Sacred Circle (17 page)

Brianna pulled from his grasp.

“I don't see why you are accusing me of what you should be doing. After all, you don't owe them anything. They turned their backs on you, so why do you care what I accuse them of?”

“Because it matters, deep in my soul, what you do,” Devlin stated, giving her an airy wave. His voice suddenly turned brittle. “Now that the crisis has been averted, Mrs. Janus, we're leaving.”

Obviously stunned, Brianna took a step back.

“Leaving?”

“We've done what we came to do, and now it's time to let the Elder Council handle the rest.”

“Are you insane?” she croaked at him. “The Council will mark this incident down as an incident the Ancients decreed.”

“Let them. We won't be here to challenge it.”

Dismissing his words, Brianna skirted his shoulders.

“I'm not going home until the sinner is found and brought to justice before the Council.”

Stepping forward, Devlin yanked Brianna back around.

“The Council's more than capable of finding the sinner without your help.”

Brianna shook her head.

“They won't punish the sinner without a push from me, though.”

“And just how do you intend to push them?”

“By reminding them that I am the current High Priestess of this coven.”

Her words stunned him, but he recovered quickly. Snatching her shoulders, he shook them.

“Invoking rights that you have no intention of honoring isn't the game you want to play here. It's unfair to use your status against the Council.”

“It's the only leverage I have,” Brianna responded. “You've seen how we've been treated so far. Nothing but half-truths—or outright lies.”

He frowned at her words.

“So we respond to their bad manners by lying to them?”

“If that's what it takes, yes,” Brianna replied. She whirled about, continuing towards the footbridge. “We're finally making headway, and I'm not going to start going backwards at this point.”

Devlin re-grasped her shoulders and spun her around again.

“Suppose you do bully the Council into sanctioning the sinner, what then?”

“I leave here knowing that I've atoned for Brenda's death.”

Devlin's gargled croak rent the air.

“My God, you earned that forgiveness ten minutes ago—when you saved your Mother.”

“And when she's well, I'll recant the invocation and leave.”

Devlin glowered at her, his tone turning surly.

“We don't belong here anymore, Brianna. I know you've sensed it, because I've sensed it through you. There's no further reason to stay, but at least when we leave, it's our choice this time—not theirs.”

Her eyes suddenly ringed with tears, but Devlin hardened his heart to them. Her tears were not going to sway his decision. If she wasn't going to think of her own safety, he would. Her voice broke through his thoughts.

“Why can't you understand that I owe it to Mother not to leave here with things unfinished?” she asked.

He pounded his forehead.

“How can you be so smart, and yet so blind? Have you not noticed the damn cat?”

A startled expression crossed her face at the question.

“Nicodemus?” Devlin's hand waved impatiently, to a spot behind her. Brianna turned, spotting the cat sitting just beyond the footbridge, staring at her. “What does he have to do with anything?” she queried, swinging back.

“He has everything to do with it. If you weren't so focused on hammering out justice, you'd notice that since we cleansed the circle, he is continually skirting the fabric of your aura, attempting to cement the Binding.”

“Binding?”

Devlin gave a fractured growl this time.

“Have you forgotten your studies?” He ticked off on his fingers. “The Hand-fasting, the Joining, the Binding, the Crowning.” His signaled the cat again. “Nicodemus is a royal cat, and like his ancestors, he can only bond with a High Priestess.”

“An old witch's tale,” Brianna scoffed. “Nicodemus belongs to Mother, and always will. When she's herself again, he'll resume his allegiance to her.”

“Your mother will never resume her position as High Priestess,” Devlin exclaimed. “You saw to that when you invoked your rights. Can you not see that your mother knew if she transferred her powers to you, Nicodemus would transfer his allegiance to you too? She knew that by using his powers, and hers, plus your own, the spell could be fractured and then reversed.”

Intense astonishment touched Brianna's face, and Devlin realized she had never once considered the possibility that her mother had made an incredible sacrifice that couldn't be undone. The thought must've made her heart flutter though, because he saw her clutch the front of her blouse. A ring of tears surfaced again.

“You're saying Mother chose to die? That she lost all hope of survival?”

Devlin leaned into her, tilting his head towards hers.

“I'm saying that she initiated a change of power in the hopes that you would find a way to keep her alive. Though we didn't know it then, your invocation was what she was banking on. With you as High Priestess, your powers will be hard to thwart. It's clear your mother recognized the sinner, and knew the only way to stop him, or her, was to make you as powerful as possible. Now, you've managed to pass the first two evocations—with flying colors, I might add,” he told her, softly. She colored up fiercely, and he squelched a desire to kiss her soundly. “The Binding is now in motion,” he stated, grasping her shoulders. “Nicodemus will continue to attempt to merge with your essence, and once he does, there will be no going back, no chance to change your mind. Is that what you want? To give up all you own, and take responsibility for the coven?”

Brianna shrugged from his grasp, and Devlin knew she was dissecting his question. Was she ready to throw her current life away? Perhaps, days ago, she might've been. But now? He saw her suppress a sob as Nicodemus inched closer to the footbridge.

“You're right,” she finally stated. “Nicodemus is skirting my aura.” She fell silent and Devlin wished she hadn't. When she went quiet, her energy pulled away from him, and it took a lot more of his energy to cross the distance and re-merge with hers. He stepped closer, and his words held a degree of warmth and concern.

“Tell me what you're thinking. It unnerves me when you go all quiet like this. Do you want to stay and hope that you can evade Nicodemus long enough for us to push the congregation for answers?”

She whirled, her eyes widening in surprise.

“And if I say yes?”

His lips twitched.

“I'd have to stay and push with you. That's a no-brainer.”

Brianna made a face at him.

“There's no need for sarcasm.”

He made a face back at her.

“Don't tell me my insults have finally managed to prick that tough hide of yours, Mrs. Janus?”

“Stop calling me Mrs. Janus in that condescending way. And yes, your insults have worked. You've shamed me into seeing the big picture.”

Devlin's fingers raked through his hair.

“I know I'm going to be sorry I asked this, but what is the big picture?”

She leaned against the bridge railing, surveying his face.

“If I leave, I betray Mother's faith in me, and her unconditional love for this community, especially if I don't consent to the Binding. Any continued refusal to bind with Nicodemus will cause him harm, and if that occurs, I will lose my soul.” She straightened from the rail with a sigh and frivolous wave. “Besides, I can't have the Ancients condemning you for what are clearly my Karmic debts.”

Devlin's wave dismissed hers.

“Slow down, Rapunzel. You aren't living in that ivory tower of yours alone, you know. I have sins of my own to atone for here.”

Brianna held up her hand.

“I think we're way past that argument now, especially since you sensed Mother had a premonition of all this and I didn't.”

“It's a hunch, nothing more.”

“But it makes perfect sense—and that's why we're staying.”

An amused grin came her way.

“You're one hell of a she-bear, Mrs. Janus.”

“And you're an incredible ass,” she stated, whirling. Devlin chuckled again, tracing her footsteps. Hearing the laugh, she spun on her toes, walking backward as she railed him. “If you don't stop calling me Mrs. Janus, or Cinderella, or Rapunzel, I'll be forced to place a curse on your head that not even you can reverse.”

“I'm not that brave, Sleeping Beauty,” he muttered, as she swiveled and headed towards the distant trees. His footsteps soon dogged hers on the mulched path, and then, taking charge, he snatched her fingers, passed her, and pulled her along behind him. When they reached the intersection to the cottage, he slowed their steps.

“We'll make a pit stop at the cottage first, then go and check on your mother, and then after that, we'll start pushing for answers.”

“And if there's time,” Brianna interrupted. “We'll visit Papa and tell him we're not leaving.”

Devlin clasped her fingers, and lifting them, he kissed the digits.

“Your father will hit the ceiling when he learns we're married,” he stated. Brianna pulled her fingers from his.

“He'll be fine when we sign and present the annulment papers to him.”

“
If
we sign the papers,” Devlin emphasized. “Right now, I'm enjoying having a powerful High Priestess in my life. And, as my wife.” He winked at her, and then whirling her about, he pushed her towards the driveway ahead. “Get a move on, Cinderella. I need to use the bathroom—stat.”

“You can use the little boy's room without me. I'll meet you at the clinic,” she said, pulling away. He snatched her elbow back, holding her in place.

“We need to stay together. Now that you've cleansed the circle, you will be our sinner's next target.”

“He'll have to go through Nicodemus first,” Brianna retorted, signaling the cat traversing the road behind them.

“Damn cat!”

“Be nice,” Brianna warned, “Or I might have to unleash his powers on you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I don't believe in threats,” Brianna answered, “I prefer the real thing.”

“I'm not your pet mouse, Cinderella.”

“No, you're just a sex toy I can dispose of when I choose,” she shot back. A black silence followed the taunt and, obviously seeing the dangerous glitter of his eyes, Brianna took a hasty step back from him. “I was kidding. I'd never use Nicodemus to terrorize you.”

“You really are an infuriating brat.” Devlin stated, studying her posture. “And while we're on the subject of sex, I intend to make love to you tonight—all night.”

He didn't wait for her reaction, just turned and headed towards the rooftop now peeping between the trees.

• • •

Watching him go, Brianna's cheeks became warm. Merciful heavens! He wanted another sexual interlude with her—twice in one day.
And what do we think about that?
her inner voice asked. She grinned amiably. That the Joining was extremely pleasurable—in its entirety. Her alter ego sent up another thought.
What if he just wants a little sex to curtail his frustration with the turn of events?
Her shoulders sagged suddenly. Her mother's investigation would be sacked, that's what. And it would be written up in the Coven Book of Shadows as “one of those things.” The thought depressed her so much that she gave a choked sob. A moment later, strong fingers shook her frame.

“Dammit! Don't look so unhappy or I shall have to make love to you right here in the middle of the street.” His words had Brianna stiffening, and his laughter bubbled up and out. “There now, that's the prickly woman I know. Hankering to claw my eyes out, eh?” To her surprise, Brianna laughed at his jibe. Grinning, he pulled her past him, and then pushed her towards the driveway only a hundred yards ahead of them. “Get a move on, Snow White,” he stated.

She went, but not before giving him one of her haughtiest sniffs.

“If you don't stop calling me those ridiculous fairy tale names, I shall stir the Earth Dragons awake, and let them do their worst to you.” A deep chuckle greeted her, but Brianna chose to ignore it. Now was not the time to trade insults; they had to get to the clinic and monitor her Mother's health.

Reaching the outskirts of the cottage several minutes later, the pair wound around a massive cat-claw tree and stepped onto the stone walkway next to the driveway. Passing the standing Jeep, Devlin slowed his steps.

“Uh-oh. Looks like trouble.”

Brianna followed his gaze, giving a mumbled curse when she caught sight of Francis' tall figure loitering on the porch.

“Damn. Just what I need. Another scolding from Francis.”

Devlin patted her arm.

“Play nice now, Goldilocks, or he might stir the Earth Dragons to do their worst on
you
.”

Brianna's heart skittered at the thought. Francis was certainly capable of stirring an elemental, but by the stern look on his face, he had something more pronounced in mind—like stirring her anger. She heard a wizened grunt as Devlin laced his fingers with hers and stepped onto the walkway.

“He can't possibly object to my being pushy—now that I'm your husband.”

Brianna studied their meshed fingers.

“I suppose I shall have to say polite things about you if he asks.”

“It's a requirement. Do you need a list of my good qualities?” he teased.

“Not a list, just one,” she stated.

He grinned boyishly at her.

“Tell him I'm great in bed.”

“You're not that great.”

He laughed outright.

“Liar.” Brianna opened her mouth to call him a horse's ass, but he forestalled her by placing his finger over her mouth. “Ah-ah, be a good girl and mind your manners. Francis is watching.” He dropped his fingers, greeting Francis as they reached the porch steps. ”Good morning, Francis,” he said, “You're up early. No morning vespers on the schedule?” He hopped the steps, forcing Francis to take a step back. Brianna saw Francis's smirk.