Page 84 of The Lost Child

I shivered at the mention of the horrid continent that had nearly exterminated my coven. “They won’t leave. The male has smelled it, but doesn’t realize what it means yet. They will soon discover the female is pregnant. They won’t be going anywhere.”

Wetness shimmered in Meruse’s eyes. Was she going to cry?

I looked away, allowing her a moment. It was special that the first draken baby conceived in centuries was going to be born here. It was extremely special. Especially as Meruse had been forced to watch her friends burn on Lyoness.

Meruse’s hands clenched into fists, a look of savage determination on her face. I practically oozed with satisfaction. I had her.

“Fine. Do it. I won’t watch my friends die again. No one gets in and no one goes out.”

I gestured with my palm. “Finish the sigil, then.”

Meruse stepped forward and gracefully connected the last sigil for sacrifice. No one in and no one out. The drakens didn’t know it yet, but this particular ward would seal the island against everyone, including the sea witches.

No one would be able to find us.

No one would know we existed.

We’d be safe.

Forever.

“There. I will take my sisters and leave. We will continue to search for drakens.” Meruse stepped back, her eyes the color of the sea.

I nodded in acknowledgement. “If you find any, help them rebuild Lyoness. When this colony is thriving and the world is a bit safer, we can always break them.”

Meruse laughed, a harsh, guttural sound that sent a chill up my spine.

“This is goodbye then, blood witch.”

I watched as she walked out into the ocean, eventually disappearing under the waves. Wearily, I turned my head back toward the island.

Tomorrow it would be done and my coven would be safe along with this fledgling draken colony.