Chapter 145: Chapter 145

61. The Witches RAIHANA. 3 My heart is hollow.

I never knew a person can feel so empty…

When a thousand emotions should be coursing through me, ripping into me like a plague, clawing away into me, I’m oddly… blank.

That is how I was feeling until last night when I realised that my family needs me.

It left me numb. I somehow manage to turn my emotions off, almost.

A part of me wonders if subconsciously I have cut my emotions off. A dangerous little trick that witches can do… because without our emotions… we are far more deadly…

But… my family needs me, my children need me, and I need vengeance.

For my man.

The last conversation I had with him before we parted ways that day replay in my wind.

(FLASHBACK)

“Hey, kiss me goodbye,” Chris smirks cockily as he pulls me back into his arms.

I roll my eyes, “I’ll be seeing you in half an hour. Wasn’t that kiss enough?” I ask airily, raising my eyebrow as I run my hand up his shoulders.

“That was a peck, but I admit even if it was a kiss that lasted a million lifetimes, it wouldn’t be enough,”

he replies. “Now princess, how about you give me a good one.”

I smile and yank him down, pressing my lips against his. My stomach does a flip just like it did that very first time and I can’t help but feel turned on when he squeezes my ass and presses me against himself.

‘I can’t wait until tonight.’ He growls through the link.

‘You have something planned, don’t you?’ I ask, trying to stifle my moan as his tongue ravishes my mouth.

‘You’ll have to wait until tonight to find out.’ 6 (END OF FLASHBACK)

That crushing feeling in my chest is there. I’m just hiding behind a wall.

I clutch my hand to my chest. “I’ll never know,” I whisper out loud. 2 Fresh tears fall and I close my eyes taking a deep breath. I didn’t sleep much, but it’s fine. The sun has begun to rise, and I have things to do.

Delsanra, Rayhan and I have been looking through some old books that once belonged to Endora, my evil grandmother, to see if we can find anything on Apophis. Whilst the others have been looking into everything linked with Bastet and Apophis.

I wash my face and run a comb through my hair.

He loved my hair open…

It was one of his favourite things about me.

The urge to cut it off crosses my mind, but I smile bitterly.

That would be foolish. It would only show my family that I’m being affected.

I am stronger than that…

Even if I’m breaking inside, I will fight, because that is what Chris would have wanted of me, and because I am a fighter, like my mother.

I look at my make-up bag that sits on the counter and hesitantly reach for my eyeliner. I need to show my babies we are going to be ok. Putting on a bit of eyeliner makes me look a bit more human.

Brushing my hair, I pull it back into a high bun before I leave the bathroom.

Heaven’s sitting on the bed staring out of the window, lost in thought. Her beautiful big eyes glazed.

She’s lost in thought.

“Hey princess,” I say, smiling at her.

For my kids.

She looks up suddenly, pulled from her reverie, and when her eyes meet mine, her gaze is emotionless as she stares at me, almost as if seeing right through me.

“Hello Mama,” she says, giving me a small smile.

I walk over to her and, sitting down, pull her into a tight hug. “How are you feeling, beautiful?” I whisper gently.

There’s a stretch of silence before she sits back slowly and nods.

“Good.”

I give her a gentle smile of understanding. No, she isn’t, but she’s trying.

“It will get easier, I promise,” I say, closing my eyes as emotions seem through the crack in the walls I have created.

“No, it doesn’t,” Heaven says quietly. Everyone still remembers Grandad.”

I tilt my head, my eyes glittering with emotions as I pull her into my arms again.

“They’ll be together… I’m sure. I’m sure your father will still watch down on you just as I know mine is watching over me.” I whisper. 6 She nods vigorously when suddenly I tense, feeling something penetrating the barriers around the pack.

“Wait here,” I say, my heart racing as I pull away and run to the door, almost knocking into Rayhan and Liam.

“Did you feel that?” Rayhan asks me.

I nod.

“Witches…” Liam murmurs as we hurry down the stairs.

Uncle Alejandro is already at the door with Leo and Dante by his side.

Dante turns, giving me a small smile as he steps back a little, allowing me to walk beside Uncle.

“Alpha King Alejandro, after everything that has happened, and the events that have taken place since Alpha Aleric’s imprisonment, we deem Alpha Aleric James Arden, as innocent. We also request that The Solaris King hands himself in and be ready to face trial or go into exile by leaving the United Kingdom.” Sephora says, her eyes lowering from Uncle Alejandro’s.

I scoff internally. She may be powerful, but she is not on par with Uncle.

“I’m not going to stand for the constant rubbish you’re fucking spewing.” Uncle growls.

I frown as I scan the group, my gaze finding Magdalene. There’s a deep frown on her face and there’s conflict in her eyes.

Something isn’t right…

‘Tell me, Magdalene, what is the meaning of this?” I ask sharply.

“I am talking High Witch Serafina!” Sephora says, her voice full of irritation.

I step forward, my eyes flashing. “And I don’t talk to dogs who bark so loud! You are not the head!” I snap. “High Witch Magdalene, as the head of the coven, please tell me what is going on? We are all aware of the manipulation of those whose hearts are full of darkness. Is everything not simply far too coincidental?” I say.

“And, how are you so blind to all the rather ideal coincidences? Apophis isn’t relying on Aleric alone.”

Liam adds.

“We must do as we must,” Magdalene says quietly. I’m about to say something when I pause, glancing at her.

She’s trying to tell me something without saying anything…

There’s something more…

“I want my mate that you are holding captive in your home,” Aleric says, making me glance at him as he smiles, his eyes on Alejandro.

“Over my dead fucking body.” Alejandro snarls. “We’ve seen what you’ve done to her, and it’s obvious you have a witch or two on your fucking side!”

“King Alejandro! How dare you!” Magdalene exclaims. “We have always helped the werewolves and now you think-”

“When we created that peace treaty… you learned that we weren’t monsters. We have proven ourselves, but right now you are throwing someone who needs help into the arms of her abuser!”

Rayhan’s cold voice comes from behind me. I can feel his anger, his rage, and his aura raging around me.

The witches tense, but in the end, it is Rayhan and Delsanra who initially built the bridge of peace between our kind.

“Rayhan is not wrong. Do not make the same mistakes that you made with Delsanra.” I say quietly.

Leo is silent, but I’m certain his mind is working.

“Alpha Rayhan did! Yes! You showed us that your kind doesn’t look down upon our kind, but now? Now the King is insulting us when our hands are tied!” Magdalene cries out, her aura surging. “We are doing what we must… to honour those innocent.” She gestures at Aleric In that moment I see her age showing through once re and… is that a cry for help?

Something isn’t right and the way she’ looking at me… almost as if she wants to say something. I am certain. 5 Why not try to reach me via ntment?

Unless… she can’t.

“My mate, if you please,” Aleric says again.

“Give him his mate, and we will leave.”

Sephora says icily. “You need to respect Hecate and her teachings, Serafina, or you do not deserve to be a high witch!”

I never liked this bitch.

“Oh, bitch, please, I can take you all with one eye closed. Do not mess with me, or I will show you the true extent of the powers I hold!” I snarl.

“Your disobedience and ignorance will be your end!” Sephora hisses.

I’m about to reply, but Leo beats me to it.

“For someone who lost their niece to one of these Serpents, and saw Skyla Rossi try to protect those girls, you aren’t really thinking with a clear mind. And an emotional person in power is extremely dangerous.” Leo says calmly, yet his voice is dangerously cold. 3 He’s right…

Just then, the door opens, and I sense Sky’s presence behind us.

My heart skips a beat. She shouldn’t be here!

She’s running down the steps, but something isn’t right. Dante is right inside, and Royce was with her… why have they let her out?

“Aleric!” she says, “Skyla!” Alejandro grabs her, but she struggles in his hold.

“Let me go!” she shouts, her aura surging around her… but… it’s not to its full extent. It was much stronger in the office when she tried to attack Uncle.

“Let the girl go or this means war!” Sephora says, and Aleric sighs.

“If only they understood that…” he says before he steps forward, his eyes blazing. Unhand my woman!

By the laws as old as time, no one can keep mates apart from each other, unless they themselves don’t wish to be together.”

I glance at Sky, ready to bind her, when Leo suddenly pulls her free from Uncle’s hold.

“Let her go.” He says quietly, blocking the Lycan King’s path. Somewhere I wouldn’t want to be, as uncle’s eyes burn red, Trust Now is not the time.”

“Leo, no!” Uncle growls.

Their eyes lock, and Uncle snarls, unleashing his aura before he turns to the witches.

“I swear on Selene, Hecate and any other fucking god up there that if anything happens to her. I will fucking unleash hell!” he thunders, his aura making most lower their head in submission. 8 The witches, of course, are immune to his alpha command, but they at least feel his aura and power.

I glance at Sky, who is huddled against Aleric. I’m about to look away hurt and disappointed, but I feel as if something is missing… 2 I know for a fact, no one would have let her go to him without a reason…

They would fight…

By any chance has she succeeded in breaking the hold?

Is this some plan I have no idea of? Is our Sky pretending?

“Leave, and I expect a call from my daughter every hour!” Uncle snarls.

“If she wishes, of course, otherwise I am willing to let you know how she is doing, Alpha King Alejandro,” Aleric says, smiling.

Uncle balls his fist but says nothing as the witches, Skyla, and Aleric leave.

I don’t want her going with them. I’m worried, but if no one argued, then… maybe there’s a reason.

Once they’re gone, we wait until the last hints of their presence are completely gone….

“Fuck!” Uncle snarls.

The mood is dark.

“We set the plan into motion,” Rayhan says coldly.

We turn to head back inside, everyone ready to get the ball rolling.

I’m about to step inside when I freeze and stare over my shoulder.

They didn’t enter by penetrating or breaching mine and Del’s barriers… or we would have felt it…

which means…

“They are working with or are under Apophis’s control.”

My head snaps back as I stare at Leo, who has just voiced my thoughts.

Now the question that remains in my mind is … why?

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll take care of the witches,” I say, my eyes burning with rage.

“We will,” Delsanra says as she takes my hand giving it a comforting squeeze…