Chapter Twenty-Four

"Name your price," I stated. I took Lucas's hand in mine, because it was the only way to keep from falling completely apart. I didn't really care what they wanted. They could take the Oaken Wands, or have my life. I'd give it to them, as long as they didn't hurt my son.

Lilian got right down to business. "You will help us create a Master Wand—an all-powerful wand that rivals the power of all the Oaken Wands combined. This wand I'm holding was carved from a branch of the Protection Tree. It is much like the Oaken Wands you possess, but it requires an enchantment to hold true power."

"Why not just take the Oaken Wands from us?" Lucas demanded. "Why go through all this trouble?"

"The Oaken Wands are five different Wands, and therefore must be in the hands of five different people, which requires trust," Lilian said. "Any one of its wielders can stab us in the back. It's better to have all that magic in one place."

I narrowed my eyes. "That's why you needed me alive. You need one person from all five Casts to complete the spell."

Lilian laughed, like she found me naive. "Even the making of the Oaken Wands required cooperation from the entire coven and proper alignment of the stars—one singular member of each Cast would not be enough for their power. But the Oaken Wands can only utilize magic that is already in existence. True power would be that which can create energy from nothing. What we need is a demigod such as your son."

"Demigod magic is not given up easily," Margaret added. "The child will only lend his power to someone he trusts—to his mother. It just so happens that his mother is a Curse Breaker, able to transfer magic from one place to another. Help us create the Master Wand, and your son will live. Refuse, and he will perish in the Abyss for all eternity."

I realized this was the spell Magnus had mentioned. The priestesses had been planning this ever since they found out I was giving birth to demigods.

"We have the power to control your son in death, so you don't have a choice," Margaret continued. "All it took was a small modification to our potion, which he's already taken. The potion's spell will activate if you refuse to do this for us."

A chill traveled down my spine. She was talking about the potion they'd forced Hector to make with the Alchemy Wand—the one that not only killed people, but controlled their spirits. I thought of the ghosts we'd encountered in Octavia Hall, and how they'd had no choice but to follow the priestesses' will. I couldn't subject Marcus to such a fate.

There had to be a way around this.

"Don't try anything clever," Lilian warned. "We've cast more than one spell upon your son, so that you cannot break the magic. The potion we gave him is to ensure your compliance. You will create the Master Wand, or your son will perish. The second is a curse to ensure our safety. If you cast another spell before completing the enchantment on the Master Wand, or if you try to harm us, your son will die. The only thing that will ensure he survives is if you complete this enchantment."

"There's no need for this," I insisted. "If it is power you want, the coven has already given it to you! You have complete control."

Lilian smirked. "Not entirely. But we will."

"We must be able to negotiate," I begged. "Your soldiers are gone. People are dead. What good is your power if there's no one left to rule over? No one else has to die for this?—"

Lilian twisted her fingers, and an invisible force squeezed my windpipe. I gasped for breath. Her Mentalist powers curled around my neck like a noose.

Chloe must've made a motion behind me, because Lilian pointed an ugly finger at her. "If you dare try to siphon my powers with the Mentalist Wand, the child dies. The same goes for every one of you. Any use of the Oaken Wands will be treated as an act of aggression against us, and the curse we cast will kill him. I wouldn't risk it if I were you."

The priestesses had thought this through. They'd created two spells to work against one another, so that if we tried to break one, or we tried to use the Oaken Wands, the other spell would take my son's life. They'd completely backed us into a corner.

Margaret strolled forward, staring down her nose at me. "You're wrong, Nadine. People will continue to die, unless you do as you're told."

"How do you expect your plan to work?" I rasped. Lilian left my airways open just enough so I could talk. "He's just a baby."

"His full power won't awaken until he's older, but he still has traces of demigod magic inside of him," Margaret explained. "We can't put demigod power into us, so we must enchant an object with his power. You will draw his magic out and put it into this wand, so that we can utilize it for our own intentions. What will it be, Nadine? Will you do this to save your son's life?"

We couldn't lose another son. I was his mother, and it was my job to protect him. He incarnated at this time for a reason, and he had a destiny to fulfill. I wasn't letting the priestesses take him.

Lucas and I exchanged a glance. If we did this, the priestesses would be more powerful than ever before. They could use the Master Wand to create spells we couldn't even dream of.

And yet, the answer was obvious. We would do anything to save our son.

"You swear he'll live?" I choked out.

Lilian wore a triumphant smile. "Yes."

For how long, she didn't say. The priestesses wanted to play games, but all I saw was a puzzle worth solving. If they wanted to play, we could play.

"And if we do this, the spells you cast on him will be broken?" I added.

"The second you complete the enchantment, the potion we gave him will lose all power," Lilian confirmed.

She said nothing of the curse they'd cast. I couldn't break the curse before enchanting the Master Wand, and we couldn't harm the priestesses, either. We had to tread very carefully.

Lucas gave me a subtle nod.

"I will make your wand if you can promise my friends will walk out of here alive and unharmed," I offered.

Lilian exchanged a glance with Margaret. I saw the twitch of her eye that said they'd agree to my terms, but it didn't mean they wouldn't kill us the second we stepped foot out of the building.

It didn't matter, though. All we needed was those few moments of safety. We could get out of this. We just had to play the game.

Lilian released her hold on me, and I gasped a greedy breath of air. I took a step forward.

"Nadine, you can't give them this power," Chloe insisted.

Mira crossed her arms. "She's already made up her mind."

"Quiet, Mira," Professor Hernandez hissed. I took it the two of them didn't get along well.

I turned back to Chloe and gave her a desperate look. I hoped she understood what I was trying to say. "Please, Chloe. You have to let me save Marcus."

I shot her a look that said, Get ready to fight. Whether she picked up on it or not, I wasn't sure. Chloe was very good at masking her emotions when she needed to.

I turned back toward the priestesses and reached for Marcus.

Margaret pulled him away. "You do the spell first."

Steeling my nerves, I swallowed the lump in my throat. "All right. We'll play by your rules, but I need to touch him."

Margaret held tight to Marcus, but she let me put my hand on his head. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at me.

"It's okay, baby boy," I whispered. "Mama's here for you."

I wrapped my magic around him like a comforting hug. I could feel all different types of magic within him at once—so powerful that I stumbled back, even though I was only observing. I hadn't actually touched his magic yet.

"That's it," Lilian encouraged. "You can feel how powerful he is, can't you? Do the spell!"

I straightened and tried again. The magic within Marcus was both chaotic and ordered. It was different from anything I'd seen before, and difficult to make sense of. I dug deep, until I found the spells the priestesses had put on him.

One tasted of citrus, and I knew that was the potion they'd poisoned him with. The only way to eliminate it was to create the Master Wand like they asked. Then I felt the darkness of the curse they'd cast. If we hurt the priestesses before I enchanted the Master Wand, Marcus would die, too. Two different spells… both deadly.

I had to time this just right.

Then there was Marcus's demigod magic. It moved through his body like the motion of an infinity sign, twisting and pulsing through him in ways I'd felt with other witch magic, but different too—more powerful. If this was only a trace of demigod magic, I couldn't imagine what he'd be capable of when he came into his full power.

"Place the wand on top of him," I instructed.

Lilian laid the Master Wand over Marcus's chest, but she didn't dare let go of it. I placed my palm over top of the blade, so that I was touching both Marcus and the Master Wand at once.

I stroked his head with my other hand. "Marcus, sweetheart. I need you to share your power with me. Do you feel that warmth moving through your chest? That's your magic, and Mama needs a bit of it to keep you safe. It's okay, because I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you."

I knew Marcus couldn't understand my words, but we shared a connection that went far deeper than spoken language. I felt a small amount of his magic budge, but it wasn't enough.

Tears welled in my eyes. I hated that the priestesses were making me do this. I despised them for using my son—for making me use my son. I abhorred every moment that they were still breathing. I wanted to tear every ounce of magic from their bodies and use it against them, until they weren't just dead, but wiped from existence completely.

I leaned down and kissed the top of Marcus's head. A tear fell from my eye and soaked into his blanket. "Mama's here for you, baby. Do this for Mama, give me your magic, and then we can go home."

Something broke inside of Marcus then, as if a dam had ruptured. His magic swept through me so fast that I felt like I was floating several inches off the ground. My spine straightened, and I felt so lightweight that only my toes touched the ground. I gasped, and a bright golden glow passed between our bodies. His magic permeated every cell of my being, and for a brief moment, I felt it for what it was.

There was so much light, the power of creation… but for every particle of light that filled me up, there was a dark side—the power to destroy whole nations. The lightweight feeling transformed into a dense heaviness. My heels fell back to the floor, and I shrank under what felt like a two-hundred-pound weight on my shoulders.

If this was what demigod magic was, it was absolutely crushing. I couldn't take his power for more than a moment. I quickly funneled it into the Master Wand, and the wood glowed with that golden energy. The weight pushing me down upon me eased, and I felt the potion's magic within Marcus break. I'd completed the spell, and he was no longer bound by the priestesses' threat of control.

Before the priestesses could notice, I grabbed hold of the darkness swirling in Marcus's gut. They said I couldn't cast magic before I forged the Master Wand. They said nothing of breaking this spell after the enchantment was complete.

The curse snapped, then sank into me as I absorbed its power. My friends acted in sync and flicked their Wands at the same time…

But the Wands did not obey their commands.

Lilian threw her head back and let out a chilling laugh. She yanked the Master Wand from under my palm and shoved me backward. "Your Oaken Wands are of no use anymore! The Master Wand is stronger, and I have already cursed the Wands you're holding to fail. They are powerless!"

I stumbled backward in horror, realizing what I'd done. This was never going to end.

"And don't think that's the only curse I've already cast," Lilian seethed. "I have cursed your son to never be able to create another Master Wand, should you go getting any ideas. Furthermore, no witch or warlock will ever be able to tell him what kind of weapon he is. You will never be able to tell him of his magic, his powers, or that he is a demigod. Your son is going to hurt people one day because he won't know what he is or what he's capable of, and there's nothing you can do to prevent it!"

"Give Marcus back!" Lucas raged.

Margaret cackled. "We only promised he was going to live, not that you could have him. We're taking the boy and raising him on our own. He won't know what he is, but he'll certainly know how to use his power for whatever we desire him to do."

"You can't do that!" Chloe shouted.

"Oh, I think you'll find that we can." Lilian wore a sinister grin and tilted her nose up at her granddaughter. "At what point did I fail you, Chloe? I did everything I could to show you how cruel this world could be, and yet you still refuse to do whatever's necessary to get the job done."

"No one was as cruel to me as you," Chloe sneered.

"What about all those people who never showed up to your fundraiser?" Lilian asked innocently. "I recall those tears quite well."

Chloe stumbled back a step, and realization crossed her features. "It was you… Nobody came to my fundraiser because you sabotaged it!"

"You needed a breaking point," Lilian snapped. "So I gave you one."

"You bitch!" Chloe snarled.

A high-powered battle orb, fueled by Chloe's rage and sizzling with the intent to kill, erupted from her palm. Lilian barely flicked the Master Wand, and the battle orb fizzled into nothing.

"What kind of priestess would I be if I didn't follow through with my word?" Lilian asked. "I promised you'd live long enough to walk out of here. I suggest you start walking."

"All except Nadine," Margaret added with a laugh. "I don't believe we made any promises about her life."

A part of me always figured I'd die at the hands of the priestesses. The power they wanted from me could only keep me alive for so long. Now that they had the Master Wand, they had all the power they desired. I was of no use to them anymore.

Lilian aimed the Master Wand straight for me. I should've felt terrified to die, and yet for some reason, I felt totally calm. It was as if a loved one had reached around me to offer their comforting hug, like they were whispering in my ear that everything was going to be okay. I heard nothing, but I felt everything. It was the kind of feeling where you just knew you had to trust the person you loved. It didn't make any sense.

The following moment passed by in a mere second, but it was like it was happening in slow motion. A loud cry broke from Marcus's lungs the same time an ethereal shape formed between us. A ghostly creature over eight feet tall appeared, with dark fur covering his human-like body, long claws dangling at the end of spry arms, and curled ram horns growing out of his head. He was facing away from me, staring down at the priestesses with pupil-less, pitch black eyes.

It was Santos in spirit form. He'd come to save us.

A deep, animalistic roar shook the courtroom. The priestesses took a frightened step back, and Mira's high-pitched scream pierced the air. In their moment of hesitation, Professor Wykoff lunged forward and yanked Marcus straight out of Margaret's arms. Wykoff ran to the other side of the courtroom to protect our son.

Santos swiped his claws at the priestesses. His ghostly hands became solid for a moment, slicing through the bodies of three priestesses at once. Blood splattered across the walls at his claws. They didn't get a chance to cry out in pain before their bodies collapsed into a heap on the ground. Claudia, Mira, and Professor Hernandez were dead in the blink of an eye.

I witnessed the brief moment of utter terror enter the remaining two priestesses' eyes. They may have the power of a demigod in that Wand, but it couldn't rival the power of a god.

Santos lowered his horns to charge at them, but they had already made their move. Lilian flicked the Master Wand, and a portal bloomed beneath the two priestesses. They went falling through it. Santos leapt at them at the same moment, but his ghostly form landed on solid ground where the priestesses had been standing a moment ago.

The portal had disappeared, and the priestesses were gone. I didn't know where they had gone, but I hoped it was far away from here.

I took a step back, trembling. Lucas reached out for me, and he too was shaking. Santos turned to us, but he didn't speak. Slowly, we both got to our knees and bowed our heads before our god. Our friends followed our lead.

"Thank you," I told Santos. "You saved our son."

Santos bowed his head… and then he vanished. Just like that, he was gone, like he'd never appeared in the first place. The courtroom went completely silent.

Lucas sagged beside me in relief. "Our family is saved."

We got to our feet, and Professor Wykoff approached with Marcus bundled in her arms. I reached out to take him, but I paused when Marcus's little fingers extended out of his blanket. He touched Professor Wykoff's cheek, and a single tear rolled down her face.

"I do not have children of my own," Professor Wykoff said gently. "I cannot imagine what it's like to be a parent, but I know that I'll always be here to protect this child."

She gently placed Marcus in my arms. "If you ever need my help for anything, you only need to ask."

"That's very kind of you," I told her as I pulled Marcus close to my chest. He closed his eyes and snuggled in close. It was incredible how he seemed wholly unbothered by what just happened here, like to him it had all just been a dream.

Good. I didn't want Marcus to know the horrors that faced him here tonight. I wanted nothing more than to keep him safe.

Lucas wrapped an arm around my waist and stroked Marcus's cheek. He sniffled, like he couldn't believe it. "We got him back."

"What just happened, though?" Talia asked. "It was almost like Marcus's cry summoned Santos."

"Maybe he did," Lucas theorized. "Summoning the gods requires powerful spellwork, but Marcus is powerful. He's a demigod, so maybe he can reach out to our gods and bring them here. It's interesting, though… it's like Santos knew this was going to happen. The last time I saw him at Hattie's, when we banished the demon's spell from Nadine, he promised we'd meet again."

"I felt him," I admitted. "Right before he appeared, it was like he was hugging me. I felt his powerful love."

Grant eyed the spot in the hall where Margaret and Lilian had disappeared. "What do we do now? The priestesses are going to come back."

"Not if they know Santos is protecting this place," Chloe said. "They've probably figured the same thing we have—that Marcus summoned him—and they know he can do it again."

"They have his power now, though, in the Master Wand," Talia pointed out. "Can't they summon Santos—or even Mother Miriam for that matter?"

"Even if they could, they're not powerful enough to control him," Chloe pointed out. "Even a demigod like Marcus can't control him; he just brought him here, and Santos wanted to protect him. The gods are still more powerful than the priestesses are, and if they're on our side, it's the one thing holding the priestesses back. They're not going to come in guns blazing. They're going to bide their time and slowly infiltrate the coven all over again, until they can eliminate the threat."

"Eliminate us… and Marcus," I said hollowly. "They don't want a child to grow up that has the ability to summon a god."

"They'll try," Chloe confirmed. "But this time, we'll be ready for them."

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Grant asked.

"There are five openings on the Imperium Council," Professor Wykoff pointed out. "The coven will need leaders to fill them."

I shook my head. "The coven doesn't want us to lead."

Professor Wykoff peered out a window. "You'd be surprised. Why don't you ask them yourself?"

I followed her gaze to see a crowd had formed outside Octavia Hall across the street. Hundreds of people had come to see the damage.

Lucas looked out the window with heartbreak in his eyes. "The least we can do is tell them the truth about what happened here tonight."

I nodded. "The coven deserves to know."

"We have to be careful," Chloe warned. "The priestesses didn't always keep secrets just to manipulate their people. Sometimes, secrets are for the better. We can't tell them about the Master Wand. It'll create a panic. Others might get their own sinister ideas."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "We'll tell them what they need to know, and we'll figure out where to go from there."

We made our way outside. Across the street, Octavia Hall was in ruins. Windows had been blasted out, and debris littered the streets. The building was technically still standing, but it looked like it might come crumbling down at any moment.

The streets were eerily quiet when we stepped out the courthouse, despite the large crowd that had formed. People looked around, trying to figure out what had happened, but it was like they were waiting for someone to speak.

Lucas glanced around at the piles of dust that had once been Executors that were scattered over the street. I didn't think he'd quite processed how many people he'd slaughtered earlier. I thought I saw the pain of regret in his eyes, but it quickly turned into something else entirely.

"What is it?" I asked him, quietly so only he could hear.

"Maybe there is a part of me that deals in gray areas," he admitted. "But I know one thing for damn certain. We saved our son tonight—which makes me the best fucking dad out there."

Joy filled my chest as I stared down at Marcus sleeping in my arms. We could've lost him tonight, but he was still here with us. It felt like a miracle.

I smiled up at Lucas. "It certainly does."

People began to notice us, and murmurs spread through the crowd. Someone shoved their way to the front—a younger man with long hair, suspenders, and mis-matched socks. It was Professor Clarke, my Miriamic Law professor. The last time I'd seen him, he'd been passing out flyers at the Festival of Chosen last November. He didn't look happy to see us.

"You did this!" he raged. "What happened here? Who's that child in your arms? Tell us, or?—"

"There's no need for threats," Lucas insisted. "I intend to tell you exactly what happened. This child is our son."

Professor Clarke wore a look of disgust. "A bastard child! Born of two Casts."

"Half of us were born of two Casts!" someone in the crowd shouted, though I couldn't locate who had said it. "Let us hear them out!"

The crowd quieted, awaiting our response.

Lucas stood at the top of the stairs to the courthouse and raised his voice for all to hear. "I'm sure you're all wondering what occurred here tonight. The truth is, the priestesses kidnapped our son, to lure us here with the intent to kill us. What the priestesses have done to the coven is wrong, and we've been fighting to make it right. We have spent the last year searching for artifacts that can help end the Waning. The priestesses, however, were trying to stop us from restoring your magic. They've escalated to stealing infants. We tried to negotiate, but they refused to stop their nefarious plans. Many people died tonight, including Autumn Loren, a coven member who sacrificed herself to save us. But the priestesses' intentions went beyond killing people. They committed a terrible crime against the coven tonight, attempting to create a weapon to gain total control over every witch and warlock. We didn't want anyone to get hurt. We gave them a chance to run, but they insisted on defending their evil cause. We came here tonight to stop them."

"Where are the priestesses?" the crowd demanded.

"Three of the priestesses perished in the fight," Lucas admitted. "Priestesses Lilian and Margaret fled."

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" someone shouted.

"It's true!" Professor Wykoff insisted. "I was there. The priestesses locked me in a cage, with plans to kill me. They wanted me gone because I dared to question them. These witches standing before you saved my life."

"I understand it may be hard to trust us," Lucas said gently. "For years, the truth has been manipulated, and words and intentions have been twisted. The coven deserves to know what's going on, and that's why I'm sharing the truth with you right now. Give us a truth serum if you don't believe us, and let us show you what we know to be true."

"I believe them!" a man called. It sounded like the same person who suggested the crowd hear us out. People parted to make way for him. He approached the front of the crowd with a woman at his side.

It was Professor Richards, who taught my Miriamic History and Alchemy classes, and Professor Loren, who taught Incantations and Moonology.

Tears filled Professor Loren's eyes. "You met her? You met my Autumn."

Lucas nodded and lowered his voice. "I did."

She spoke in a trembling tone. "And my daughter's gone?"

"I'm sorry," Lucas told her.

"But is she in a better place?" she asked desperately.

"I believe she'll find her way to Alora," Lucas replied sincerely. He wasn't just saying it to make her feel better, either. He really believed it.

When we'd first met Autumn, she was certain she was going to end up in the Abyss, but she'd come back to speak with Lucas for a reason. I believed she'd found what she was looking for.

Professor Richards turned toward the crowd. "I am Professor Anthony Richards. I teach history at Miriam College of Witchcraft. I am an old man who's been around this coven a long time, and I have studied its past. If there's one thing that history has shown us fails every single time, it's the witch hunts that seek to silence our people. I say we hear them out!"

Several people booed, but the chorus of agreement drowned them out.

"And if we like what they have to say…" Professor Richards added. "I say we put them on the Imperium Council."

Several more people joined in the protests. They were willing to hear us out, but they weren't willing to go that far.

"Listen to me!" Professor Richards shouted. "Nadine was sanctioned as a priestess by Mother Miriam herself. She's the only one left. You've all seen what the Imperium Council has done this last year—they've sectioned Casts off to different areas of town, drove us all into debt, broken apart families, and raised an army against their own people. Which one of you can say their soldiers actually protected you? Or did they drag you out of your homes, raid your businesses, and take your children from your arms? Every intercast couple knows what I'm talking about! The priestesses did it all in the name of ending the Waning, and yet it only continues to worsen. The hangings have only increased in number. The council once convinced you that these young people were the reason for the Waning, but they've been gone for months, and things have only gotten worse. How can they be to blame?" Richards gestured to us, and several people murmured in agreement.

"We are living in unprecedented times, influenced by a council that has the power to shape our coven without our input or approval," Professor Richards continued. "I'm telling you that if there's ever been a time when we need the coven to change, that time is now. Nadine was voted onto the council by the other priestesses. They told you they kicked her out for trying to gain power. If that's the case, ask yourselves why she was found not guilty by Mother Miriam in her trial. Why would the priestesses still keep her off the council, after Mother Miriam gave her ruling? They unified against her because she knew what they were planning, and they took away her power because she stood up for the people."

"The priestesses said she deceived us!" someone shouted.

"The priestesses said a lot of things that turned out to be untrue," Professor Loren spoke up. "They also told us that when the healthcare system changed, people would still get care, but they didn't. They died waiting for it! The priestesses said the Waning would get better, but it's worse than ever. The priestesses promised we'd be strong and be able to defend ourselves against the fae, but if the fae came here right now, we'd be killed immediately. We did everything they said, gave up everything, and they never came through on their promises. They lied! Who's to say they didn't lie about Nadine?"

Whispers spread throughout the crowd.

"Mother Miriam would not choose this division!" Professor Richards pressed. "We have chosen ourselves to suffer under the doctrine of Miriam's Chosen, but we can choose differently."

He turned to Lucas and spoke lowly. "The priestesses have gone too far. You did the right thing getting rid of them. Now tell the people what you plan to do moving forward. Convince them that you're the right choice."

Lucas hesitated, like he wasn't sure what to say. Then someone in the crowd shouted, "They only came here to get power! Richards is working with them!"

The uncertainty fell from Lucas's face, and he stood straighter. "If power is all we seek, then we will fail, because no one can give power to the Imperium Council but its people. The priestesses could not remain in power because they were hurting the coven, but a new council must take their place. We want to prove to you we can be good leaders, but we don't want to lead you without your consent. It's always been our goal to reunite the coven and put the power back into the hands of the people. If you allow us to, we will rebuild. We'll bring an end to the Waning and bring magic back for good. We will forgive the predatory loans the priestesses gave out, give business back to the people, and restore your normal lives."

"You can't promise that," someone shouted. "We've lost people—people we loved! Things will never be the same."

"You're right," Lucas said without missing a beat. "Things won't go back to the way they were, because not a single one of us are the same people we were when this conflict began. But all your dreams and your goals can still be realized if we choose to lift each other up and become something new… together."

A chorus of cheers came from the crowd, but not everyone was so convinced. It was easy to see we still didn't have their full approval.

"Give us a chance," Lucas requested. "If we don't change things to your satisfaction in a year's time, we'll hold a general election, and you can vote someone else in. What the priestesses did to hurt you is going to take time to recover from, but we will do everything in our power to change things for the better."

"Why you?" a voice came from the crowd. "Why not hold a general election now?"

"The priestesses are gone, which leaves the council seats empty," Lucas said. "We need coven members sitting on that council now, to help smooth things over before an election can be held. It's too dangerous to organize an election when we need to be taking immediate action against this weapon that Margaret and Lilian have. All I'm suggesting is an interim council—nothing permanent. As for putting us on the council, we've been investigating the Waning since it started. We can help stop it, but we need more time. In the meantime, the priestesses possess a powerful weapon, but we have the power to protect you."

"You're trying to use fear to rule over us!" someone insisted.

Professor Richards climbed a few stairs and raised his voice. "If they're as powerful as they say they are, they're at risk to admit it. By being open with us, they're putting themselves at risk, something they'd only do if they're willing to risk it all for you."

Chloe stepped forward. "There are two sides in this war that have extreme power. Us, and them. I used to be on the priestesses' side. I was raised to believe in everything my grandmother stood for. But I know who she truly is now. If you want a full council, you need Nadine on it, because she's the only Curse Breaker we have. For that council to accomplish anything, you need her working with people who aren't going to stab her in the back, as the priestesses have done to each other so many times before. Everyone in this coven knows the beef Nadine and I had with each other, so if I can align myself with her, so can you."

I held my head high and spoke to the coven. "This isn't about me, but about us, together. It's about who will stick up for you in the face of danger. Lilian and Margaret wouldn't stand and fight against the gates of hell for you. They'd turn and run. I wouldn't, because I believe in this coven, and I believe in you! They'd sacrifice any one of you for a shot at power, but we will go up against them and give ourselves to this coven, even if it means giving up our lives."

Half the crowd looked ready to grab their pitchforks and march alongside us, while the other half looked like they wanted to just go home. They were sick of fighting, and I understood them far too well.

"I can't promise that no one will get hurt," I added. "But I can promise the coven will survive if you follow us. Let us go up against the priestesses, so you can live your lives in peace. We're not asking for power over you. We're asking for your help and cooperation. We'll get through this together, but we need to come together, because it's up to all of us now to do the right thing."

"Come together!" Professor Richards repeated.

Professor Loren shot him a glance. "Come together!" she called.

Slowly, more and more coven members began repeating my words. It was one by one at first, until voices overlapped one another. They soon became one, a massive crowd chanting as if they were one voice.

"COME TOGETHER! COME TOGETHER!"

There was no denying the coven's vote. They wanted us on the council—for now, at least. It was a tall order to fill, and we'd made a lot of promises, but I was wholly confident that one way or another, we would fulfill each and every one of them.

"Now go home," Lucas called out to the crowd. "Be with your families tonight. We will begin our work in the morning."

The crowd began to disperse.

Professors Richards and Loren approached Professor Wykoff. "Let us take you home," Richards offered.

"I'd like that very much," Professor Wykoff said weakly.

As they walked off, a small group of people from school approached. Samantha and Gregory were among them, both necromancers from Lucas's classes. Brayden held Gregory's hand, looking nervous, and Alex followed alongside them.

Gregory stepped forward. "We want to help."

Lucas furrowed his brow. "I thought you joined the priestesses. I figured you'd be an Executor by now. Why do you want to help us?"

"I did what I thought I had to do to survive," Gregory admitted. "I never wanted to be a part of their cult, but we knew we'd eventually hang if we didn't comply. I'd rather follow you—not because I think it will save me this time, but because your cause is something I'd actually die for."

Lucas looked toward Samantha, his eyes searching her arm for the mark of the Chosen. There was no mark to be found. "You never joined them?"

She shook her head. "I was going to, but then I thought of you and Nadine, and how much you fought against this. I just knew you'd be back, and I told myself once you came, I was going to fight on your side."

Lucas hesitated, like he wasn't sure he wanted to get more people involved. We weren't asking for soldiers, but we needed support. We couldn't do this alone.

"All right," Lucas finally said, keeping his voice low. "We need necromancers to help move bodies. There are ten Executors inside Octavia Hall, and three priestesses in the courtroom. Gregory and Samantha, you need to get rid of them so nobody tampers with the corpses. Move them to unmarked graves and don't tell anyone what you're doing."

Gregory gave a firm nod. "We're on it."

The two of them hurried inside the courthouse.

"Alex, Brayden, I have a special job for you," Lucas said. "I portaled a dozen Executors across town, which means they're still roaming around. They'll kill us the first chance they get. I need you to find as many people as you trust to work with you to hunt those Executors down. We'll lock them in the city jail tonight and decide what to do with them later."

"Professor Blackbird has military training. He'll help us, along with others," Brayden said.

He and Alex took off the same time a man and woman approached. I'd never seen them before, but the woman looked all too familiar, with dark hair and a straight nose identical to Chloe's. These had to be Chloe's parents.

"If you've come to stop me, save your breath," Chloe sneered. "I've already made up my mind, and the coven has spoken."

"Chloe, honey," her mother begged. "We aren't here to stop you. We're here to tell you how proud we are. We were out there in that crowd cheering for you."

"Do you really think we'd side with your grandmother?" her father added.

Chloe spoke slowly, appearing stunned. "Well… she is your mom. Aren't you on her side?"

Chloe's mother scoffed. "Your grandmother is a coward who ran from her own people. You always came first, Chloe. We always knew you were destined for greatness. We'd rather see you on the council."

Tears welled in Chloe's eyes. It had to be the first time I'd ever seen her cry. She'd told me stories about her parents—how they'd always pushed her to be the greatest. She never thought anything she did was good enough for them, and it was clear all she ever wanted was their approval.

"You really mean it?" Chloe whispered.

"Of course we did," her father said. "Does this mean you're coming home now?"

Chloe sniffled. "You mean… you want me to move back in with you?"

"I mean home to Octavia Falls," her father clarified. "You're an adult now. You should get your own place."

Chloe scoffed. "Yeah, let me just borrow a down payment."

"There's no need," her father said. "Your grandmother's house belongs to the family estate. I imagine it will be vacant for some time. If you want it, it technically belongs to you."

Chloe's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

"Your mother and I already have a lovely home," he said. "What would we do with that big empty house?"

"You're right…" Chloe mused. "It is a big empty house. I can't live there alone."

Slowly, she turned to the rest of us, looking hopeful. "What do you guys think about continuing our roommate arrangement?"

Something in her eyes told me that Chloe had really enjoyed our time together at the safe house. She wasn't ready to give that up.

"There's lots of room," she started.

Grant chuckled. "You don't have to convince me. The more time we spend together, the more we can get done."

"I'm on board," Talia agreed.

I looked down at Marcus. "Are you all sure you're okay having a baby in the house? He's going to make a lot of noise."

"Are you kidding!?" Chloe asked. "Marcus is part of the family now. Of course we want him there. There's a whole section of the house with a second kitchen and everything. You and Lucas can stay there. It will be like your own apartment. Plus, it will really piss off my grandmother, and I'll do anything at this point to put her in her place."

Lucas wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "It's a very kind offer. Of course we'll stay with you."

"Yay!" Chloe clapped in excitement. "Thank you so much for the offer, Daddy! We're going to be so happy there. I just know it."

She threw her arms around her father's neck, and he went completely still. Chloe quickly realized what she'd done and backed off. It seemed she'd only done it on instinct, but they didn't appear to be the hugging kind of family.

Chloe took a step back. "Sorry…"

Her father finally composed himself. "Don't be sorry, honey. Come here."

Her dad pulled her back into his arms, then grabbed her mom. The three of them embraced, and for the first time, I saw a tear roll down Chloe's cheek. It was everything she ever wanted from them.

"Oh, my Goddess!" Talia gasped. She tugged on Grant's sleeve and pointed down the street. I followed her gaze to see her parents and brother, along with Grant's dad.

Pure joy fell over Talia's and Grant's faces. The two of them took off running before they could say anything else, and they fell into the arms of their family members. It'd been so long since they'd seen them.

Talia's mother smoothed down Talia's hair. "It's so good to see you. Do you know anything about Tate? We haven't seen her in months."

"She's safe, Mom," Talia assured her. "I promise. She's been recovering in a refugee city. I'm sorry we couldn't get in touch with you."

"It's okay!" her dad insisted. "You're safe, and that's all that matters."

I turned back to Lucas, who was looking down at our son. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his forehead against mine, until we were cradling Marcus between us.

"I'm so relieved you're both safe," he breathed.

"For now," I agreed.

Lucas sensed my hesitation. "Nad, we won tonight. That's something to celebrate."

"I know, and I'm happy we won," I replied. "I'm just thinking about what you said up there, about how things will never go back to the way they were, because we aren't the same people. I used to think that one day, life would be perfect. I thought we'd defeat the priestesses, we'd get married, I'd have my new kidney and my symptoms would go away, and we'd be given this brand-new life together. But we have so much of that already, and my life is better than ever, but it didn't fix everything. In some ways, it got worse. I went through the surgery and got my kidney, but I still couldn't have our babies on my own terms. I'll be better, but I'm never going to be cured. We got married, and then we lost people. One day, we're going to defeat the priestesses. But even when that happens, I'm not going to have that perfect life because I'm not the same person who dreamed it."

Lucas rubbed my shoulders. "You can still have the life you wanted, even if that girl you were before isn't there anymore."

"Maybe I can move on and become someone new. But I can never resurrect the girl I was before all this shit happened to us," I said. "After everything we've been through, there's no going back. Things are going to keep changing, and I don't know who this new person is. I have no idea who I'm going to become."

Lucas smiled. "That's exciting, though, because we get to meet her along the way. I'm not the same, either, which means we get to meet each other all over again."

I looked around at the coven. Dozens of people had stepped in to help with the clean-up, and I still could hardly believe they wanted to help us. For so long, the coven didn't want me here, and now, they wanted me to be their leader.

"If we're meeting each other all over again, that means we get to meet the coven again, too," I said. "I don't know who I'm going to become, or what I'm going to do as their leader, but I know this is a brand new beginning to figure it out—not just for us, but for the whole coven."

It may not be the beginning we hoped for. The priestesses were still out there, and we would face them again before all this was over. But it was the beginning of something new.

For all of us.