me as if I was its lover and continued to move upward on my body. The hue changed as it hit my chest. Flickers of blue, silver, and pink. There were too many to name, and I stared at the rainbow of color in awe.

Brigid paled and turned to Ursula. "All of them. She has every bronze power."

The flame died away as I considered her words. I didn't even know what all the bronze powers were; a witch only trained on the ones she possessed. "You will tell me what those are, right?"

Ursula nodded. "You will be provided with all the information you need. Let's finish the tests."

I remained in the circle as Ursula took a vial filled with a light-purple liquid. Lavender helped create the beautiful color and scent. I had grown the ingredients for that portion when I'd been alive and owned the flower shop.

Brigid took the potion from Ursula and walked over to hand it to me. Her black robes moved like ribbons in the wind as she passed it to me. "Drink it," she said curtly.

I recognized every element in that potion and my senses came alive. "Lavender, mink oil, moon lace, Grecian salt, and amethyst." While the ingredients were important, it was the spell used on the potion that would reveal my magic. I downed the vial.

The tingling feeling traveled from my throat and spread outward. I flipped my palm up before a vine grew from my palm. "That is my original power." When my opposite hand tingled, I flipped it up and fire erupted on the other.

Brigid hissed. "Fire magic? That should not be."

There was a cloud of smoke in both hands next, and I looked at Ursula when she stepped forward.

"You have two unidentified magics," she said in awe and fear.

I gave Rene a dirty look. "You jinxed me. I told you I was a unicorn."

Rene smiled, but his eyes remained on Ursula and Brigid. He may have agreed to bring me here, but he didn't trust the elder witches at all. "I assume that was the silver test?"

Ursula pointed to the table. "Yes. This is the gold. Brigid, give her the mirror," she said rudely.

Brigid's eyebrows furrowed, but she grabbed the intricately-carved silver mirror from the table. It was able to reveal a seer, but I had no precursors for such a magic and had never held it.

She brought it to me and held it out to me ceremoniously. "Here. Stare into it and see if it reacts to you."

I took the hand-held mirror that looked like it was from another era and turned the reflective surface toward me. At first there was nothing except my reflection, but slowly the background in the mirror began to blur. While my face stayed the same, I began to see glimpses of an untraveled path. A healer. A teacher. A botanist. The last was the most like me, but the clothing I wore was from some forgotten era. "Are these my past lives?"

Ursula glanced at Brigid with concern. "She should see her future, not her past lives."

Brigid glanced down nervously. "If her magic is stronger than that of the first seer, then she is not bound by its rules."

Ursula's lip twitched. "Impossible. The first seer was the most powerful witch ever born. They were strict with breeding then. There was no human dilution in those days."

My eyes flickered. "Human dilution? Are you flipping kidding me?"

Ursula rolled her eyes. "I didn't make the rules then, Raven. The witches and warlocks were very particular about mixing bloodlines. Marriages were approved and... arranged to ensure powerful progeny."

I grunted. "I bet you wish you could still get away with that bullshit."

Ursula pointed at the mirror. "Brigid, take the mirror and test for outliers."

"What are outliers?" Rene asked.

I pointed to the various objects on the table. "They are magics that are extremely rare. Usually, only one or two witches have ever had them. They are too unusual to be included in the bronze or silver test. As you may have noticed, they consider a true seer to be the highest form of magic. I didn't see my future, so I don't think I possess that power."

Ursula looked relieved by that, but she didn't like the result I had with the mirror either. "Touch the objects on the table, Raven."

I exited the salt circle and began to touch the artifacts sitting there. The black crystal did nothing, but the old cloth produced a dark shadow.

"A shroud," Ursula said with wonder.

A few objects sent a tinge of awareness through me, but no others reacted visibly. I said nothing about these objects, as Ursula looked like she was ready to lash out. Suggesting I may be more powerful was the last thing I wanted.

"That's it," I said as I touched a clear crystal with no effect.

Ursula nodded, but I could practically see the wheels turning in her brain. "The coven needs to monitor Raven's progress. There are two unidentified magics and her reaction to the mirror is disconcerting. She will need training and only myself or Brigid are willing to take her under our wing."

Rene growled. "This was not our agreement. You put it in writing, which means if you attempt to breach it in any way, you are in direct violation of the conclave. Once this test is over, Raven has no further ties to the coven. All future requests go through me."

Ursula pointed at Rene. "You know nothing of magic. You are so busy trying to bed her that you can't see the danger that she poses. She may even be a threat to you and your rule as overseer."

Rene arched one eyebrow. "That is a risk I am willing to take. Unlike you, I believe she is worth it."

Ursula hissed. "She is a plague." Her magic began to rise, but I sensed the incline and mine sought to protect Rene and Cass.

The protection barrier was invisible, but Ursula felt it form. "How dare you!"

I grunted. "This coming from the witch that tried to kill me. I am done with your tests, and I suggest you don't push me. I've had enough of the coven and its politics."

Ursula's eye flickered with power. "Then you are dead to the coven."

"Well, it's about time."