Change by Keeley Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

she
continued to stare at the man, Tabitha’s inner hostess came to the
forefront and she led the way to the small table. She didn't have a
clue what the man had just said. What the hell was a
puggle?
    As she
followed them, Jack chose the perfect moment to come into the shop.
He’d not been down for at least half an hour, so she knew he was
due a visit. She registered the shock on his face at seeing a
stranger taking a seat at the table. Then she watched as a fierce
protectiveness wiped away any sort of smile that was forming on his
face. Oh lord, this could turn ugly, and she really didn’t want
that to happen. He marched over to her and placed his hand in hers.
She noted that he made sure he stood just a little in front of her,
blocking this stranger’s way. Just in case.
    Tabitha, now
assured she was protected, walked to the little room to get the man
a drink. She assumed that is what he meant by being
puggled.
    “ Why are you
here?” Jack asked.
    The man stared
at Jack, his beady eyes judging him. “A’m here tae talk wi’ Cora.
Who are yer?”
    “ I’m Jack
Whittle.”
    Alastair
nodded his head but didn’t respond. Judging from Alastair’s
reaction he knew who Jack was. She tried to fight off the nervous
butterflies as they thrashed around in her gut. Tabitha returned
and placed a cup of hot chocolate in front of him. He took several
sips, smacking his lips together and smiled.
    “ Cora, please
tek a seat,” Alastair offered, gesturing grandly with his
hand.
    “ I’d rather
stand.”
    “ Fine.” He
inclined his head.
    Cora caught a
glimpse of something simmer underneath the surface. She didn’t like
this man. She had the feeling, the one you get when you first meet
a person. He was holding onto his temper. Interesting. What had
made this man so mad?
    “ A’ve come tae
discuss business with yer. Since yer went and killed the Corenthio
Coven yer took away the law. Nou, seen as A’m the leader of the
next biggest coven, it’s doon tae me tae tell yer that yer required
tae come tae a meiting in Scotland tae decide yer fate-”
    “ Oh no! No
way! This is not happening again!” Jack braced himself ready to
attack the man.
    She saw the
movement from the corner of her eye, Tabitha had shifted slightly
also ready to intervene. Christ, she couldn't do this again. It was
too soon after the last attack.
    “ Nae, there is
tae be nae death. Cora must tek her place.”
    “ My place?”
she asked, looking at the man around Jack’s protective body. His
arm, which was held in front of her, restricted any
movement.
    “ Aye, yer
place as the leader.”
    “ I’m already
High Priestess of my coven.” There wasn’t any position higher up,
was there?
    “ Nae, the
leader of the law. You must lead all covens.”
    She gasped.
Was this man serious? She couldn’t lead. She hadn’t been able to
lead her own coven until Tabitha had all but forced her too. This
was ridiculous.
    “ What!”
Tabitha exclaimed, her body jerking as if she'd been
slapped.
    “ Yer lassie,
and nou doubt the laddie here, took the power away. It needs
replacin’. Nou, Cora must come tae Scotland and restore the
order.”
    “ You have to
be joking?” Jack exploded. “This has to be some sick
joke!”
    She remained
standing behind Jack, her mouth gaping open in shock. She had to be
the leader of everyone? She didn’t even know there were other
covens out there. Well, she knew, but she hadn’t thought about it
in detail. Why did she have to go to Scotland? It was at the other
end of the country. She could barely understand this man, so how
was she meant to understand anyone in Scotland? Wasn't her life
complicated enough right now, without adding this to it
too?
    “ I will do
it,” Jack insisted.
    Cora was
starting to lose the plot of the conversation. What had Jack just
offered to do?
    “ Nae, based on
the power an’ the order of things, Cora is the leader.”
    The room was
silent.
    What could
they say? This was all so unexpected,