“Turn there.”

Nell obeyed.

“She’s been here. In the last warehouse, the one with the blue doors. Keep driving.”

On the way back to the office Meriel texted Dominic that she was fine and then turned to face Nell. “There are a lot of them in there. At least six different signatures.”

“Six mages? Arel said his group had been working as a unit of about eight mages using the humans to locate the witches. Maybe that’s their organizational structure or something. Seems unbelievable to me that six mages would come onto Owen land and think they can get away with it. But they could be stupid like Gloria. Other than the attacks on you and Dominic, we’ve heard nothing from anyone else. All our witches are accounted for.”

“Not six mages. Some of them were human. Two appeared to be like Gloria. Turned. They had a sort of grayish smear to their signature. One or two mages and if I’m correct, they’re the same two from Heart of Darkness.”

A sore subject because they’d managed to get away after their first attack on Dominic and Nell blamed herself.

Nell sighed heavily. “All right then. I’ll get my people together and we’ll formulate a plan. I’ll let you know what we decide and report when I finish up.”

“First of all, the road back to work doesn’t go this way. It does, however, pass Red Mill. What a coincidence. And second, I will be part of this. I’m not a magick commando or anything, but this is personal.”

“We’ll talk over rings.” She found a place in the always-packed parking lot.

Meriel got out and motioned back to Nell. “Sit. There’s a line out the door. I’ll get it to go.”

* * *

DOMINIC knew she was trouble from the first moment he saw her and yet the moment she walked through the door with several bags of what he could smell contained several Red Mill bacon burgers, he couldn’t help but smile.

“This is going to be good.”

She laughed. “Dominic, whatever are you insinuating? I brought you bacon burgers and rings and you doubt me?” She fluttered her lashes and Simon groaned.

“I brought some for you too.” She handed out bags and he steered her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“What are you going to ask me to do?”

“Geez. Just eat your burger and rings and I’ll tell you. Unless you think you can nail me really fast, we should go back out there so people won’t think we’re quarrelling.”

He took the remaining bag from her and tore into the burger. “I’m waiting.”

When she finished telling him, he simply goggled at her. “Why on earth would you think I’d back this? Let Nell and her people handle this.”

“She already agreed I could come. If you came too. She says she doesn’t want you pissed off. Imagine. I’m her best friend and, I might add to all you haters in the room, I am also a really excellent witch. Arguably better than anyone else who’d be there. So of course I should go. Gloria has a lot of stolen magick. If they walk into a room full of mages and turned witches with some angry humans too, I’ll be needed. And lastly, she wants to meet with me, not Nell. They need me in more ways than one.”

She pulled her shirt up and then peeked at him. “Does that help things?”

He burst out laughing and put the food down. “You’re going to kill me, Meriel Owen. But you have great tits and you’re partially right about how much you’re needed. But I’m going with you.”

She pulled her shirt down and got herself in order again. “Good. Now let’s go eat and have a nice night.”

Chapter 28

MERIEL looked up to find her mother standing on her doorstep. “Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry, I had to run in to the office.”

“No, I just got here a minute ago.” She followed Meriel into the apartment. “Did I catch you at a bad time? Or, well, I guess that’s a silly question. May I have a bit of your time?”

She took her mother’s coat and motioned her to the couch. “I’ll make some tea.”

Edwina followed Meriel into the kitchen and sat there instead. Meriel looked her mother over closely. “Are you all right? Is someone sick?”

“I know I’ve had very high expectations of you. I know I’ve driven you to succeed and I made mistakes sometimes in how I did it. Holding the leadership of Owen is an immense challenge. A burden at times. A burden so heavy you wonder if you’ll survive it.”

Meriel made the tea automatically.

“And other times it’s the most amazing thrill I’ve ever experienced. When you take on my seat, your magick will grow. You’re powerful now, the most powerful witch I know other than me and Ron. When you take over, the clan will reside in you. Their magick enhances yours.”

“Get out! Really?” Meriel set the tea out and remembered she had shortbread cookies and added them.

“Really, Meriel, you’re such a bright girl, why do you talk the way you do?” But her sniff was more amused than indignant. “But to answer the question, yes really. When you take my seat, you’ll be, well, you’ll be strong enough to handle whatever this woman has to throw at you. It’ll strengthen the bond exponentially as well. It’s too much power for one witch to hold, that’s why full-council holds leadership. Only a bonded, ascended witch could hold the leadership. You and Dominic both will ground all the extra magick running through you.”

This was a total trip. “Mother—”

“Don’t interrupt. Now, as I was saying. I have been harder on you than I should have at times, but it was because I knew you’d need to be ready when the time came. I’ve watched and I’ve waited and now is the time.” She paused to put sugar and milk in her tea.

“I can’t let you give me the leadership of this clan because you want me to win a fight. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.”

Edwina made a distinct pffft. “Of course that’s how it works. Meriel, my mother transferred to me when I was twenty-three years old. Her health had been in decline and I’d ascended the year before. So she told me the things I’m telling you.”

“I think I need to get the Thin Mints out of the freezer for this conversation.” Meriel grabbed a whole sleeve and headed back. Edwina looked at her suspiciously, but went on.

“The clan is supposed to transfer whenever the next in line would better protect the clan from a threat than the current leader. That is you right now. This isn’t about a mother helping her child, though I’d do that too. This seat holds the clan and the clan holds it. It is a weapon and a shield. It has been my duty and my honor to hold it for nearly forty years and now I’m passing it to you, where it will do the most.”

Edwina paused and looked at Meriel, horrified. “Whatever are you doing? You don’t dunk cookies like you’re a monkey. For goodness sake!”

Meriel dug a fresh one out of the sleeve and handed it over. “Try it. Come on. I won’t tell anyone.”

“If I don’t, I expect you’ll just pester me.” She barely dipped but Meriel reached out and pushed her mother’s wrist down, holding it for a long moment.

She tried to look disinterested as her mother tried it, holding a napkin strategically over her clothes like Meriel should be doing.

“It’s fabulously too much, isn’t it? Just nod your head and dunk your cookie. We’ll never speak of it again.” She pushed the cookies to the center of the table and dunked her own a few times.

“The clan is under threat. My time is up. Owen needs a new direction and new leadership. You’ve consistently shown me how prepared you are. You think on your feet. Dominic has loosened you up a little. He has that effect. My goodness, he’s a charmer.”

“Imagine what it’s like when he’s at Heart of Darkness and the women see him in the mood lighting.” But inside she was jumping up and down whooping it up that her mother had just paid her all those compliments.