Page 67 of An Oath at Midnight

“You think he’s our killer?”

“After what I saw at the Hazarks’, your guess is as good as mine. Do I think he’s capable of doing some seriously fucked-up shit? Definitely. But torture and murder his friends to get his revenge on Willow? I don’t know. But I don’t trust him. He’s up to something.”

“Jenna said she was glad he came back to them, right? They haven’t been tight this whole time. He weaseled his way back in. Are you sure the closeness you saw between him and the others, and I’m not talking about the orgy, was real?”

I slumped back in my seat. “I don’t know.”

Asher eyed me over her mug. “Okay, feisty, what’s up with you? I mean, besides the whole hunting-a-psycho thing?” Her brow arched. “You’re acting all…I don’t know, emo.”

“I’m not.”

“Does it have anything to do with the fact that I’m here instead of your shadow man?” She made a show of looking over my shoulder to the vacant space behind me. “When Bram’s here, he’s hovering behind you like Lurch, only a hot, goth version. What did you do?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

She shrugged. “Honestly, neither do I. Just thought I should check, since that’s the kind of shit Iris makes me do now.” She stood, the chair scraping on the wooden floor, then winked. “But you’re all good, right? So let’s get the fuck on the road before you change your mind.”

I swiped my keys and phone from the table, and we headed out of the house. Asher strode right past my car, where I was opening the driver’s door, and over to her truck. “I don’t do passenger princess, princess.”

I snorted. “Maybe not, but you do an excellent impression of an asshole, asshole,” I said and walked to her truck instead of arguing. I didn’t have the energy after crying for hours and zero sleep.

“Aww, look at you, throwing attitude.” She grinned, flashing her sharp canines. “It’s cute the way you try so hard to be like me. Maybe someday, but you’ve still got a long way to go, pup.”

I opened the door. “We’re nothing alike.”

“Loves to fight, has an attitude, angry most of the time, will cut a bitch.” She ticked off each description on her fingers. “Sound familiar? We could’ve come from the same litter...except you’d be the runt.”

“And you’d be the cun—”

“Cunning one?” She smirked. “Why, yes, how insightful of you, Magnolia. Now get in and stop bitching.”

I flipped her off and got in.

She started the truck and turned to me. “So where to?”

“Council chambers.” I needed to talk to Councilor Trotman. He was a good male. He’d also taken our side and treated us fairly in the past. I needed to know if they were looking at anyone else for these murders, or if they were content to pin it on my sister.

Ash nodded as she scrolled through the music app on her phone. A moment later metal filled her truck. She cranked it up and roared along with the lyrics in a deep, demonic voice like the guy blasting through the speakers. Then she planted her foot on the gas, and we sped off.

I let the music crash through me, welcoming the chaotic beat because it made it impossible to think. I’d done enough of that last night, replaying what happened in that run-down building over and over again.

Several songs later, Asher sped into the council’s parking lot. We got out and strode up to the main doors.

I pulled my ID from my wallet, showing the guard. All witches had one. It allowed us access to the building, identifying us and the coven we were from. I signed Asher in as my guest, then we were scanned, the magical kind. It checked us for spells or incantations that a witch could use on themselves or others to cause harm. The guard gave us the all-clear and let us in.

Heads turned as we walked in. On my own, I wasn’t overly intimidating, though I often got second looks and wide berths. I guess when you exuded a whole lot of anger, people felt it. Add Asher into the mix, both of us dressed in black and more than likely wearing matching resting bitch faces, and we weren’t the most approachable-looking people in the building.

And yes, though I tried to deny it, she was right, we did have similarities, and right now, we were both putting out some serious stay-the-fuck-back vibes. Mine weren’t intentional, it was just how I was these days, and I assumed it was the same for Asher. She was an alpha female and a warrior, and no one could mistake her for anything else. Most people felt it and steered clear of her path.

A male strode around the corner almost crashing into us. He actually cried out in alarm as he threw himself back so fast that he almost fell on his ass, proving my point.

“Sorry,” I muttered, and we carried on down the hall.

“I think his balls just retreated back inside his abdomen,” Asher said.

They totally had.

She nudged me. “So, when are you coming out to train? You haven’t been to the keep in a while.”