Page 28 of Black Willow Witch
But the High Priestess didn’t, her expression desperate. ‘An entire coven is looking to you to put this right.’
Emberlyn lifted the shoulder on which the crow didn’t sit. ‘Where’s the wrong? The manor was never intended for you.’
‘Without it, I have no grounds to contest the will.’
‘The land is rightfully Ripper’s, just as this manor is rightfully mine. You might as well accept it and alter your plans.’
‘Cancelthem, you mean. That’s what I’d have to do. I’d be letting down hundreds of witches, not to mention Carver. He’s angry right now, and he’s looking for someone to take it out on.’
There was a subtle threat there. So very, very subtle. But it put Ripper on edge.
Right. He was done hanging back. Emberlyn had had her say. Now he’d have his own. ‘Come on,’ he told Kerr.
As they made their approach, Emberlyn didn’t react; she kept her eyes on the other witch as she said, ‘Don’t think to direct his anger at me.Youmade him promises, not me. If you want to extend Bellcrest so badly, do it in another direction.’
‘I can’t,’ Reena bit off. ‘The rest of the council won’t agree to it. They don’t want trees and plant life taken down unless necessary, and the rest of the land is needed for farming.’
‘So talk to Ripper. Maybe he’d be willing to sell his portion to you.’
‘Sellit?’ Reena echoed, a hint of outrage in her voice. ‘I’d be expected to purchase it?’
‘He wouldn’t give it to you for free. I realize that, being High Priestess, you’re used to people making your life easier. But he’s an Alpha werewolf. He’s going to do what’s best for his clan, not you. That said, hemaysell you the land.’
‘He’d ask for some outrageous price, knowing I’d never be able to afford it.’
‘Ripper doesn’t strike me as a person who’d play that type of game.’
‘You’re right, I wouldn’t,’ Ripper confirmed, pushing through the yard’s gate.
Reena jerked in her seat and twisted to look at him.
‘I also won’t be parting with the land – not for any price,’ he told her. ‘So don’t bother appealing to me with stories of disappointed families. I’m on the council.’ As was Reena and the other two clan Alphas. ‘I know you have plenty of housing at Bellcrest. Some homes are empty. Others underoccupied. You don’t need to extend the neighborhood.’
Reena pressed her lips together. ‘Maybe the plight of witches won’t bother you, but what about Carver?’
Ripper ascended the porch steps. ‘What about him?’
‘Surely you care how his business fares. It will suffer if this project goes down the drain.’
‘His construction business is doing just fine.’ Which was a miracle, given his gambling habits. ‘He doesn’t need this project to keep it afloat.’
‘But—’
‘My answer is no. It will never be a different answer. Take Emberlyn’s advice and accept the situation.’
Reena looked from him to her. ‘You’re both being unreasonable. My coven—’
‘Is not my problem,’ Ripper insisted. ‘Nor is it Emberlyn’s problem. So don’t make a habit of turning up here appealing for her to change her mind. She gave you her answer – there’s no need to go over it again.’
Reena’s spine snapped straight. ‘You cannottellme not to come here. I am High Priestess, I govern Bellcrest.’
‘The manor isn’t part of Bellcrest, which you already know. Something you may not know is that Emberlyn and I are allies now – my clan has her back, and vice versa. So when I say that you’re not to keep coming here, I meanyou’re not to keep coming here. I won’t fucking overlook it.’
Her cheeks flushing, Reena balled up her hands.
‘There’s no point in pushing this,’ Emberlyn told her. ‘You’ve said your piece. We’ve said ours. Let’s leave it at that.’ She flicked her fingers toward Reena’s car, and the engine came to life.
Her face hard, the High Priestess jerkily pushed out of her chair. ‘Contact me if you change your mind.’ She marched down the steps, flinching as the crows noisily flew off – their bodies only inches from the top of her head.
