Page 22 of The Witch’s Daughter

Dad got that gleam in his eyes that he always did when talking about Mom. The same look that made me want to plug my ears and sing, no matter what age I was.

“You’ve still got time,” he said. “And you need to remember they wouldn’t have requested you if someone out there didn’t know as well as I do that you’re meant for greatness.”

“Gee, thanks, Dad.” I rolled my eyes and hugged him quick so he wouldn’t see the worry on my face. That was the burning question, wasn’t it?

Why in the world did they want me there?

“Are you ready yet?” Meg stormed into the hall, carrying her almost empty travel bag.

Of course she was already packed.

“One second.” I released Dad and went to grab some “real” clothes.

“Hurry,” Meg growled. “It’s going to take us forever to get Alec out of her place and we’re already running behind schedule.”

8

Jaxon

They’d erected a colorful tent city in what had once been an open field where the wildflowers and browning grass still held some of their shape under our feet. Music and the scent of cooking fires drifted from the main grounds in the center of the cluster of makeshift dwellings.

“You can park your tent here, Alpha.” Sarah, the witch with strawberry-blond hair and ivory skin, who was one of the Ossory coven ambassadors, pointed to the open spot on the western part of the field. “How many did you say were coming from Cadejo pack?”

“Just me.” I dropped my bag, with the twice resewn strap and busted seam, in the dirt.

Magic wielders in Cadejo were few and far between. Most of the current ones were still babies, born in the last year after I’d taken over the pack. I’d tried to coax some of the older ex-pack members to return, but they’d been through enough with Oscar that they didn’t want to set foot on Cadejo territory again.

It was on my list of things to change.

That list grew by the minute.

“No escorts or staff?” Sarah frowned as she looked over her clipboard. She didn’t smell like wolf, but she carried the Ossory scent, so she must’ve been important to the pack. Or at least important enough to be in charge of checking visitors into this event.

“Don’t need them.” I started putting together my tent poles. It was warmer out here than my territory, and I would’ve welcomed sleeping under the stars, but I wasn’t among wolves.

“An Alpha who does his own heavy lifting.” Sarah offered a small smile. “Is that true of all the packs out west?”

Now I knew she had some standing in Ossory pack. Witches didn’t normally mock wolves, unless they were powerful enough to hold their own.

I checked the petite female over with fresh eyes, wondering if I could discreetly sense her power somehow. Her smile grew brighter. I quickly looked away, worried she’d get the wrong idea.

By the gasp Sarah made, I figured she found something more interesting to smile at anyway. “Who is that?”

She’s here.

“Tisiphone Cerberus,” I said without glancing up, making short work of the poles on the tent and pulling the canvas tight.

“Tis…. Tisif… Cerberus. We have a Cerberus here.” Sarah checked her chart.

“She goes by Trish.” I stood, watching the tornado of a woman with teal hair and a bag twice her size march across the field on shapely, tanned legs. “You might want to write her preferred name down.”

*

“Where’s the rest of Cerberus Pack?” I teased Tisiphone after promising Sarah I’d get Trish settled in before the bonfire kicked off the festivities tonight.

“You can’t smell them?” Trish adjusted her pack’s shoulder straps. “I’m sure they can hear us talking over here.”

“Rough trip?” I asked.