Page 66 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“Because,” she growled. “You deserve to die knowing the vampires live. That they will continue to live. I have served that mansion for over eight hundred years and those men deserve their happiness.”

Louise nodded, a tear escaping her. It was almost over.

“You messed up bad when you took my husband,” the brownie continued. “He was the one that kept me sane for all of those years of servitude. We have been wronged by your coven, your ugliness. I feel honored to end your coven, to finally rid the world of your evil. The men you cursed are more human than you.”

Louise agreed with everything the brownie said. She knew now just how horrible her coven sisters had been. She wanted nothing more than to end this tortured existence.

She closed her eyes and heard a snapping sound.

Chapter Forty

Colin

Sienna and Jetty had been gone for a couple of minutes, yet we still sat around the table, impatiently waiting for their return.

“Do you think they’re in trouble?” I asked the table, biting my bottom lip. I sat around family, yet they all appeared younger than me. It was truly unnerving. Sophie was the easiest to talk to, simply because she had lived with my mother.

Alexander grabbed my hand. I was seated between him and Jacob. Their presence helped me stay grounded. “Brownies can do pretty much anything with their magic,” he assured me.

“Yet Nicco was still taken,” I reminded him. He frowned at that.

Eric cleared his throat uncertainly. I knew they all saw him as a leader and it was obvious why. He had this calm authoritative tone that you just couldn’t help but listen to. Like right now, just a clearing of his throat and he held all the attention in the dining room. “We all agree that we have no knowledge of the coven’s whereabouts, correct? Only Jetty knew of their location?”

We nodded. It was stupid of us not to at least get an address from the brownie, but we had been through so much new information that something was bound to be forgotten.

“I think—” James began, then stopped abruptly as three brownies landed on the table.

“Sienna!” I rose from my chair, crawling awkwardly up onto the table to reach her and the others. Jetty was kneeling beside her, looking worriedly at Nicco, who was unconscious. “Will he be okay?”

Sienna sighed. “He will be. He just needs some rest.” Jetty helped her stand, looking much too serious. I had no idea what had happened, but I knew now wasn’t the time to ask. “Jetty will stay and explain.” Okay then.

Sienna grabbed Nicco, barely able to hold him up, then jumped down from the table and left the dining room. Silence filled the room. We all waited with bated breath for Jetty to speak. He looked tired. “The coven is no more,” he announced, voice cold and detached. “We found this book.” He held up a leatherbound book, clearly ancient. “I think it holds the answer to the rest of your questions. Just know that you’re finally free.” Jetty then left the dining room. No further details. Nothing.

When he was long gone, Sophie spoke, breaking the silence. “I wonder just what went down?”

Eric held the new book, ignoring all of us as he carefully read the pages. It took us hours as Eric read the book aloud, each new discovery more disturbing than the next. They had truly been vile, these women. To think they saw these men as monsters was just unbelievable. In my opinion, they were the true monsters.

We split up after that, each couple needing some time to process everything. I was mostly relieved we didn’t have to fight these fake witches, but it was like my body had yet to realize we could relax now. I kept waiting for danger around every corner, something my vampires could definitely sense, their eyes watching me intently as I paced the floor in Alexander’s bedroom.

“Colin, my love,” Harland began, holding out his hand for me to take. They all sat on the edge of the bed, watching me. “We are free, love. No need to worry.”

I stopped pacing and let out a deep breath. “I’m going to sound slightly deranged for a second, okay? Great. I think I needed to see them die, or something. I think my brain needs that closure until it can truly believe it. I want my sister avenged and had sort of hoped I would get that, even if fighting and all of that seemed appalling to me. And now I feel robbed.” I allowed Harland to place me on his lap, his arms holding me tight.

“I feel robbed as well,” Alexander admitted. “They did so many horrible crimes and even though I do not see myself as a violent man, I still longed to bring justice to everyone they had hurt.”

Jacob made a noise of agreement. “I cannot stop worrying if they truly are gone, and I do not think that worry will ever fully leave.”

“We can ask Sienna once the stress has quieted down,” Harland suggested. “Right now, her focus is on Nicco and then a new vacation.”

“Which is very well deserved,” I agreed.

“Extremely well deserved,” Alexander chuckled. “I have no doubt she was the one who ended those two women. We will ask her when we feel she can actually answer us.”

We all huddled together then, their scents and arms surrounding me. I’d never felt safer. “We’re free,” I whispered, needing to believe the words. Maybe if I kept saying them they would eventually stick.

“We are,” Jacob chuckled. “What should we do now that we can live in peace?”

“I get if you guys want to move away from here eventually,” I began, already thinking of where we could live.