Page 62 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

Everyone shrugged.

“Maybe the coven did the brownies dirty?” Colin suggested. “I mean, Sienna, Nicco, and Jetty were just as much prisoners as you all were.”

“We will ask Jetty when he returns,” I decided. “He is still spying on the remaining coven. The good news is that they are without magic, according to him.”

“Wait until we are all together to tell us more,” Adam said, grabbing the plates. “Let us get everything out there and figure out a plan.

The kitchen was soon empty of people, just me and Colin were left, grabbing the last pot, not that it was a two-person task.

“I’d hoped to feel calmer with everyone here,” Colin admitted in a whisper. “But I just feel confused.”

I gave him a soft understanding smile. “I feel the same way. Hopefully we will get all the pieces of the puzzle sorted out before you humans need your sleep.”

Colin chuckled, handing me the heavy pot of soup. “I doubt I’ll get any sleep tonight.”

I just grinned and followed my lover into the dining hall.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Jacob

The humans were busy eating, but one look around the room at my brothers, once fellow soldiers turned prison mates, it was obvious they were afraid. Because of Harland’s theory that once the sacrifice was killed, the vampire would starve, we knew they would target our humans first. We just had to figure out how to deal with these witches or coven sisters, whatever they were.

“I have an idea,” Eric began, looking glum. “We should all call our brownies to us. Perhaps they can help answer a few of our questions.”

“You think so?” George asked. “Surely they would have said something before we left.”

Eric shook his head. “Mine rarely offers information unless I ask for it. I do not think it is in their nature to offer us guidance unless we ask.”

That was Jetty alright.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Sophie looked up from her soup. “So, we should summon them now?”

“Yes, please, dear,” Adam said.

“I fear Sienna will murder me if I summon her,” Colin mumbled, wiping his hands on his thighs.

“Oh, she will,” Sophie agreed with a wide grin.

Colin sighed. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”

To my surprise, it was all the humans who summoned the brownies, adding to the theory that they were loyal to Colin’s bloodline.

Six brownies appeared, most looking bored. Colin had summoned Jetty, to his relief. I doubted my lover even knew he could summon them, but now he did.

Eric stood, taking his place as leader once again. It was ingrained in us to follow his word, like when we had been soldiers. He was the reason we had been victorious on that battlefield and we all owed our lives to him. “We apologize for taking you away from your duties, brownies,” Eric began, smiling at the bored looking creatures. “Your masters have a target on their backs, and we wish for your knowledge.”

The brownies mumbled amongst themselves. All but Jetty, who looked longingly outside where his garden was waiting for him.

“First question we would like answered,” Eric continued. “Is to know why each sacrifice was offered a brownie once they were freed?”

A female brownie stepped forward. “To answer that question, we need to tell you about the great betrayal.”

“Please do tell,” Eric nodded.

The brownie continued. “We were a clutch of brownies, all loyal to one witch coven. They offered us safety in a world that distrusted magic. When their witch, Gretha, created all of you, they betrayed our trust, taking Sienna, Nicco, and Jetty from us without our knowledge. At first, we thought they had chosen this path for themselves. It was not until two hundred years had passed that we learned the truth. I was the one who overheard the witches when they spoke about the new brownies being offered to the freed sacrifices, and how they were tasked with killing their masters. A thing a loyal brownie would never do.”