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“What kind of ancient beast are you hunting there?” Hazel asked.
“We don’t know yet. The reports aren’t conclusive on that detail. We only know there’s been unusual magical activity linked to strange occurrences in nature. On a scale that indicates it might be a beast.”
“And you want to…catch it and bring it here?” Hazel raised a brow.
Maeve shrugged. “It’s the only way to keep it under Arawn’s control. If we leave it there, another god may snare it.”
“And we all agree it’s a good idea to keep the other gods from hoarding mighty pets with the power to destroy entire civilizations,” Rhun threw in.
Merle bit into an apple and nodded while chewing.
Hazel tapped her fingers on the countertop. “I suppose you don’t know how long it’ll take you to catch the beast?”
“Unfortunately, no. We hope that the presence of Arawn and me—or rather, my phoenix—will draw it out, but it’s possible it might take longer. I mean, I’ve always wanted to see the Himalayas, but I don’t want to spend weeks there.”
“So,” Hazel said, focusing on Arawn, “you’re leaving Lucía in charge? Just so we know who the authority is around here while you’re away.”
“Actually,” Arawn replied in that quietly rumbling voice of his, “Deimos is the one who will make decisions in my absence, but Maeve suggested we offer Lucía as a go-between.”
Smart choice. Hazel had only met the male who was Arawn’s second-in-command once, but just the memory of it made her break out in goosebumps. Deimos had looked suave, elegant, like a man at home in casual luxury and effortless charm, and yet, something about him had whispered of icy terror just underneath that sophisticated appearance. Like a beautiful winter lake whose dark depths hid unimaginable horrors.
Hazel was more than glad to talk to Lucía instead. Arawn’s ebullient and sociable protégée was the perfect candidate for any job involving communications or PR, and letting her be the unofficial contact for Arawn’s allies was actually one hell of a clever move.
Merle looked at Maeve. “When are you leaving?”
“Today. I wanted to say goodbye to you and Dad. Is he around?”
“Sure. Over in the game room, polishing his old college awards.”
Maeve left in a whirl of fiery hair and…what appeared to be translucent flames. Hazel blinked and shook her head. An aspect of her phoenix nature, no doubt.
“How is the situation in the witch community progressing?”
Hazel startled at Arawn’s question, her heart thumping madly. “What?”
“The allegiance issue.” Arawn’s forest-green eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Is there another one?”
“The usual bickering between former factions.” Schooling her expression, she hoped her little slip hadn’t aroused his suspicion. If Arawn were to dig into this and take an interest in the investigation… It was a blessing, actually, that he would leave the area for a while. Making sure he didn’t stick his nose where it would only cause more trouble would be easier that way.
Merle jumped in to help. “I’m afraid we haven’t gotten any further in convincing the other Elders to switch sides. Hazel and I just had that discussion. Old prejudices run deep, and it will take time to build enough trust for them to pledge their loyalty to you.”
“Time they do not have.” Arawn tilted his head. “The Powers That Be are rapidly losing more of their magic and access to this world, and if the witches insist on staying pledged to them, they will fail right alongside their old masters. It has already started.”
Merle’s eyes widened. “What? Where?”
“Not here. Half of the witch communities in São Paulo and Tokyo have been wiped out, and there are reports of individual witch families all over Europe and Asia who have recently perished in skirmishes with demons. Skirmishes, I might add, which should not have been fatal to this degree. Not with the witches at full power.”
Merle stifled a gasp.
“How have you not heard of this?” Arawn raised one black brow. “I was under the impression the grapevine among you witches is as fast as that of the otherworld creatures.”
Merle clenched her jaw. “We’re not all tightly connected. Not globally.”
“How do you know all this?” Hazel asked Arawn with a frown.
One side of Arawn’s mouth tipped up in a half smile that was a terrifying thing to behold. “I have my sources.”
“He said mysteriously,” Rhun muttered under his breath, “full of enigma and secret-y secrets.”
