Legacy & Spellbound by Nancy Holder Read Free Book Online

to escape us and spread their filth here, among the dregs of society. But those of us who are loyal to the Supreme Coven are everywhere.
    Even though at times it feels as though we had been exiled to Hell itself … as I am in this vast wasteland devoid of culture and refined company …
    No matter. My House is in ascendance. My father sits upon the throne of skulls in London Town, and I, his eldest son, come to this forsaken land in search of new magics that will add to our armory in the days to come. For while it is true that the Deveraux have been exiled these 113 years for publicly battling during the Great Fire of London, they may come back one day with the secret of the Black Fire. And then the House of Moore will have to fight to retain our crown as High Priest.
    I stand much to gain if I can learn new ways of inflicting harm in this vast wasteland.
    But before I do, I will take care of the minor inconvenience that these witches present… .
    He closed his eyes and concentrated. He pictured the ship in his mind’s eye. The seas were riding high, and the wind was kicking up. A storm was brewing and, with his knowledge of the Black Arts and his power, he helped it along.
    Then he pushed against a seam in the ship’s hull. Slowly a crack began to form. First a drop of water eased its way through, and then a steady trickle. He opened his eyes. Within moments he knew that the trickle would turn to a flood.
    He turned back to the scrying stone and watched until the ship had sunk. Every man, woman, and child drowned, and he watched them all, smiling.
    When at last it was over he rose, pleased withhimself. The papers on his desk relating to the running of the colony could wait. He had a meeting to attend.
    The Cathers Coven: London, December
    It was late afternoon, almost twenty-four hours since Holly and the others had entered Joel’s safe house. Now, seated again before Joel’s fire, Holly blinked and stirred from her reverie. She had had a vision: She had seen herself walking down the street near the fish and chips shop, encountering a tall man across the street, trying to communicate with him. There had been others with him. Then the Deveraux falcons had swooped down on them all, harrying them.
    She didn’t know what it meant, but she had a sense that the wards of the souvenir shop had been penetrated. That, combined with the unease she felt in not having known Joel was a male witch—a Druid, whatever he called himself—prompted her decision to leave.
    They left Joel’s home in the morning after having been given directions to another safe house in London, and a backup in another city should London become too dangerous. The city was Coventry. The irony was not overlooked by Holly, who was equally certain that it had not been overlooked by the Supreme Coven.
    They twisted through endless streets until they had left Joel and his safe house far behind. A shadow brushed across Holly’s mind and she turned, expecting to see something behind them. There was nothing there. She changed course, and they began moving south. With each step she took the feeling of being followed lessened. They turned another corner and took another street, which slowly began to wind its way north.
    The feeling intensified, and Holly stopped in her tracks. The others exchanged looks but spoke not a word. The sensation stayed at the same level of intensity. “Does anyone else feel that?”
    Sasha nodded silently, but the others just looked at her with blank faces. Holly took a step forward and the tingling along her spine increased. She took a step backward, and it lessened. Another step back and it lessened even more.
    â€œNorth, I think the Supreme Coven’s headquarters is north of here.”
    Sasha nodded agreement.
    Slowly the group started forward. A half dozen more steps and Amanda spoke. “I feel it now too.”
    Another dozen steps and the others felt it as well.
    Another dozen