“You can’t use magic in the open,” Johnny said quickly. “The non-shifter population grows every year. People love coming up here to retire.”
“What do you think I’m trying to do, start another witch hunt?” Edwina snapped. “No, we want power. Our coven used to be over fifty witches strong. I’m determined to see it returned to such glory.”
“I can’t make that happen,” Johnny said.
“No, but she can. Ladies.”
Susanna and Hattie flickered out of existence, reappearing beside Johnny in the blink of an eye.
Before Holly could fully grasp what just happened, each of them held a bejeweled silver dagger to Johnny’s throat.
“What the fuck?” he exclaimed.
“What are you doing?” Holly cried.
“Insurance.” Edwina grinned. “I wish to speak to the Maiden.”
“I’m already here.”
“No, you’re a mere vessel. Expendable and weak. I want to speak to her.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” Panic clamped around Holly’s throat. “Tell me what you want, and I will act as a messenger.”
“That’s not good enough. The Maiden stopped speaking to the witch covens long ago when she capped our power.”
“Capped? I don’t understand.”
Edwina narrowed her eyes at Johnny. “So slow and stupid, this one. How can you stand it?”
“I will nail you to a stake and light it on fire myself, Edwina,” Johnny spat.
Edwina tipped her head back and laughed. “Temper, temper.” She turned her golden gaze back to Holly. “Fine. I’ll speak with you, for now. However, you will be held accountable for any bargain you strike with me.”
“You didn’t have to do this.” Holly gestured to Johnny. “I would’ve talked to you if you asked.”
“When dealing with the ancient ones like the Maiden, I prefer to have the upper hand,” Edwina hissed. “Promise us access to more power, and I will set your pet bear free.”
“A token of goodwill, too!” Hattie chimed in. “In case you die, we still want something.”
“Why do you need more power to expand the coven?” Holly asked.
“It’s not as if we can advertise in the local paper,” Susanna scoffed. “We call to the souls of other witches through magic. This coven hasn’t been able to do that since before we were born.”
“I told you that creating the veil killed many in our coven,” Edwina said. “On whose orders do you think that veil was constructed?”
“The Maiden.” Holly sighed. “I understand now.”
“She decimated our numbers and prevented us from replenishing. That stops now.”
“If she limited your access to power, it must be for the sake of keeping the balance,” Holly said. “Why should I take that risk?”
“Seriously?” Edwina looked to her coven sisters and nodded.
Each pressed the tips of their daggers into Johnny’s neck, puncturing the skin. Johnny hissed as the silver bit into him.
“Stop!” Holly cried. “All right! I’ll lift the cap on your power once the dark shifters are dealt with, but only enough so that you may rebuild your coven.”
Edwina nodded to the others, who retracted their blades.
Thin rivers of blood trickled down Johnny’s neck.
“Shake on it.” Edwina draped her hand over the couch.
Holly walked over to her and took her hand. Her skin was as cold as ice.
“Release the bear.”
Hattie and Susanna released their grips on Johnny.
Holly ran to him at once. She lifted his chin and examined the wounds on his neck.
“They’re shallow,” Johnny assured her. “Don’t fret.”
“I’m so sorry,” Holly whispered to him before turning to face the witches. “We’re done here.”
“Not quite,” Edwina trilled. “There was some mention of a goodwill token.”
“Fuck,” Holly muttered. She forgot to set terms for that. Hopefully, they wouldn’t want a gallon of blood or an eyeball. “What do you want?”
“Hattie?” Edwina looked to her coven sister. “You’re the one who brought it up. Is there something you want?”
“Yes!” Hattie’s eyes lit up as she darted into another room. She returned with two gigantic, murky white crystals.
“I forgot all about those!” Susanna gasped. “Good call.”
“What are those?” Holly asked, fearing the answer.
“Crystals, of course,” Hattie explained. “We use them to hold special energies. We need your help replenishing their stores.”
Holly furrowed her brow, confused. “Um, okay. Do I just take them outside or…?”
All three witches burst out laughing.
“Oh no,” Hattie said. “These are special crystals. They absorb a particular kind of energy.”
“Out with it, Hattie,” Johnny snapped.
“Lust.” She grinned. “They harness lust. We need you two to fill them up.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN—Holly
“Well, I can honestly say I didn’t see this coming,” Johnny said.
After the witches made their unusual request, Holly and Johnny were led to another room in their cave system. They now sat on a plush bed covered in velvet, surrounded by at least a dozen crystals.
“I’m not sure how to feel about all this,” Holly admitted. “I guess I’m grateful they didn’t ask for a finger.”
“Giving them a finger would’ve been less awkward,” Johnny replied. “At least they didn’t ask to watch.”
“I would’ve died of embarrassment right then and there.” Holly forced a laugh.
“I still might.” Johnny chuckled. “Though, I think Susanna is more likely to kill me herself.”
“Did you piss her off at some point?”
“We went on one date.” Johnny sighed. “I wasn’t feeling it, so I never asked her out again. She never forgave me for it.”
Holly stared at him, slack jawed. “You went out with a witch?”
“One date!” he repeated. “And you’re sleeping with four bear shifters, so you can’t judge me.”
“Three,” Holly corrected.
Johnny’s brows shot up. “Who?”
“Are you sure you want to know this?” Holly asked.
“There’s no point in pretending it’s not happening. You have a clear-cut job to do, and no one should hold anything against you for doing it. I,
