Conjure Web Read online

  I leaned heavily on the railing. I really did need to find a gym. I’d never be in top-notch shape, but I wanted to have more endurance and stamina. As I opened the door and watched Klaus and Xi tumble out, my phone sounded. I pulled it out and saw it was a text from Ari.

  peggin and hank took off about fifteen minutes ago, with elsbet and the baby. i sure hope they’re doing the right thing. i know elsbet helped us, but i can’t help but worry.

  I texted back: i know. i thought about that too, but there’s nothing we can do now. we’ll just have to wait until hank texts us that everything is okay. at least he’s driving them and not peggin. i like her, by the way.

  i like her too. i was a little worried that maybe i remembered the trip to whisper hollow too fondly, but i wasn’t disappointed. we should take a trip over there in the summer at some point. autumn’s too spooky to go there.

  I texted back good night, telling her I’d call her tomorrow, then returned to the kitchen. Xi and Klaus were chowing down. Killian had given them their gooshy food for dinner and they were falling over one another, nudging each other out of the way as they shifted places at the food bowl.

  We gathered around the table to eat, talking over and around the evening, but none of us felt like revisiting the trip through the woods. So we talked about Tally’s upcoming return to her work—the doctor was clearing her to return to her job.

  “I’m thinking I might want to go back to school, though,” she said.

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Killian said, looking at her. “What do you want to study?”

  “I’d like to train as a medical records technician. They make good money, you can work remote if needed for some places, and it sounds interesting.” She paused, then cleared her throat. “Did I tell you I’m dating again?”

  That took Killian by surprise. He jerked his head around and I could instantly feel his protective nature rear up. “Who?”

  “Les Howling Moon. He’s the assistant to the Pack shaman.”

  Killian slowly put down his spoon and wiped his lips on a napkin. “What do the folks say about this?” He was giving her a look that made me slightly nervous. Watching the pair of them, I was getting a good lesson in Pack hierarchy.

  “Mother invited him to dinner last week. He and Dad had a long talk. They gave their approval after he went home, so we’re officially dating.” She beamed at him and Killian visibly relaxed.

  I cleared my throat. “Do you mind if I ask…do your parents have to approve of your dates?” I hadn’t met Killian’s parents. Did that mean we weren’t officially a couple?

  Killian glanced at me. “Within the Pack, yes. Outside of the Pack, it all depends. If Tally were to take up dating someone inside the Pack our parents didn’t approve of, they could appeal to the Alpha to end the relationship. Given Tally’s had one bad marriage, if they thought Les was problematic, then they probably would do just that.”

  “Your Pack is one giant family, blood-related or not, isn’t it?”

  Tally nodded. “You’re beginning to understand how we work. Yes, we are like one massive family. Each household, the parents—or whoever’s in charge, if the person is single—is considered the Alpha of that home. But over the entire Pack, the Alpha and his Bitch have the final word. We have a council of elders, and if someone disagrees with the rule of the Alpha they appeal to the council. The case is heard. Both parties agree to abide by the rule of mediation—in essence, the council. But that doesn’t happen often, and usually if someone reaches that stage, they just leave the Pack instead.”

  “I’d like to understand my family more,” I said. “I just found my great-grandmother’s diary and I’ve started reading it.”

  “Witchblood families are united, but the only court we answer to is that of our guild—if we belong to one—and the Court Magika, who rules over every witch, everywhere,” Teran replied.

  “That reminds me, I need to check my email,” I said. “I approached the Court Magika the other day about Ellison.” I turned to Tally. “My ex threatened me the other night.”

  “If that happened in the Pack, the Alpha would have his hide,” she said. “That’s what happened to my ex. He was cast out when they found out what he was doing to me.”

  I pulled out my phone and checked my email. I usually glanced over it every day, but the past few days, I had been so busy that I had forgotten. Sure enough, there was an email from the Court. I opened it.

  Dear Ms. Jaxson:

  The Court Magika has found that Ellison Reilly presents a great and certain threat to you, January Jaxson, his ex-wife. As you are a certified member of the witchblood community by your parentage, we will send him one warning to stay away from you. If he breaks that warning, we will retaliate. Please make an appointment to talk to High Priestess Saturina Monet, who will walk you through all of the steps.

  Sincerely,

  Savon Crenshaw, Legal Counsel

  “Well, that was fast.” I read them the note. “So, Ellison better watch his step.” As I was glancing through the string of emails, I found one from the Aseer, who wanted to see me the next morning—which meant I’d have to take the morning off, if not the entire day. I dropped a line to Tad. Then I found an email from the Moonshadow Bay Courthouse. It stated that my restraining order against Ellison had been granted and I was to pick up a copy of it as soon as possible and sign for it to be served to Ellison.

  “Sounds like you have everything in hand,” Teran said. “I still think you should steer clear of the Court Magika, but at least they have your back.”

  “I still want to visit Ellison and make certain he never darkens your door again.” Killian stared at me, challenging me to tell him no.

  Given what I had learned about the way his Pack worked—and the fact that they were progressive—I counted myself lucky that he hadn’t bashed Ellison’s head in. While I was grateful he cared enough to stand up for me, I was leery about controlling men.

  “Well, the incident is being taken care of,” I said, yawning. I had finished my soup and sandwich and the day was taking its toll. “I need to sleep,” I said. “I’m going to kick all of you out and go to bed.”

  “Even me?” Killian said, batting his eyelashes.

  Laughing, I leaned over and gave him a smooch on the nose. “Even you, love. Go home, get some rest. Tomorrow’s a work day and regardless of what we accomplished tonight, we all have work to do.”

  Tally and Killian left via the kitchen door. Killian had installed a gate in the fence between our yards, and as I waved at them, I happened to glance at the Mystic Wood. The aura of the wood was lit up like fireworks. I watched, feeling creatures watching back. But the curtain of protection I had erected between the forest and my yard was holding, and after a nervous moment, I returned inside to find Teran still sitting in the kitchen.

  “We need to have a talk,” she said. “You said you’re going in to see the Aseer tomorrow?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I’m not sure what to expect, but you and Ari and just about every witch in Moonshadow Bay has been through the test, so I’m not necessarily that worried.”

  “Nor should you be. It’s a bit invasive—but if you put aside your fears and open up, the test will only take a short time and then you’ll know which direction to focus your study in. While most of us who are witchblood can learn the basics of protection and warding and other necessary life spells, almost every member of the magical community has a certain proclivity for one particular element. Like the owners of the Besom & Broom. They’re aquanistas.”

  “Right. There are a few, though, who can work with all elements, correct?”

  She nodded as she stood up. “Yes, and then there are the healers, the druids, the shamans—like Peggin’s friend, the spirit shaman. There are many variations in magical folk, but most of the witchblood tend to be focused on elemental magic.”

  I yawned again and looped my arm through Teran’s, walking her into the living room. “If we’re going to talk, let’s be
comfortable. Do you want to stay the night?”

  She shrugged. “It’s a quick hike back to my place, so no. I’ll make it quick, though. When you go to the Aseer, you’ll have to tell her that your grandmother is Rowan Firesong. Otherwise, she may not look for particular traits and gifts.”

  I hadn’t even thought of that. “Rowan may not like that—”

  “Rowan can blow it out her ass. This isn’t her call. This isn’t her life. She made the choice not to tell your father and I think she did him a grave disservice. But you need to have all the information you can. Going to the Aseer later in life can be a little overwhelming.”

  “Does it happen often?” I asked.

  “Usually only in cases where someone’s an orphan and they didn’t realize they had witchblood until they grew up. Your mother was a freethinker, in many ways. She wanted you to develop on your own as much as possible. If she would have taken you in when you were little, she would have had to explain about Rowan, and that would have been even more awkward.” Teran scooped up Klaus, who was crawling up her pants leg. “Hello, cutie.”

  I sat on a cushion near the fireplace, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. “What do you think of Killian?”

  Teran blinked, looking startled. “Why do you ask?”

  “You’re my aunt. I trust your judgment. And you see through people. I’m in love, Auntie, and I know I’m not always the best judge of character. What Killian was saying tonight about his parents appealing to the Alpha if they didn’t approve of Tally’s beau…that kind of threw me.”

  Teran chuckled, stretching out on the sofa. “I think what threw you more is that he hasn’t introduced you to them. Even though I know you’re not really looking forward to that meeting, I noticed that when he was talking about the parents’ approval making it official, you seemed taken aback.”

  I ruminated on what she said, then nodded. “I suppose you’re right. We’ve said ‘I love you’… Does that mean those feelings would be instantly negated if his parents don’t approve of me? Could they break us up?”

  Teran frowned, then propped her head up with her hand. “I suppose they could. But if you want my opinion, I think they’re less likely to do that to their sons. Shifter culture, with a few exceptions, can be very patriarchal and even though the Rainier Wolf Pack is considered progressive, you have to figure that means progressive as far as wolf shifters go.”

  I nodded, hugging my knees to my chest and resting my chin on them. “Why didn’t you ever marry? Have you ever been in love?”

  Teran paused, as though debating what to say. Then, she let out a long sigh and sat up, crossing her legs as she leaned back on the sofa.

  “Here’s the thing. My mother—your grandmother Naomi—was all about independence for women. She said her mother had been saddled with so many kids that she had never had a chance to live up to her full potential. I’m not sure what you’ve read in Colleen’s diary so far, but your grandmother used to talk about how bitter Colleen had been over being stuck at home. Colleen loved her children, but she wasn’t cut out to be a mother. But back then, even among magical folk, birth control was hard to come by, illegal in most cases, and apparently Grandpa Brian wanted a houseful of kids.”

  I nodded. “Colleen loved her kids, though—at least from the entries I’m reading.”

  “Oh, you can love someone and yet find them a burden. Most people would feel too guilty to admit that, but it’s true. Anyway, my mother brought Althea and me up to be independent. She made sure we went to college. She made certain we felt like we were good enough on our own. My father—your grandpa Campbell—pretty much ignored us except when we got into trouble.”

  Grandpa Campbell had died three years before I was born, but I remembered Grandma Naomi clearly. She still emailed me now and then, all the way from Ireland, demanding to know all about what I was doing. She had moved the year I was eight. I had both loved and feared Grandma Naomi. She was imposing, fierce even, and no nonsense. But I had never felt overlooked by her, and she made it clear that she expected my best behavior because she believed in me.

  “I remember one time when I was six when we went to visit her. She lived down on…what was it? Violet Avenue?”

  “Yes, she had that little cottage,” Teran said. “She sold the house Althea and I grew up in, because she said it was far too much house for one person to manage.”

  “I remember she always kept the cottage neat as a pin. We went to visit her one Saturday for dinner and she bundled me into the kitchen, wrapped me in an apron that was too big for me, and then we made biscuits and fried chicken together. Or rather, I helped her make the biscuits and kept her company while she fried up the chicken. She sent Mom out to weed the garden and she asked Dad to mend a few things around the house.”

  Teran laughed. “My mother could always put anybody to work and make them glad to be helping. She just has a way about her.”

  “Well, we were talking, and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her a writer, and she nodded, very seriously, and told me that if I was going to be a journalist, I’d better make sure of my ethics because once you destroy someone in print, they’ll never shake the reputation you give them. I never forgot that.”

  “That sounds like her,” Teran said, looking misty. “I miss her. I really do.”

  “How old is she now?” I asked.

  “She’ll be one hundred next year. She’s going strong, though. Our family blood lives well toward 150. She still gets out with the Audubon Society on bird walks, and the Sierra Club on environmental hikes.” She sighed. “Maybe I should take a trip over to visit her. She hasn’t been back here since 2012. That’s quite awhile.”

  “So, why didn’t you ever marry? Was it just Grandma Naomi teaching you to stand on your own two feet?”

  Teran shook her head. “No, actually. I almost got married one year—I was twenty-three. His name was Caine Rodgers. And he was fine. He was handsome and rugged and from a druidical family. He knew the Mystic Wood like the back of his hand.”

  She had a dreamy look on her face, one I had never before seen when she talked about men. But it was also melancholy, and so I prepared myself for some tragic love story that she never recovered from.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Teran paused, frowning. “I’m not sure whether to tell you.”

  “What? You can’t leave me hanging! What happened?”

  She sighed again. “You have to promise me that you won’t hold this against her.”

  “Her who?” I asked.

  “Promise me. You have to trust me,” Teran said.

  I finally nodded, giving her my promise. “What happened?”

  “The same thing happened to me that your great-grandmother feared might happen with Brian. Rowan Firesong slept with my fiancé. She slept with Caine, and I found out.”

  I groaned. My grandmother was turning out to be quite the homewrecker. “But she’s…”

  “Older? Yeah, but she’s still a handsome woman, even now. And her family is very long-lived. She was a beauty in her younger days—really stunning. And those days didn’t end all that long ago. Anyway, she slept with Caine and then dropped him shortly after. That’s one reason she and I aren’t better friends. Oh, I’ve long let it go—I don’t think I would have been happy with him in the long run, anyway. I love my life, and I got over it, after a while.”

  “Why did she do that to you?” Given how I had felt when I found Ellison cheating on me, I couldn’t imagine why someone would willingly break up another relationship. I loved sex, but it wasn’t that hard to find partners who were single, especially if you weren’t out for a long-term connection.

  “Rowan told me she was testing him, and he failed. I rather doubt that. But whatever the case, they slept together and that was it. I called off the engagement. Since then, I’ve never met a man I liked enough to settle down with.” Teran shrugged, giving me a bittersweet smile. “The irony is, he wa
s always the one afraid I’d sleep around. I was hard to pin down, even then, and it took him three proposals over five months for me to finally say yes.”

  “Well, that answers my question,” I said, yawning again. “I’m sorry she did that.”

  “Me too, but then again, Caine had a choice. That’s one thing I do know about Rowan, she’s never used anything but seduction to gain a lover. She would never coerce anyone magically.”

  Teran stood up. “Enough old stories for tonight. I’d like to read that diary when you’re done with it. Let me know what the Aseer says tomorrow.”

  I walked her to the door where she gave me a long hug. “I love you, sweetie,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too. Text me when you arrive home.” I waved as she set out, then quickly shut out the night. Too many dangers lurked in the shadows and I didn’t feel up to facing anything else tonight. Locking up and making sure my wards were holding, I headed upstairs for the night. But try as I might, I couldn’t stop wondering what the Aseer’s test would show. It was three a.m. before I managed to drift off to sleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The next morning, I dressed with extra care. While I knew this wasn’t a formal interview, like for a job, the thought that I was going to be testing with the Aseer loomed large in my mind. I went for stretch jeans—I didn’t know if I’d be asked to do anything athletic—and paired them with a V-neck sweater in plum. A silver chain belt around my waist and a pair of ankle boots completed the look. Sweeping my hair back into a ponytail, I felt ready to face the world.

  A text came through from Killian. good luck and go knock ’em dead, love.

  I texted back a mournful i’m scared…to which he replied like a good boyfriend should.

  buck up and face your fear. if the aseer is mean to you, i’ll have her for lunch.

  Laughing, I shot back, i love you, and stuck my phone in my purse. As I locked the door behind me, after making sure the wards were still strong, it occurred to me that today could well change the direction of my life. I had no idea what was going to happen, but Esmara whispered to me as I clattered down the stairs, heading for my car.