Page 51 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“Ever?!”

He nodded. “They cannot truly relax away from their work. It is what they love to do, tending to a home.”

“That’s rather sweet actually,” I smiled.

Jacob and Harland followed us to the kitchen and I feared their minds had gone to cooking. I loved them deeply, but I couldn’t trust them when they lacked the ability to taste it themselves.

Nicco was working hard behind the stove, steam billowing out around his head as he stirred something in a huge pot. “Ah, master Colin. I need to speak with you.”

He often just grunted so hearing that he actually needed to talk was a surprise. “Your vacation?” I guessed.

He nodded. “I will be away for one week, but worry not! I have prepared food for every meal. The freezer and fridge are stocked to the brim. This will be your dinner tonight, beef stew with mashed potatoes.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling like he’d just given me a huge hug.

“It was my pleasure!” he assured me, his lip even hinting at a smile!

Then we heard Sienna in the distance, her tone urgent. “NO!”

Now, I knew brownies could move fast, but it was scary just how quickly Nicco moved, flying past us as his little legs carried him towards his wife.

We followed, me eventually falling behind all the supernatural beings. We eventually reached Sienna, who sat on the tile hallway, staring wide eyed at the wall. The once beautifully clean wall with creepy portraits. Red lettering was spray painted across the entire wall. “Abominations” was written with huge block letters.

Fear gripped me as I stared at those letters, the paint thankfully dry. Was it the witches? Absentmindedly, I rubbed at my left arm, just where the bullet had swooshed past me an hour ago. The mansion that had felt safe, now felt anything but.

“Sienna,” Nicco said, holding his wife tight.

“They defiled my walls!” she wailed.

“Who’s they?” Alexander asked. He seemed calm and collected, but I felt his fear. We knew they’d been inside our home now.

“The witches!” Sienna snapped, then continued to sob against Nicco’s shoulder.

“Are you certain?” Jacob asked, his own emotions riddled with fear.

She nodded. “To think I was once loyal to that coven.”

“Are they still here?” I asked, looking around.

Sienna shook her head. “They must have been here while you were away. I left myself to check that I could leave. I just returned to tell you about the vacation and to grab my husband.”

“And I was too busy cooking to notice anything,” Nicco sighed.

“Is there anything we can do to safeguard the mansion?” I asked. “Maybe get some security cameras or alarms?”

Sienna’s red rimmed eyes met mine. “If you think I am letting anyone in here with those ugly cameras and alarm systems, you got another thing coming for you! I will ward this place with my magic and it will be superior to anything you humans can do!”

“You can ward it?” I asked, pleasantly surprised.

“Of course, I can ward it!” she snapped, now standing with her hands fisted at her sides. It was much better than when she was crying. “I just had no need for it before now!”

“What about the vacation?” Nicco asked, earning a glare from his wife.

“I will ward the whole property and then we will have a nice calming vacation!”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Alexander