Devious Magic (34 page)

“We have to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s one of our own.” Anders’ voice was firm. “Plus, we can show him a different life as a witch, a more natural life. It will be part of his rehabilitation.”

“Before you put him back into the wild?”

“Yep.” Anders and I shared a smile before he added, “And his intel, whatever he is, will mean a lot.”
Ah, witches. Always an ulterior motive and may I never forget it.

“The Council will be interested to hear,” mused Étoile. “If Morgan survived this, we need to know where to find him, not just the identities of the members of this organisation. Someone has protected them from prosecution all these years. We need to know who. If things change with the Council soon, we’ll be better prepared.”

“You really think he survived?” I couldn’t bring myself to mutter Morgan’s name. Calling him uncle was even more unlikely. I was having a hard time accepting that we were related, that he was my mother’s brother. For years, I wondered about my parents, finally laying them to rest a year ago. After that, I found out a little about my father’s family and nothing about my mother’s until these past few days. I should have prepared myself for the worst, but I didn’t think anything could be as bad as the truth I now knew.

Gage took a long sniff of the air. “He isn’t among the bodies.”

“Maybe he’s still inside the house?” I was glad Daniel couldn’t hear the almost hopeful note in my voice. Perhaps I was a cruel person to wish someone dead, especially when his son would have to bear the memory and the loss harder than I, but I couldn’t help it. Having Morgan gone would be a huge relief.

“I don’t think so,” said Annalise. “But there are other bodies in there. That man who hurt us, the one missing teeth, he’s one of the dead but they haven’t found him yet.”

“May he rot in hell,” added Beau.

I didn’t say anything to that. To confess relief would feel wrong, but I felt it, felt glad even that the world was rid such an awful excuse for a human being.

“Even if Morgan were dead, the Brotherhood is a large organisation. There will be someone to take his place.” Evan was solemn. He hadn’t spoken to me much last night about everything that happened and I sensed he was worried more than angry. I put everyone in danger by coming here. Was it worth it to ensure Annalise’s life? Did the one matter more than the many? In this moment, for me, it did. Still, it was too late for regrets now. Perhaps some things were best left unspoken. I slipped my hand into Evan’s, holding my breath as his fingers closed over mine. He looked down at me and smiled slightly as I leaned into him.

It was over.

We might not have won the war yet, but we’d won a battle. For now.

“I’ll go check on Daniel. Make sure he’s okay,” offered Étoile, striding off after him. “Meet you back at the car.”

“You’re all welcome to stay,” Anders said, but he was looking at me. Offering me the chance to come home. One glance told me everything he wanted me to know: that I could return home to my country, the one I’d fled, and start again. If he’d asked me on one of summer’s blazing hot days, instead of on this windswept hill overlooking the place I’d been held captive, and a party to destroying, I might have been more open to the idea.

“Thanks for the offer,” I said, because I was polite, at least. “I appreciate it.”

“No problem. You’re welcome any time.” Anders moved off to talk to Gage, Annalise and Beau but I saw Gage glancing at me and knew he heard Anders’ offer and hoped I wasn’t going to take it. But it wasn’t his choice to make, even if he wished it were.

I turned away as Evan gave my hand a little tug and we walked off, just far enough to talk without being overheard. I was looking forward to some real alone time with him, and some time to heal too, but waiting at home was Kitty, probably worried out of her mind. Étoile would be coming home with us too. Perhaps some time at Evan’s home might be the cure. I was pretty sure I could put up with Micah for a couple of weeks, if I tried.

“Do you want to stay, Stella?” Evan’s voice, for once, was unsure. Looking up at him, I wondered how much it cost him to say that. He made a lot of sacrifices for me, living where I wanted, managing his business from afar. Now he was giving me the option to stay in my home country. I couldn’t help wonder what it would mean for him, for us, if I chose to stay. He pressed on, “This is your home, your country.”

“No,” I said, with absolute certainty. Slipping my hand from his, I moved in closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. After a moment, Evan’s arm slid around me, hugging me into his warm body as I thought about how my life had changed. I had a home to call my own, a boyfriend I loved and cherished who made me happy, friends I cared about, a job I enjoyed. My life shone with potential. I had none of those things in my own country, the soil on which I now stood. I didn’t want to lose any of it. One day, I would come back, but it wouldn’t be today and it wouldn’t be forever. Though I was open to visiting, now I knew I had someone to come back for and maybe even friends to see.

The wind rose around us, sending leaves scattering into the air in a colourful dance and I watched them for a moment before I spoke again. “No, I want to go home.”

Stella Mayweather book 4 will be available in 2012.

About the author

Author and journalist Camilla Chafer has written for newspapers, magazines and websites throughout the world. She is also the author/ editor of several non-fiction books and lives in London, UK.

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Devious Magic

Copyright: Camilla Chafer

Published: 21 December 2011

ISBN: 978-0-9569086-2-9
Publisher: Audacious
British English version.

The right of Camilla Chafer to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.