Welcome Party

Back at the compound, Levi leads us to a quirky, two-story building with a charming turret poking out from the roof. Shutters cover the windows, and a small porch wraps around the sides.

To me, the structure screams ‘secret clubhouse', and I immediately want one back at home. I'll call it Fort Rowe. Entry will be paid in the form of milkshakes and bacon.

"This is our meeting hall." Levi pulls a key from his pocket to unlock the door. "You can use it while you study the grimoires."

We step inside and find ourselves in a large central room, with a hall branching off to more rooms in the back. A table fills most of the space, with a wooden chandelier centered over it.

"Our house has frequent visitors, and the pups get into everything." He passes the key to Aspen. "You can keep this building locked up when you're not using it, so the books stay safe."

Kaela and Mina walk forward to set their grimoires down.

Mina caresses the uppermost book in her stack. "It's so great to have these back!"

Aspen frowns. "How did Elana end up in possession of them in the first place?"

Kaela gently lays her spell book down. "When my mother was in the coven, there was a fire that almost destroyed our grimoires. Elana convinced everyone that they should store our sacred books in her heavily warded greenhouse, which is protected against flame. It was supposed to be temporary, but Elana never gave them back."

Mina's hands clench into fists. "She makes us beg every time we want to use them, claiming we're too young for what the books contain."

Anger sparks in Aspen's icy-blue eyes. "While a coven leader's job is to guide younger members and ensure they don't harm themselves with magic, stealing another witch's grimoire breaks several rules."

His hand tightens on his stick-cane. "Part of a family's power lies in their grimoire. Losing that knowledge base damages the foundation of your lineage."

Mina's gaze drops, her shoulders drooping in defeat. "Unless we want to leave Silver Hollow, we don't really have a choice. This is our home, and Elana makes the rules."

"Not have a choice?" Aspen's brow wrinkles in confusion. "Haven't you ever been to an enclave?"

"What's an enclave?" Mina and Kaela share blank looks.

His frown deepens. "They're gatherings where young witches can find covens, and covens with small numbers can welcome new members. They change locations every year to be inclusive, but there have been several within driving distance from here in the past few years."

Kaela shakes her head. "No, we didn't know that was an option."

Mina flushes. "Elana has been pushing for us to hurry and have children, so our coven doesn't die out completely."

I pound a fist against the table because I can't punch Elana. "What happens in your wombs is no one's business but your own. Don't be bullied into babies."

Wide eyes jump to me.

"Rowe is passionate about this topic." Tris covers my ears. "Haut tried to breed her the first day they met."

Those wide eyes shift to my mate, who smirks. "If I remember right, she jumped me."

I glare at him. "There were magic mating urges pushing for it that I was not aware of, but you were."

"Oh, is that brisket I smell?" Haut makes a show of sniffing the air. "I think I'll go see if I can lend a hand."

"Coward!" I yell after him as he disappears back outside.

"I actually need to head out, too." Levi motions toward the open door. "I promised to help arrange the tables."

"Before you go," Mina says, turning to Levi with a hopeful smile. "Would it be okay for us to leave our grimoires here and come back to create copies of our spells? That way, Elana can have a record of our family spells, and we can keep our family books at home, where they belong."

"Of course," Levi agrees amiably. "It would be nice to have more non-wolf visitors to the compound."

"Awesome!" Mina claps with excitement. "Can I help with the preparations for the party, then? I'd love to get to know more of the pack."

"The more, the merrier."

Kaela tags along, both women looking excited as Levi leads them outside to introduce them around.

"Aris," Aspen says before she can follow her friends. "Could you please mark the pages in your grimoire that hold the locking spells and their counter-spells?"

"Sure thing." Aris sets her books down and grabs the top one, flipping through the ancient pages with care.

I drop the locked Rothaven grimoire onto the table, and with nothing else to do, Tris and I decide to explore the meeting hall.

We find a staircase leading up to the second story, which turns out to be an open space with a few comfy chairs scattered about.

Spotting another stairway leading up, I eagerly run up the stairs and push up the hatch.

"Wow," I breathe, taking in the view from the turret.

The entire compound stretches out before me, and the roofs of Silver Hollow peek through the trees. Turning, I face the cold wind so that my hair blows behind me and look toward the road that leads out of town.

"This is pretty cool." Tris joins me at the top, his sandy blond hair ruffling in the breeze.

"It reminds me of home," I say, enjoying this moment of peace.

My cheeks tingle from the chilly air, and a sense of calm washes over me as my heartbeat slows and my breaths deepen.

"Come on." Tris turns back toward the hatch. "Let's head back down and see if Aris has found those spells."

"Good idea." I start to turn away when a shimmer catches my eye.

I spin back to the railing and squint as the barrier comes to life, the lines of silver magic almost invisible against the steely gray clouds. From this view, it looks like a moth-eaten tapestry with all those little black holes speckling its surface.

"Damn, it's worse than this morning," I mutter as the cold air slips away, leaving a floaty sensation in its place.

I drift around the turret, the whole world fading into nothingness, the barrier coming closer until the lines snap into sharp relief, as if I'm standing nose-to-nose with it.

At the western side, my feet freeze, my focus drawn to where the black specks multiply like a plague, casting a dark shadow.

I squint harder, something inside me whispering that if I stare long enough, I'll unravel the mystery behind the rot.

"Rowe?" Tris's voice snaps me back to reality, his hand on my elbow grounding me. "What are you staring at?"

I look back to the west, but all I see are gray clouds. "We need to go to the western forest. That's where the poison is coming from. We need to go there."

"You sensed that?" he asks.

Not sure myself, I shrug. "It's like the barrier was calling out to me, showing me where it hurts the most. Trust me, we need to check it out."

"I believe you." He rubs my arm. "We'll go first thing tomorrow morning."

Nodding, I let Tris draw me off the turret.

The rhythmic beat of music echoes through the forest, mingling with wolf howls and filling the air with an infectious energy that sets my pulse pounding and my feet tapping.

Moonlight mixes with the yellow glow cast by porch lights, illuminating the tables that form a circle. A bonfire blazes at the center, chasing back the chill of the evening and sending sparks dancing into the night sky. Around it, people dance, laughter and conversation creating a buzz of joy.

My stomach bulges slightly from too much good meat and cornbread, and I sit on the sidelines, watching Tris spin Mina in circles, the young witch laughing and flushed. Beside them, Kaela twirls in the arms of a werewolf who hasn't left her side since she arrived.

The wolf shifters should take some notes on welcome parties from the werewolves. They really know how to party.

Next to me, Aspen lounges back on the long bench, his elbows propped on the table at our backs, a red plastic cup dangling from his fingers. "This reminds me of the parties Mel and I used to sneak off to."

Startled, I glance at him. "I can't picture you partying."

A soft smile curves his lips. "I was rebellious, and every young witch gets curious at some point about sex magic."

My mouth drops open in shock before I reach out to take the cup from him. "You've had enough of the jungle juice, young man."

"The energy that can be generated…" His gaze cuts to me. "You've felt it."

"No, I've never taken part in a witch orgy." I sniff his drink, wondering what's in it to loosen my stuffy mentor's tongue.

"You should. But sex isn't really required. It's just an excuse to give in to desire." He leans his head back and closes his eyes. "Can't you feel it now?"

"Feel what?" I scrunch my nose. "You're talking nonsense."

"The magic, Rowe." His uninjured leg bumps mine. "Open your senses. With this many paranormal people letting down their guard… There's so much of it floating around."

I set Aspen's drink down and lean closer to him. "Are you high on magic right now?"

All he does is sigh and sink a little farther against the table.

Mina and Kaela stumble over, with Kaela's new suitor sticking close.

They're giggling as Mina passes me a red cup. "Quick, while your babysitter is distracted."

I glance around for Haut and spot him talking with Griffen and Ezra. He had restricted me to water, claiming alcohol wouldn't be good for me after banging my head yesterday, but if he's not looking…

About to lift the cup to my mouth for a sip, Tris pops up and grabs my hand. "Come on. You've digested long enough!"

Mina catches the drink before I spill it. "I'll hide it behind Aspen!"

Laughing, I let Tris drag me into the center, the air warming as we get nearer to the fire.

Hands on my waist, Tris tugs me against his body, his eyes slightly unfocused and his eyelids at half-mast.

The way his hips move against mine sends a shiver through me, and I reach up to grip his shoulders. "Are you also high on magic?"

His tongue sweeps over his bottom lip. "Is that what it is? I thought I'd lost my tolerance for alcohol."

I nod, my heart pounding. "Aspen was telling me about sex magic."

Tris's hands drop to my ass. "That sounds like something I can get behind."

"Aren't you the one who put a stop to that last night?"

"Shhh." His hand strokes up my spine, molding my body to his. "Feel the music."

My eyes close, and I let the rhythm of the beat sweep me away, losing myself in the sensation of Tris's solid form in front of me and the lick of heat from the flames at my back.

Tris's lips find my ear. "How soon before we can slip away?"

Desire shivers through me, and I force distance between us. "Since this party is for us, I think we have to stay until the end."

"No fair." Tris pouts. "Haut's sense of responsibility is rubbing off on you."

Only because Aspen and Tris are flying high on magic tonight. I glance over to where I last saw Haut and find him making his way over to us. He moves with the effortless confidence of a predator, his eyes gleaming with fierce intensity as they lock on me.

"My turn for a dance." Haut plucks me from Tris's embrace, tucking me against his large body.

Left alone, Tris wanders back toward the table and settles next to Aris, who had joined Aspen.

Haut's arms encircle my waist as he leans in to whisper in my ear, his voice a soft caress over my skin. "Are you having fun?"

"Yeah." I sway with him. "We should do this more often."

The firelight catches in the golden threads woven throughout his brown hair, making it gleam. "I would like that."

I kneed my fingers on his firm pecs. "Me, too."

He bends to rub his nose against mine, heat in his moss-green eyes. "You look tired."

Warmth travels through me. "Do I?"

"Very." His hands move up my ribs, thumbs grazing the sides of my breasts. "Let's turn in for the night. You need some rest."

"Are we only going to sleep tonight?" I demand, not sure I can handle another night of being teased, this time by both Haut and Tris.

He steps back and catches my hand. "Come back to our room and see."

"We have to at least say goodnight to everyone," I tell him as he leads me out of the dance circle.

"Fine." He changes direction, heading for the table where all the witches have congregated.

"Rowe! Your drink!" Mina exclaims, thrusting the red cup into my line of sight. "I kept it safe for you."

Haut's hand shoots out, stopping me from grabbing the drink right away. "No alcohol."

"Relax," Tris rolls his eyes. "A sip won't hurt her."

I poke Haut in the side. "If I'm too injured for a drink, then I'm too injured to go back to our room."

Tris's head whips toward me. "Wait, what happened to us being responsible?"

"Haut doesn't think it's necessary." I reach for the cup. "Thanks, Mina."

As I grab the top, my wand slips in its sheath on my arm, and the charm on the end falls inside the liquid. Instantly, the little potion bottle glows a bright red, and I freeze, my stomach clenching.

If green means all is safe, then red can't be good.

"Um, Aris?" I turn to her. "Does this mean someone spit in my cup?"

"No." The blood drains from Aris's face, and she shakes her head. "Red is for poison."