Chapter 8: The Ashen Witch
1076 Words
The following morning, Isabel woke to an unfamiliar feeling. Something was wrong. She couldn't explain it.
The palace seemed quieter than usual, but there was something else beneath the silence, a pressure she couldn't see. She dressed quickly and left her room.
Kai was already waiting outside. “You're up early.”
“I couldn't sleep. she confessed
“Neither could half the palace.” he stated
She glanced at him.“Why?”
Before he could answer, a palace attendant approached.
“Lady Isabel." She bowed.
“The Council has summoned you.”
Isabel frowned. “Me?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Kai immediately stepped forward. “Why?"
The attendant lowered her gaze. “I wasn't told.”
Isabel looked at Kai. “Let's go.”
---
The Council Chamber was different from the previous day. The Pack Alphas were seated around the table, but three unfamiliar women sat among them.
Isabel immediately noticed them.The first wore deep red, her dark hair was pulled into an elegant braid, and her expression was calm enough to be unsettling.
The second wore white and silver. A crescent-shaped symbol rested against her forehead.
The third wore dark green. Several ancient-looking rings covered her fingers.
Kai leaned closer. “Don't speak unless they address you.”
Isabel glanced at him. “That makes me nervous."
“It should.”
At the head of the table, Derek rose. “Lady Isabel.”
She stepped forward and propped her head with confidence. “You summoned me”
“Yes.” His eyes moved briefly toward the three women.
“There are matters concerning the attack on Red Moon that require your presence.”
Isabel's brows drew together. “What do I have to do with the attack?
No one answered immediately. Then the woman dressed in red spoke. “Perhaps more than you realize.”
Her voice was smooth. Isabel looked at her.
“And you are?" Isabel asked narrowing her eyes
The woman smiled faintly. “Seraphina.”
She didn't offer a title, she didn't need to.The room already knew who she was.
“Lady Seraphina,” Derek corrected.
“The leader of the Ashen Coven.”Alpha Jedrek added.
Isabel's gaze shifted toward the other two women
“And them?”
The woman in white inclined her head. “Elyra. High Priestess of the Moon Coven.”
The final woman spoke without given much introduction “Morwen, Thorn Coven.”
Isabel nodded politely. “I've heard of the covens.”
Seraphina's eyes remained on her. “Have you?”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps you've heard that witches rarely involve themselves in werewolf affairs.”
Isabel glanced around the room. “Apparently that's changed.”
A faint smile touched Seraphina's lips. “Perhaps.”
Derek cleared his throat. “Lady Isabel, yesterday's attack revealed something concerning.”
He gestured toward a small black object resting on the table.
Isabel recognized it immediately it looked like the material her pendant was made of. It was the same object Lucas had found.
Her eyes narrowed. “What is that?”
Morwen leaned forward. “An ancient rune.”
“From where?” Isabel asked
“From magic.”
Isabel frowned. “That doesn't answer my question.”
Morwen studied her. “No.”
She paused. “It doesn't.”
Seraphina reached for the object. “The symbol belongs to a form of magic that hasn't been used openly in centuries.”
Elyra's expression hardened. “Forbidden magic.”
The room became silent. Isabel looked from one witch to another.
“What does it mean?” she asked confused
Seraphina's fingers closed around the object. “That is what we intend to discover.”
A voice came from the doorway. “You'll discover nothing without me.”
Everyone turned and stood up Lucas entered the chamber. The room immediately fell silent. His gaze moved across the table before settling on Seraphina.
“Lady Seraphina."He called
She inclined her head. “Your Majesty.”
Lucas walked to his seat. “Why is she here?”
Seraphina smiled. “You mean Lady Isabel?”
“I know who she is." His tone was flat.
“I asked why she's here.”
Derek answered. “She was summoned because the Council believes the attack may be connected to—”
“I didn't ask the Council.”
Derek fell silent, lucas looked directly at Isabel.
“You should return to your quarters.” he ordered
Isabel stared at him. “Again?”
His expression didn't change. “Yes.”
“You summoned me." she argued
“I didn't.”.He stated bluntly
“The Council did.”
“Then the Council made a mistake.” Isabel folded her arms.
“I'm beginning to think everyone in this palace enjoys ordering me around.” she complained
Kael, standing near the doors, lowered his head to hide a smile. Lucas noticed.
His eyes shifted toward him, Kael immediately straightened. The King returned his attention to Isabel.
“Leave.”.he ordered drly
She held his gaze. For several seconds, neither moved. Then Isabel turned.
“Fine.” She walked toward the doors.
But as she passed Seraphina, the witch suddenly reached out and caught her wrist.
Isabel stopped. Seraphina stared at the crescent pendant around her neck. Her expression changed, only for a moment.But Isabel noticed.
“So...” Seraphina whispered.
Isabel pulled her hand away. “What?”
Seraphina's face became unreadable again.
“Nothing, my apologies ”
Lucas had seen it, hiis eyes narrowed.
“Seraphina.” he called
The witch looked toward him. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“What did you see?” he asked
Seraphina smiled. “Nothing worth discussing.”
Lucas's voice hardened. “I'll decide what is worth discussing.”
The room fell silent. Seraphina released a quiet breath. “Of course.”
Isabel looked down at her pendant, she wondered whether her mother had known more than she'd told her. Across the room, Seraphina watched her leave. The moment the doors closed behind Isabel, the witch's expression disappeared.
Lucas noticed. “What aren't you telling me?”
Seraphina met his gaze. “Nothing of any importance your Majesty ”
Lucas leaned back. “You're lying.”
The smile vanished completely from Seraphina's face.
“No, Your Majesty." She looked toward the closed doors.
“I'm remembering.”
And somewhere deep beneath Blackthorne, ancient magic stirred once again
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