Invoked Read online

  ‘But that’s ridiculous!’ Nea turned to him. ‘Tell her it’s rubbish.’

  Earl swallowed and shook his head. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘What?’ Nea said, her voice low.

  ‘I used the blood magic to bring myself back. The blood from Pris called to me. I was desperate and I feel my reasons were just, but in the black-and-white world out there, I’m evil.’

  ‘No,’she said. With her jaw dropping open, she gaped at him and said again, ‘No!’

  ‘Earl has to leave the house. Now.’ Hilda’s tone brooked no argument.

  Nea’s gaze shifted between them. ‘We’ve only just found each other.’ She clutched his hand and held it to her chest. ‘This can’t be happening.’

  Hilda bit her lip, tears glistening in her brown eyes. ‘I know this is hard.’

  ‘But he’s nowhere to go.’ A sob burst out of Nea and tears streaked her cheeks. Earl’s heart was torn to shreds at seeing it. The warmth of her spirit had moved him and the warmth of her body had bathed him in love. He was more connected to her than he had been with anyone in his life. Her anguish now was palpable. The future looked dismal indeed.

  Hilda closed her eyes and then opened them again. ‘I will keep him safe with me.’

  Nea’s blue eyes flashed. ‘And then what? What’s going on?’

  Hilda brushed her gaze against Earl’s form. ‘Gregor has had his report. He had an inkling who Earl might be from clues you gave him, Nea. Now he’s conscious and has been updated on events, he’s kicking up a storm.’

  Nea chewed her bottom lip. ‘He knows about Pris then?’

  Hilda nodded.

  ‘So if Earl goes with you, can I see him?’

  ‘Don’t make things difficult, Nea. The risk for you is being near him. You will share his taint. You could be separated from the coven forever, from Gregor forever.’

  Nea’s hands twisted in the sheets. ‘What? Gregor would cast me out, refuse to see me?’

  ‘Not willingly, but I think he would if it came to it. He cannot bend the rules for his family and keep his place in the coven.’

  Nea threw her head back and screamed at the ceiling, one loud cry. Earl wanted to offer comfort but knew it was pointless. Nea lowered her head and glared at Hilda, a furious calm descending over her. ‘You’re saying I must choose between Earl and Gregor?’

  ‘I …’ Hilda shrugged. ‘I hope it will not come to that.’

  ‘But I must see Earl. Please.’

  ‘Not right away. Gregor has called a gathering of the coven here. It will be next week. Earl will have to appear before them if he wants a judgement.’

  ‘I am willing to be judged.’ Earl squeezed Nea’s hand.

  ‘But a week is so long.’ Nea’s brow furrowed and her normally bright irises seemed to darken. ‘Does this mean it’s a trial or something?’

  Hilda nodded. ‘It’s an investigation. Sometimes it is painful. It takes time for folk to gather together, for evidence and witnesses to be assembled. Don’t worry—I will look after him.’

  Nea nearly tore the sheet in her hand. ‘Does Gregor know you’ll be doing that?’

  Hilda’s eyes widened. ‘Of course not. Do you think I’m a fool?’ She picked up some of Jake’s clothes that were on the floor and tossed them at Earl. ‘Put these on. I’ve got a little cottage outside of town,’ she said, directing her words to Nea. ‘I used to have a tenant in there. Earl will be safe and hidden. Gregor doesn’t know I have it. Not his business really. I’ll get Earl some more clothes from the shops after I install him at the cottage.’ She stood up straight as if seeing them for the first time. ‘Although it doesn’t look like he’s needed them here—’ She smiled knowingly. ‘—he will need them at my place.’

  Earl made to get out of bed.

  ‘I don’t want you to go,’ Nea said, grabbing his hand. ‘I’ll come with you.’

  ‘Nea …’

  ‘Please,’ she said. ‘Don’t leave me behind.’

  He brushed her tousled hair back from her wideset eyes. ‘It will be all right. Trust me and let the coven judge me. If I’m found to be safe … untainted then we can be together, free and clear.’

  ‘I … I don’t trust Gregor to be fair.’

  A scoff from behind her. ‘Gregor doesn’t get to make the decision alone, Nea. Earl’s judgement will be fair. But if you do the wrong thing now it could go bad for you too. Earl needs to keep out of Gregor’s way until the gathering convenes. There’s no telling what that pig-headed mule will do.’ Hilda cast a look at Earl. ‘It seems you’re more of a problem in the flesh than you were as a phantom, and he has figured out who you really are. Not that I know who you are—before my time and all that, aye. But now the stupid doctor has gone and told him he can come home as long as he takes it easy, there’s no stopping him.’

  ‘I will visit him, explain how it is,’ Nea said, making to get out of bed.

  Hilda shook her head. ‘No you won’t. It’s too late anyhow. He’s likely already on his way. Don’t make things tougher than they are. If you do that, then Gregor will come home and he’ll discover that I’ve sheltered Earl. Then we’ll all be in a pickle.’

  ‘I wouldn’t tell him.’

  ‘Yes, but Gregor knows you and knows me and even though being a reader isn’t his major talent, I bet he could weasel Earl’s whereabouts out of you before you blinked.’

  Nea stilled and thought it through. ‘You’d risk your relationship with Gregor for us?’

  Hilda shrugged. ‘I hope I’m not risking anything. I am my own woman, after all, and he knows that and so far has respected it. Yet, I want to keep the odds in my favour. What a man doesn’t know and all that. It’s not that I’ll keep it from him but I’ll let him know in my own way and my own time. You see, I’m helping Earl, but I’m also ensuring that he sticks around for the judgement. No one will have to go on the hunt for him.’

  ‘I already said I wanted to be judged,’ Earl said rather hotly.

  Nea looked between them. ‘She’s not criticising you. She’s strategising so she can deal with Gregor and come out unscathed. But I still …’

  Earl squeezed Nea’s hand. ‘It will be all right, Nea. We can hail each other.’

  They looked at Hilda. ‘Best not,’ she said. ‘Gregor is a smart one and I don’t want him to know. Not yet. Not until the issue of you is dealt with.’

  Nea opened her mouth to argue but Hilda put up her hand. ‘Don’t. I’ve had enough of your grandfather and I don’t need the same from you. Royston’s stubborn to the bone marrow. Why, he had the nerve to order me to stay in bed. I’m quite all right. Nothing a few good dosings won’t fix.’ She turned to leave the room. ‘Get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.’

  As she turned to leave, she wavered and grabbed the doorjamb for support, belying her pronouncement that she was doing all right. ‘Mmm … maybe you should be quick about that. We need to be well gone before Gregor gets here and I need to lie down.’ She put a hand to her head. ‘Soon, in fact.’

  Chapter Eleven

  Nea was up and dressed by the time the car arrived with Gregor. Humphrey drove. He nodded to her as he got out and then opened the passenger door.

  Gregor heaved himself out and then wavered as he stood. For support, he held onto the roof of the car and the door. Humphrey stayed out of his way. A cloud of gloom hung over Gregor’s head.

  Nea stood at the top of the stairs. Like that, was it? Black mood, Gregor. Nea backed down the hallway, not being able to look as her stubborn grandfather made his way up the stairs without assistance.

  It wasn’t his anger so much as the sight of him brought so low. He’d been attacked in his own house. He was the head of the coven, supposedly the strongest of them all, the protector and defender. He was shamed, and that made him furious with himself and the world in general.

  It seemed to take an age before Gregor loomed in the doorway. He stood there, his head bandaged, bruising around his eye. He beckoned to her and she surged forward
to wrap her arms around his girth. Out of nowhere tears came and she sobbed while he held her. Then he patted her on the shoulder when her tears slowed. She loved Gregor more than life itself and she could no more hurt him than cut out her own heart. But then she thought of Earl and how much she loved him, needed him, and how connected in spirit they were. She swallowed a lump just thinking about having to choose between the two men.

  ‘Help me to sit down, will you?’ And putting his weight on her shoulders, he ambled over to his chair and plonked himself down. He sighed and then adjusted himself, leaning against the head rest. ‘It’s good to see you, Nea.’ He patted her hand, signalling that he didn’t need her assistance anymore. Yet she knew he wasn’t done.

  ‘A cuppa then?’ she asked, a small smile playing around her mouth.

  ‘Oh yes please. I’ve put the kettle on.’ Gregor gave her an answering smile and then winced, revealing that he really was not as hale as he was trying to make out. It wouldn’t surprise Nea if he hadn’t related all his symptoms and injuries to the doctors.

  As Nea walked into the kitchen, she heard the kettle boiling away. Gregor using his talent for mundane things again. She didn’t think she’d get used to it, but it was his house. She grabbed a tissue to blow her nose and then washed her hands before making the tea. As she went through the process of setting the cups, something she’d done hundreds, maybe thousands of times before, she knew things were different. He was home but things weren’t going to get back to normal. They’d passed through a crisis and nothing would be the same. They both knew it, but accepting it was going to take some working out.

  For her, things had changed irrevocably. Part of her rebelled at the thought. She didn’t want their life to alter. She didn’t want to leave Gregor or modify their domestic situation. Yet she knew things were already different. Gregor had a relationship with Hilda, although he’d said nothing about it. It was there. She’d heard them making love, knew him to be lonely, knew beyond doubt that Hilda loved him. Hilda was no pushover, thank the Goddess, so the next little while was going to be interesting.

  Nea suspected there would be a relationship, a permanent one. That did not necessarily mean that she could not be part of that. Her love for Gregor and his for her would not falter—change and adapt, maybe. But what if she went against Gregor’s wishes? What if she left with Earl? What if they ran away before the judgement? Her hands shook with the thought. Her heart beat so hard she thought it would choke her and a knot of fear twisted in her gut. Not only would they be pursued and dealt with like blood magic fiends, but Gregor would have to disown her. What if they didn’t run away but Earl was judged to be a dark one and either killed or annulled and banished? Next week. Just so soon as next week with her constrained from contacting him directly.

  Earl was in her life. She wanted him there, but there were hurdles. Gregor had to approve, and there was a history there. Earl was so caught up in guilt that he needed a judgement to move forward. Could she bear that? Could she bear to know what he had done? Could she bear to know the details of how he came to be a not-dead spirit at the hands of Pris, the dark witch of the north? And his rebirth? Even she knew it involved blood magic. He’d taken back what was his, but was that morally right? Would that act forever taint him?

  Dark thoughts flew at her, increasing her uncertainty about the future, about her life. What about Drew? Where had he gone? Was he part of this new movement that worked to extend the practice of the dark arts, to make folks stand out from humans? It seemed likely. Would they be called on to become battle mages?

  As she poured the water she let out a sigh. That was too much speculation. She needed to bring herself back to now, to what was in front of her, to what was within her control, her span of influence, reminding herself that her love for Earl was real, ripened from a deep spiritual connection and helped along by a very large dose of sex.

  Assembling the tea things on the tray, she searched for some biscuits to put on the plate. Gregor would notice the lack of them. He needed routine and the taste of home to settle his mind, to soothe his hurt. He and Hilda had been attacked here. His wards had been breached, his power mocked. There was a lot he had to deal with and she wanted to ease his way as best she could. She had to admit she wanted to deflect any potential anger against Earl too. So she would keep hold of her tongue. For now, at least.

  As she glanced at the assembled tea things, she realised she’d used Bess’s tea service. She blinked in surprise. The teapot was delicate in her hands as she poured and then passed over some honey biscuits that Hilda had made.

  Gregor noticed. His hand stilled as he took the cup, and he sent her a questioning look.

  Nea shrugged. ‘I don’t know why I used it.’

  Gregor harrumphed. ‘Don’t worry about it. Appropriate. It’s like it invokes her presence and that always soothes me. Ah Bess … I came close to joining her. Did you know that?’

  Nea swallowed and wiped at a tear borne from the twist of emotion in his words, that premonition of loss. ‘No. I didn’t.’

  As she watched his face, she saw the sag in his cheek and the twinkle disappear from his eyes. ‘I have failed you all,’ Gregor said in a voice that had hit emotional rock bottom.

  Nea sucked in a gentle breath, trying to think of a way to comfort him. ‘Drew is very powerful, Grandpa. He killed the dark witch and stole power from another warlock. He’s obviously been hiding his talent and strength. He took you by surprise is all.’

  He lowered his gaze to the cup. ‘I’m less than I was, Nea. Bess died and I was made less. I’m old, too, and that makes me less. I failed to protect my own and that unravels me.’

  ‘No, don’t think that. You’re what you were. Your power is undiminished. It’s just that Drew had more and he stole what he got. He used dark magic.’

  ‘That may be so, but I see my days are numbered.’

  She moved to sit on the floor by his knee. ‘Oh Grandpa. Don’t say that. You are our leader.’

  His shoulder’s squared and he straightened his posture. ‘Yes, I’m your leader.’ He looked down at her, and she saw the shift in him as his gaze intensified. ‘I want you to stay away from Earl Pressonville.’

  She jerked. The bastard had played her, she was sure. ‘But Grandpa …’

  ‘If you love and respect me you’ll do as I say.’

  Definitely, he was using the emotional bludgeon. Nea knew it but couldn’t budge from under it. With tears in her eyes, she nodded. Until Gregor had his gathering and performed the judgement she’d abide by his wishes. No sneaking out and visiting Earl. She’d have to communicate the old-fashioned way, slyly, with messages through a third party—Hilda.

  ***

  A week later and Gregor summoned her to the gathering. While looking in the mirror, Nea tidied her hair, stalling so her confused feelings would settle and so that she could face her grandfather calmly. Inwardly, she was happy that he was whole, that the attack had not injured him permanently, but the tremor of passion she could feel in the air told her that he remained angry. For Gregor to still be simmering at this time was not a good sign. It was time to face it.

  Nea turned to the door of her room and hesitated. Earl had told her he’d had a past and she’d accepted that. Knew that he had suffered the unbearable and come out whole. She had to admire him for that, for the strength of spirit that had turned sorrow into hope and error into truth. She knew he’d been wild in his earlier days and had repented, had those rough edges worn away.

  Sighing long, she grabbed the door handle and headed down the stairs. It was all right for Nea. She hadn’t known Earl then, nearly thirty odd years ago now. But Gregor had. Gregor remembered what had happened, and forgiveness was not his strong point.

  Her heart skipped a beat as her foot hit the ground floor. She hadn’t seen Earl since Hilda had taken him to stay in her little cottage on the edge of town. Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her lurching heartbeat. Excitement at seeing Earl had to be controlled. All wou
ld be watching them.

  Despite her earlier bravado, Hilda had kept quiet about harbouring Earl so as to not anger Gregor. He was the leader of the coven and she was in love with him. Sheltering Earl secretly was all she was prepared to do and she would risk nothing more. She would not advocate for him.

  Nea had witnessed the first meeting between Hilda and her grandfather after Gregor had returned home from the hospital. Their relationship had been strained and the good will between them was tenuous. Mostly it was Gregor being so wounded for not protecting Hilda and Nea. He couldn’t forgive himself. He was gruff when speaking to Hilda, which Nea suspected was to keep the other woman at a distance. Hilda had given her a dark look and a slight shake of the head.

  Nea couldn’t help reading her. The older witch was hurting, yet there was nothing either of them could do to shift Gregor’s view. He had to come to accept the situation himself. However, if Gregor found out that Hilda had sheltered Earl, it would make matters worse. If he knew Hilda had helped them communicate, it would be worse still.

  Another hail came from Gregor, one with a hint of impatience. Nea glanced at her reflection in the hall mirror and grimaced. Time to face it. Tears stung her eyes then when she thought that this might be the last time she would see Earl. Her grandfather was likely to send her away when they did the judgement. Not only because of Earl but because of the harm that was nearly done to her and what had been done to them all. He’d want to protect her whether she wanted that protection or not. Her stomach flip-flopped. She feared she would have to choose between the men she loved and feared she could not.

  Worst of all, Drew had definitely escaped. No one in the coven had found a trace of him, and they’d been looking hard. Somehow he’d lived through Earl’s deathblow. He’d climbed to his feet, shaken off the hex and walked away in the bare seconds it took Humphrey, Siv and the other councillors to arrive. The coven was all abuzz about it. Reports had been sent to Sydney and other covens in Queensland and overseas. Yet no reports of Drew had surfaced. That worried everyone. She didn’t need to be a reader to know that. She could almost taste the fear.