Page 40 of The Witch’s Daughter

Calla nodded.

I stepped forward to give one of Vincent’s warlocks with the clipboard my name, when a gentle touch on my arm held me back.

“Alpha Jaxon, can I speak with you a moment?” The witch spoke softly, in a way only wolf shifters would hear. She must’ve been familiar with us, and that meant she’d come to me as an Alpha wolf for a reason.

Something about her was vaguely familiar. Her face was pretty. Delicate in that feminine way that made any breathing male take notice. It took a minute for me to place her as one of the Ossory witches who’d stood by Sarah’s side during the bonfire last night.

“What is it?” I frowned.

“I’m worried,” she whispered as her gaze darted to the warlock with the clipboard.

The fur pricked on my wolf’s spine and I stepped back, motioning for Gentry to take my place in line. He gave me a funny look, but said nothing.

“About?” I prompted when the witch didn’t continue.

Suddenly, she smiled up at me. Long lashes fluttered as she rested her slender fingers on my arm. “Tonight. There’s a gathering. Can we talk then?”

My beast growled as Ahmad and Amir snickered like the children they were.

But I couldn’t ignore an obvious cry for help.

I nodded once.

“Good.” The witch let her fingers run down the length of my arm. “I can sense your magic. I’ll send a message to you that way. Look for the trees.”

With that, she turned and left.

“Look for the trees,” Ahmad whispered in a high-pitched tone, teasing as he and his brother pressed in against my shoulders.

“Enough.” I resisted the urge to smack the runts off me, frowning as I thought of the strange encounter. My magic wasn’t a secret, but I was wary of anyone knowing too much about it.

There were few I trusted with that knowledge, and only two were alive now.

“Why didn’t you introduce us to your pretty witch friend?” Amir continued to tease as they followed me to the front of the line.

Gods help me. I growled, sending the twins a few steps back, as I turned to the warlock and gave him an appraising once-over.

“Jaxon Cadejo,” I said. It wasn’t a secret that I was a pack Alpha. I stood apart from the others in obvious ways, and my name would’ve been freely known here.

The real question was: what made that witch scared enough to seek me out?

15

Trish

My muscles burned in places that I didn’t even know I had muscles, but after they’d dismissed a few witches for good, I walked out of the first trial with my head held high.

And then I ran from there as fast as I could, hoping I wouldn’t bump into Jaxon or any of the rest of the coven. I knew it would be awkward being close to them again, but I hadn’t realized they all were so… close. It was foolish of me to think that when my world imploded, theirs fell apart too.

As a grown woman, I knew better. Still, it stung a bit that they’d been able to move on with their lives and form tight bonds with each other while I dealt with my situation alone.

It didn’t matter, though. That wasn’t what I was here for. I had a job to do.

I’d kept my ears and eyes open throughout the physical tests, but none of the witches or warlocks working with Vincent were talking. I couldn’t get a read on anyone or sniff out anything wrong. One day down, and I didn’t have more information for Alpha Kera. I’d need to up my game.

That meant I needed to figure out my magic fast. Tomorrow I was sure they’d have some magical tests, and that was where I’d be eliminated. Then my newfound bravado would be all for nothing.

I refused to go down like that.