Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson Read Free Book Online Page A

had vacated and rubbed at her knees. Going up and down the steps was not good for her. I needed to do something about that.
    “Where did you rush off to today,” she grumbled, “or are you still being all mum about it?”
    “Oh, is something up?” Johnny inquired, emphasis on the word “up,” as he slipped his plate into the microwave.
    Nana did that on purpose—asking in front of Johnny, knowing the pressure of their combined curiosity would be impossible to stand against. Might as well tell them. “Today I was nominated to be in an Eximium for the title of Venefica Covenstead High Priestess.”
    “You’ve been what?” Nana asked, incredulous.
    “You heard me,” I said.
    “Wait. You might get to replace Vivian? Poetic justice strikes again,” Johnny quipped. “Hey.” He pointed at me. “That can be your slogan. Like Batman and Robin are the Dynamic Duo, and Superman has the bullet-stopping, building-leaping intro, you can be the Lustrata, Administer of Poetic Justice.”
    I ignored Johnny. “The interim priestess nominated me.” I didn’t want to mention Lydia’s name, until I knew the circumstances of Nana’s estrangement from her.
    “Why you? You’re a solitary! Not to mention that sooner or later you’re going to have to reveal yourself as the Lustrata to the council!”
    She made it sound dirty. Of course her words caused Johnny to vigorously wiggle his eyebrows at me.
    “Why doesn’t this interim priestess just do it?” Nana demanded.
    “She claims to be too old for it.”
    “More the reason she should lead,” Nana harrumphed. “Age equals experience and nothing guides better than wise experience.”
    “Aside from her, the coven membership is mostly newbies and pretenders.” I wasn’t about to mention the current preference for youthful, telegenic coven leaders.
    “Vivian’s assistant—”
    “Is barely twenty.”
    “Lord and Lady, was Vivian that ignorant?”
    In response, I gave Nana a hard look. She knew the answer to that one.
    She pulled her cigarette case from the deep pocket of her robe, took one out, and proceeded to light it. Her eyes searched nothing as she took a long draught and thought things through. Exhaling the smoke, she said firmly, “You can’t be in this Eximium.”
    “Yeah, Red,” Johnny added. “This may not be a good idea.”
    “I want to do this. I already agreed.”
    “Well, you will just have to get out of it,” Nana said in the tone that meant her word would be the end of it.
    I bristled inside but, taking Johnny’s advice, I made my face blank. My brows didn’t lower. My arms didn’t cross over my chest. I calmly said, “I know what I’m doing.”
    Peeved, Nana feigned indifference. “You’re the Lustrata,” she muttered.
    “It’s under control.”
    Johnny frowned. With his Wedjat tattoos he looked as if he were plotting the most devious of deeds. I’d figured out, though, over the few weeks he’d been living with us, that this “evil” expression only meant his mind was racing. I was happy to see it. He was rethinking his position and giving some consideration to mine.
    Then the microwave dinged and all else seemed forgotten as the wære zeroed in on his red meat. Admittedly, the roast smelled delicious. I almost wanted some.
    Erik, successfully pretending that he wasn’t listening,slipped behind Johnny and put his plateful of food in the microwave to heat.
    Nana didn’t give up. “Your duties as Lustrata would certainly be impeded by such a demanding position.”
    Johnny’s face brightened and I knew he was thinking of a dirty remark about a “demanding position.” He didn’t say it aloud in front of Nana. But, Goddess help me, I thought it myself anyway.
    “So,” Johnny carried his plate to the dinette and sat across from me. For an instant I felt cornered and wondered if they were going to gang up on me. “What do you know that we don’t, Red?”
    I was grateful he phrased it that way and hoped Nana took the hint.