Page 37 of The Noldrin Witch

All the lustful thoughts Morgaine was still entertaining died at once. Her mind immediately began searching for any reason why that should even be an option.

“How convenient,” she muttered. “Are you certain this has nothing to do with Elise being beautiful?”

“No one is as beautiful as you, my darling. You have a flavor only centuries can shape. You well know I would give many lives for the pleasure to taste it.”

“You’re good.” Morgaine narrowed her eyes. He knew exactly how to butter her up but she was not about to fall for that. “What’s in the other side that can’t be done here?”

“I have known only five other mortals claimed by Danu, and all of them brought more ruin to the world than two armies combined. She will remain dangerous until she takes full command of her link, and the only way I know for that to happen is to take her with me.”

Morgaine stepped back and turned away from him. She needed to think of some way to help Elise out of this. She was well aware that if she allowed Devon to take her, the girl could perish in the process. And if by some miracle she survived crossing the shield, only Satan knew what would become of her. Morgaine knew Devon was not asking. He was demanding. If it was true that demons were not above witches, history had also shown the opposite, and what had been done for centuries still lingered one way or another.

Devon had not yet mentioned how he expected witches to participate in the war, and Morgaine figured perhaps there lay the opportunity to save Elise. She did not know much about Danu, but it was said she was the divinity of earth and time. Before rushing into an argument with Devon, Morgaine decided she needed to learn more about the wicked divinity.

“If Danu claimed Elise, what sort of power are we speaking of?”

“She could become an Oracle,” Devon whispered. “She could become a living danger if her power were known and used for domination. Wars could continue endlessly.”

Morgaine swallowed hard. There had to be another way. It simply had to exist. The memory of the hidden stone in the castle lingered in her mind. She knew some witches strengthened their power through contact with ancient possessions tied to the divinity that had claimed them. Perhaps, with some luck, this would be such a case.

“What if I told you she could refine her power through a stone the king of Bromheim keeps hidden?” Morgaine cast a quick glance at the demon, pleased to have caught his interest.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s an ancient stone with Danu’s name engraved on it,” Morgaine said with far more certainty than she truly possessed. Devon did not contradict her outright, which already felt promising enough.

“The Stone of Raj. Do you know where it is?” he muttered.

Morgaine’s eyes widened. “I do.”

“Then perhaps there is another solution.”

“And what would that be?”

“The girl would need to remain near it for a year,” Devon said thoughtfully. “Could that be arranged?”

Morgaine remembered the opening to join the fairies Elise had mentioned. She did not know whether Elise could truly secure employment there, but she was firm on not letting any demon take her apprentice.

“I can see to it,” Morgaine said.

“Then it’s settled,” Devon replied. “But she would need a guardian.”

“As long as it isn’t that snappy demon you brought today.”

“I know no one better.”

*****

Morgaine walked by Devon’s side, feeling the heat of the demon’s body raise the temperature of her own. She was still feeling a bit cocky from her clever maneuver in the forest. Devon was no idiot, though he was usually blinded by his own interests. She had struck a fortunate arrangement, and despite knowing the wisest course was to keep her lips sealed, she still felt the need to share her reasoning with the others, if only to reinforce the soundness of its logic.

She caught sight of Elise from afar. Her ward still had the infernal bird perched on her shoulder, and Seth was looking at her as though she had raided Hell itself and escaped free. Morgaine trusted Elise wouldn’t reveal they had no real way of ensuring she could remain at the castle for a year, but just in case, she spoke before Devon could.

“We must keep going, Elise,” Morgaine said, drawing several curious looks. “There has been a change of plans and you must take the invitation to join the king’s staff after all.”

Elise’s eyes flickered wide, but clever as the girl was, she didn’t dare to contradict her. Morgaine continued then, having the utmost attention of the demons and witches present.

“The king owes me a good favor and Elise had made already the acquaintance with the Duke of Dormhein, no less,” Morgaine proclaimed. “The fine gentleman, after seeing Elise’s many aptitudes.” She paused letting everyone appreciate what she was talking about. Elise’s thin linen dress was almost transparent under the fire light. It was not hard to imagine that even the most outranked man would take notice of such talents.

The witches nodded after a good look at the girl, and Morgaine thought she caught a brief tightening in Seth’s jaw. The young infernal was a specimen like one does not see every century. His perfectly bronzed skin over that lean muscular frame was a temptation that tested Morgaine’s discipline. Devon was attractive of course, but the younger demon was feisty, and given Morgaine’s ample experience, she knew those types of gentlemen usually offered the most interesting pleasures in private.