A dark witch given one more chance than she thinks she deserves, a coven learning that family means showing up even when you're furious, and a goddess who wants to make her someone else's cautionary tale.

Selina Devayne stood trial for helping bring a monster into the world, and the only reason she isn't standing there for the last time is a High Priestess who refused to let a broken twenty-something be sacrificed for her mother's sins. Selina means to earn that mercy. She doesn't get much of a chance to try before someone in a stolen college classroom decides she'd make a much better bargaining chip.

Something older than the gods humans still bother naming is clawing at the seal keeping her locked below the Underworld, and the professor helping her do it has already turned a handful of college students into unwitting weapons. A building vanishes off a campus and comes back with a woman alive inside who was supposed to be dead. Whatever crossed over with her isn't finished crossing.

Selina wants to prove the coven that took her in was right to bet on her, her husband is teaching himself spellwork out of secondhand paperbacks so he can help for real next time, and a goddess with a grudge intends to make an example of the very woman trying hardest to become someone new. Redemption doesn't come with a grace period.

When the goddess drags her into a realm no one has ever come back from twice, Selina has one chance to prove that being broken was never the same thing as being owned, before the family she's only just started to believe she deserves has to come get her out, or bury her for real this time.

~

Chapter Thirty-One

Laci watched as Selina writhed on the floor, her screams bouncing off the walls. Each scream ripped at Laci’s heart, since she was the one causing the woman’s agony, but as much as she hated it, she knew she couldn’t help it. This was the only way to put an end to the Darkness once and for all.

Chaos continued hurling her attack at Nazareth, every once in a while sending a bolt of her power into the barrier surrounding Laci and Selina, hoping to distract Laci. Laci did her best to ignore it, but it wasn’t easy; the electrical charge of the magic brought a sizzle to the air that even the barrier couldn’t stop.

 The Darkness continued to ooze from Selina’s flesh, slipping out of the young witch and pooling on the floor of the cavern. Still chanting, Laci watched, worried about the sanity of the idea. If anything went wrong, they would find themselves trapped down there with both Chaos and Erebus, with no way out. To add to the level of danger, she was even calling the Darkness into the protection circle Nazareth wrapped around them to protect them from Chaos. This will be a nightmare that could very well end in their deaths.

Selina screamed one last time as the Darkness ripped from her body, rising to stand once more, and then the woman collapsed, unconscious.

“Selina!” Laci cried out, dropping to the woman’s side, only for Erebus to knock her into the barrier, her head hitting the magic wall as she slumped to the ground, her ears ringing.

“Bout damn time,” Nazareth growled as he shoved a bolt of magic at Chaos.

“That was stupid,” the goddess hissed. “Now you’re down here with both of us. You’ll die here, accomplishing nothing!”

 As the goddess ducked, cackling at his lousy aim, Nazareth snatched up the salt container, sealing the barrier between them and Chaos. Noticing what he did, the goddess howled up at the ceiling, sending bolt after bolt of magic into the invisible wall. Her screams filled the small cavern, shaking the stalactites above them.

Laci glanced over at the old man, impressed and sore as hell. She was also extremely tired. She glanced back at Erebus as he moved toward her, his arms outstretched, ready to strangle the life out of her. Her only saving grace was that the demon appeared confused from how she had pulled him there, probably thinking he was still downtown. She crawled over to the side and out of his reach. Chaos was right. They were trapped down here with the two of them. What the hell had Nazareth been thinking?

“Don’t let him touch you,” Nazareth warned, as he turned to the wall behind him, making hand gestures against it. “That’s how he sucks the life out of you.”

“Expert advice, but really?” Laci snapped. “It’s not like we’re on a football field and I can run away.”

“Kill them!” Chaos screamed. “Erebus, destroy the witch. We need to get back to the surface! Now!”

“Use your magic,” Nazareth said casually. “We’ll be home soon.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” she asked, shoving herself to her feet as she called forth more power. It snapped and fizzled, but finally obeyed her summoning. She held her hands out in front of her, ready to do… something. She only wished she knew what that something was.

Nazareth moved around them, breaking the circle near Selina’s crumpled body. “Don’t I always know something you don’t?” he asked as he squatted down, scooping Selina’s body into his arms. “It’s part of my mystery. Just be ready.”

“Ready?” Laci rolled her eyes. “Ready for what? I hate mysteries, by the way. And puzzles too. They all suck.”

“Ready to run, of course,” Nazareth said as he lowered Selina to the ground in front of the wall on the other side of the cavern.

Chaos continued to send barrage after barrage of magic at the barrier, tried to summon the ceiling to cave down upon them, even hurled stalactites at them, but nothing penetrated the wall of protection.

Erebus stumbled closer, his arms outstretched, ready to strike her down. The air grew colder, and she could hear the son of Chaos growling as he trudged toward him, his power growing as he became more aware of his surroundings.

Laci lashed out with her power, striking the creature in the chest. He stumbled back a few feet but righted himself quickly. She prepared to strike him again, but a growl off to the side snatched her attention. Her eyes went wide when she watched the two hellhounds, who were usually slumbering away in her backyard, materialize through the cavern wall and slam into Erebus’s chest, knocking over the Darkness.

“That’s your sign,” Nazareth said as he aimed his palm at the wall in front of him, closing his eyes and chanting.

Laci watched as a pentagram appeared, glowing along the lines just before the space in between opened up. She could see his bookstore on the other side. Nazareth leaned down, scooping Selina back into his arms. “Grab my pack, will you? Don’t need to chance them getting the stuff inside.” He turned to Chaos, smiling. “Lovely to meet you, goddess. Hekate sends her regards. Enjoy your stay now. I’m afraid the turndown service sucks.” He turned to Laci. “Let’s go home.” And then he stepped through the portal.

Laci watched him disappear, still unsure what she had just witnessed. Turning, she saw the hellhounds wrestling with Erebus. Chaos hurled another bolt at the barrier, making Laci jump. Without another thought, she snatched Nazareth’s pack from the ground and jumped through the portal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tansy paced the back of the bookstore, her hands clasped behind her back. “What’s taking them so long?” she asked, impatience coursing through her, as well as fear. Fear that she allowed Laci to go to her death. Fear they had already lost Selina. Fear that the necromancer bit off more than he could chew this time.

Kayla and Kalinda still sat on the floor, their arms around each other as they stared at the pentagram in the middle of the floor. Both were tired, but otherwise unhurt.

“Really, love,” Dean said, causing Tansy to jerk her gaze at him at the word “love,” narrowing her eyes. “These things take time. I’m sure they’re fine.”

And as if to prove his point, a circle opened up above the pentagram, and Nazareth stepped through, carrying a battered Selina in his arms. “She needs a hospital,” the old man said without preamble. “And quickly.”

“There should still be an ambulance close by,” Wanda said. “I’ll call Mark.”

 Stephen rushed to Nazareth’s side, taking Selina from the other man’s arms and cradling her against his chest. “Is she still alive?”

“I said hospital, didn’t I?” Nazareth snapped. “If she wasn’t, I would have said morgue.”

Sherri ushered Stephen to the front of the store to wait for the ambulance.

“Where’s my sister?” Jayden asked, stepping closer to the diagram on the floor. “Did you leave her behind again?”

“No, he didn’t,” Laci said as she stepped through the opening, shoving Nazareth’s backpack at him. “Close that damn thing.”

Nazareth chuckled but did as she asked with a wave of his hand.

“What happened? What took so long?” Tansy stood there, arms over her chest. “Did it work? Are they trapped there?”

Nazareth stared at Tansy, one eyebrow cocked as he reached into his jacket for his flask. “Which question do you want answered first?”

Laci sighed as she moved over to a chair. “It took so long because there was just one of me trying to pull that gook out of Selina, while Nazareth made ready our escape.” She turned to the old man, scowling. “Which I think you were winging the whole time. How did you know the hellhounds would show up when they did?”

He shrugged. “Because they always do. Haven’t they always saved you before? Pulling you out of the fire just before Tharon died. It’s part of their job. They are there to protect you. Once they sense you’re in danger, they rush to your aid. Or at least, they’re supposed to do that. It usually works.” He took a long pull from his flask as he shrugged.

“And that’s why you trapped me in that circle with Erebus? To let the hellhounds sense me about to die?” Laci rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in the air. “That thing almost killed me.”

“Good thing the hellhounds did their job then, huh?” Nazareth lowered his flask, but didn’t put the cap back on. He turned to Tansy as he took a slow breath. “And yes, they’re trapped down there. No one should be able to summon the Darkness again, at least not during our time.” He turned to Dean, staring at the man through narrowed slits. “Which still begs the question, where did you get that spell? As I understand it, you buggers hate magic unless it’s your own.”

Dean leaned forward, gripping his staff with both hands as he shrugged. “As I told Tansy, I have my resources as well. Just glad it worked.”

Kayla groaned, forcing herself to her feet. Reaching down, she grabbed Kalinda’s hand, pulling the other woman into a standing position. “My body aches all over. Come on. I’ll let you give me a body massage.”

Kalinda chuckled. “Well, my night just got better.” She winked at Jayden as the two walked out of the bookstore. “Talk to everyone later. Much, much later.”

The others left as well, Wanda and Famallumi leaving together, followed by the Valentine sisters, Laci still grumbling about Nazareth and his secret tactics. Sherri told Tansy she’d meet her at home and followed behind the others.

“Are you two waiting to be told to leave, or is there something else on your mind?” Nazareth asked, bouncing his gaze between Tansy and Dean.

Tansy shifted slightly where she stood. “No, no, you’re right. It’s time to leave. See you tomorrow.” As she turned to leave, Nazareth lifted his flask in a toast and took a long swig.

Dean pushed himself out of his chair without a word, stepping in behind Tansy. Outside, the place was chaos, but a kind they could handle. Volunteers worked to clean up the debris as people wandered around, scratching their heads, trying to figure out what had happened.

“Tansy! Oh, Tansy,” Melli’s voice came from off to the side, bringing Tansy to a stop.

Dean slid up beside Tansy, kissed her cheek, and whispered into her ear. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Promise. Get some sleep.” He squeezed her to him briefly, then turned and walked away.

Tansy stared after him until he rounded a corner, disappearing from sight. Isn’t he leaving? She wondered if she would actually see him tomorrow or if he would vanish like he did ten years ago.

“Oh, Tansy, I owe you such an apology,” Melli said once she reached Tansy.

“What for?” Tansy asked, sliding her hands to her hips as she glanced around the street at the mess.

“Well, you were right,” the other woman said. “These festivals just bring out the wrong type of crowd. Why, just look at this mess? Destruction everywhere. Why, someone even tried to set fire to some of the buildings. Now, who in their right mind would do that? I am just so sorry I dragged you into this.”

 Tansy glanced around once more, watching as someone righted a trash can; someone else piled wood from one of the broken booths, and another person rolled up the destroyed banners and lights. “Oh, I don’t know, Melli. Look around. Seems your festival brought out some of the right people as well.” She turned back to Melli, smiling. “Sometimes people just need a little push to get them to do the right thing.”

She left Melli standing there as she made her way among the chaos toward her store, wanting to check it for damage. Her body felt weak and sore, her breathing shallow, but she was alive. As were the others in her coven. Even the Magicians had made it out alive. No one died tonight, and that was a win in her book.

She had made it halfway down the block, stepping around an overturned trash can with a scorch mark someone was already trying to explain away as fireworks, when a voice stopped her.

“Tansy.”

She turned to find Aileena Dupree picking her way through the wreckage behind her, robe traded for an ordinary coat now, though the smell of scorched ozone still clung to her the same as it clung to everyone else who had stood on that street an hour before. The High Priestess of the Coven Council looked, for the first time since Tansy had known her, worn down, the sharp authority she usually wore softened by whatever it cost a woman of her age to fight a god in the open air.

“Aileena.” Tansy glanced back toward her shop, then made herself stop and actually look at the other woman instead of past her. “I didn’t think to thank you back there. For showing up. For all of you showing up.”

“You didn’t need to thank me. You needed the help, and it was overdue in coming.” Aileena stopped a few feet off, hands folded in front of her, and for a moment neither of them said anything, the sounds of the cleanup going on around them, someone’s radio playing a song too cheerful for the state of the street. “We need to talk, Tansy. A genuine conversation, not a doorstep exchange. About your coven, about what happened here tonight, about what it means that six of you held a street against a goddess and her son while the rest of the covens stood arguing procedure in a clearing three miles away.” She shook her head, something that might have been shame crossing her face before she smoothed it back into the imposed mask Tansy was used to seeing on her. “You and your people need to be part of this council in a proper way, not the empty seat Maggie signed you up for out of spite. I intend to raise that case with the full council myself, and I suspect I won’t be the only one arguing it.”

Tansy felt the weight of the entire night pressing down harder now that the fighting was over, her shoulders aching in places she hadn’t noticed while the adrenaline still had her upright. “I appreciate that. I do. But Aileena, I’ve got a coven full of people who nearly died tonight, a shop I still need to check for damage, and maybe four hours of sleep in my immediate future if I’m lucky. I don’t have it in me to talk politics right now.”

“I know.” Something almost gentle crossed Aileena’s face, an expression Tansy wouldn’t have guessed the woman capable of a month before. “That’s not why I stopped you. I’m not here to have that conversation tonight. I’m here to tell you it’s coming, so you’re not blindsided by a summons in a few days’ time, and so you know I mean it as an invitation this time, not another trial.” She reached out, brief, and touched Tansy’s arm, the same gesture Tansy had offered to Sherri and to Selina and to a dozen frightened young witches over the years, and found strange, coming back at her now from someone she had spent months at odds with. “Go home. Check on your people. Sleep, if you can manage it. There will be time to talk this through the right way, once you’ve all had a chance to breathe. The council isn’t going anywhere, and neither, I think, are you.”

Tansy nodded, throat tighter than she expected it to be. “Thank you, Aileena.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until you’ve heard what I actually intend to ask of you.” The ghost of a smile crossed Aileena’s face, there and gone. “Go on. Your shop is waiting.”

Tansy watched her go, disappearing back into the wreckage and the milling crowd of volunteers and shaken festival-goers, and then turned herself, at last, toward the dark windows of the Murky Cauldron, wondering what exactly she had just agreed to sit still for.

There will be more Cauldron Coven Soon!