There will be a shift in lifestyle for both of us, not to mention a busted career. And, God knows what we’ll find when we go down to the clearing. It could be a replay of Brenda’s death.”
“There is no other way,” Brianna responded. “There just isn’t.” He sighed and it was clear by the resigned slouch of his shoulders that he agreed.
“Well, then ‘so mote it be,’” he stated. He glanced over at Rufus. “You heard Brianna. Note the time and make the necessary wedding arrangements.” Brianna gave a small sigh of relief as warm fingers descended on hers again. “We will wait until sunrise to examine the clearing, though . . . no, this is not up for debate. You may have been blessed with six generations of witches, but I haven’t. I will need to be well-rested before we enter the clearing.”
Surprised by the backhanded compliment, Brianna could do no more than stare at Devlin’s serious countenance. Noting her silence, Rufus hoisted himself from the chair.
“Well, I shall ready the altar in the chapel for the ceremony.” He started to exit and then hesitated. “Though it might not seem like it, we are committed to learning what caused Sienna’s collapse and fix it.” He did exit the room then, leaving an awkward silence behind him. A clearing of a throat finally emerged, and Brianna’s gaze followed the sound. She saw Tommy inching towards the door and she sprang from her chair.
“Wait! You can’t leave, Tommy, You’ve been brought to the coven to witness our marriage, and spirit never makes mistakes.”
Once again, his expression looked startled.
“I came to comfort you in your time of need. It wasn’t to participate in this farce you’re concocting.”
Devlin sprang to his feet.
“Nevertheless, your sudden decision to follow Brianna may have been orchestrated by spirit. Now, the question becomes, what does spirit intend for you to do here, besides witness our marriage?”
Devlin strode to the door without offering any answer, and Brianna listened as the door slammed shut behind him. She gave a long sigh, glad to have a quiet moment without him. She dropped back into her chair, chewing on her thumbnail. Taking note of her actions, Tommy dropped into the vacated chair beside her, and brought her fingers from her face.
“Why are you marrying this Devlin character without thinking it all through? It’s not like you. And what will the marriage accomplish anyway? The chance to perform God-knows what, in a clearing with painted circles on the ground?”
“You don’t understand, Tommy, the circle might still be open.”
“You’ve lost me.”
Brianna squeezed his fingers.
“Casting a Sacred Circle is like playing with matches. If you’re not careful, you could set off a fire that consumes everything it touches, including yourself. One of the worst things that can happen inside a circle is to leave it open when you’ve finished performing your ritual. It opens a door between two worlds, allowing all kinds of negative energy to seep through and attach its essence to whatever it finds.”
“Holy crap! That sounds like a page out of a horror film.”
“Don’t make fun; this is serious. Great harm could come to the commune if we don’t learn what caused Mother’s collapse!”
“And what happens if you find the circle has been left open? What then?”
“The Elders will have to close it.”
Tommy’s face soured.
“Surely the Elders can do that without a marriage. Take Reverend Lord up on his offer. Let this Francis person take the risk.”
“You need a healthy witch to examine a circle of this magnitude. The Elders are suffering with energy sickness. Devlin and I aren’t.”
Tommy bounded up from his chair, dragging his fingers through his hair.
“This is crazy. You could get yourself killed; maybe even get this Janus fellow killed.”
“Thanks again for the vote of confidence,” Brianna stated, hopping to her feet. It was clear Tommy would never fully
“There is no other way,” Brianna responded. “There just isn’t.” He sighed and it was clear by the resigned slouch of his shoulders that he agreed.
“Well, then ‘so mote it be,’” he stated. He glanced over at Rufus. “You heard Brianna. Note the time and make the necessary wedding arrangements.” Brianna gave a small sigh of relief as warm fingers descended on hers again. “We will wait until sunrise to examine the clearing, though . . . no, this is not up for debate. You may have been blessed with six generations of witches, but I haven’t. I will need to be well-rested before we enter the clearing.”
Surprised by the backhanded compliment, Brianna could do no more than stare at Devlin’s serious countenance. Noting her silence, Rufus hoisted himself from the chair.
“Well, I shall ready the altar in the chapel for the ceremony.” He started to exit and then hesitated. “Though it might not seem like it, we are committed to learning what caused Sienna’s collapse and fix it.” He did exit the room then, leaving an awkward silence behind him. A clearing of a throat finally emerged, and Brianna’s gaze followed the sound. She saw Tommy inching towards the door and she sprang from her chair.
“Wait! You can’t leave, Tommy, You’ve been brought to the coven to witness our marriage, and spirit never makes mistakes.”
Once again, his expression looked startled.
“I came to comfort you in your time of need. It wasn’t to participate in this farce you’re concocting.”
Devlin sprang to his feet.
“Nevertheless, your sudden decision to follow Brianna may have been orchestrated by spirit. Now, the question becomes, what does spirit intend for you to do here, besides witness our marriage?”
Devlin strode to the door without offering any answer, and Brianna listened as the door slammed shut behind him. She gave a long sigh, glad to have a quiet moment without him. She dropped back into her chair, chewing on her thumbnail. Taking note of her actions, Tommy dropped into the vacated chair beside her, and brought her fingers from her face.
“Why are you marrying this Devlin character without thinking it all through? It’s not like you. And what will the marriage accomplish anyway? The chance to perform God-knows what, in a clearing with painted circles on the ground?”
“You don’t understand, Tommy, the circle might still be open.”
“You’ve lost me.”
Brianna squeezed his fingers.
“Casting a Sacred Circle is like playing with matches. If you’re not careful, you could set off a fire that consumes everything it touches, including yourself. One of the worst things that can happen inside a circle is to leave it open when you’ve finished performing your ritual. It opens a door between two worlds, allowing all kinds of negative energy to seep through and attach its essence to whatever it finds.”
“Holy crap! That sounds like a page out of a horror film.”
“Don’t make fun; this is serious. Great harm could come to the commune if we don’t learn what caused Mother’s collapse!”
“And what happens if you find the circle has been left open? What then?”
“The Elders will have to close it.”
Tommy’s face soured.
“Surely the Elders can do that without a marriage. Take Reverend Lord up on his offer. Let this Francis person take the risk.”
“You need a healthy witch to examine a circle of this magnitude. The Elders are suffering with energy sickness. Devlin and I aren’t.”
Tommy bounded up from his chair, dragging his fingers through his hair.
“This is crazy. You could get yourself killed; maybe even get this Janus fellow killed.”
“Thanks again for the vote of confidence,” Brianna stated, hopping to her feet. It was clear Tommy would never fully
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