WitchsSpell2

Her payment to the werewolves carried just as much power, if not more. Other witches might call her a traitor for what she planned to do, but then many of them did not want to acknowledge the time had arrived for such desperate acts. A change was happening and Isabel would not let thousands of years of knowledge be lost. “Carlos, retrieve the book and give it to Ko—oh, I’ve forgotten.” Her paper thin cheeks burned with embarrassment. Her mortal frailties grew with each passing day.

“I am Koltis, Señora.” The Baltic envoy reached into his cloak and plopped a small leather bag onto her table as he corrected her.

Carlos shuffled into a shadowed corner and seconds later handed Koltis a small leather book.

The werewolf slipped the volume into a hidden pocket of the pouch. “It isn’t likely to be taken from me, but my alpha insisted.”

Isabel’s pride prickled at his youthful, arrogant tone. “That book holds powers not to trifle with. If it fell into the wrong hands, all beings, magical and mortal, lay in harms way.” She could not prevent the thunder of her own hard-earned magic from shaking the cottage.

“Isabel, control yourself. The Guards. They will come and take you away tonight if you are not careful.” Carlos’ hands gripped her shoulders tighter than most dared.

Only from him did she allow such a touch.

After all, he was the reason for this evening’s exchange. If not for Carlos, she would have fled months ago with the others.

“I am a warrior,” Koltis’ eyes held mild surprise at her outburst, “The Alpha King entrusted me with this mission. I will not fail him.” He rested his hand on the cottage’s wooden door.

Isabel raised her hand to stop him. “Wait. Tell your Alpha I wrote the spells exactly as taught by my coven. Exactly. They have never been written so there will be strange words. He must trust his inner feelings. It will show him the true magic of these spells.”

The werewolf’s solemn nod assured her he understood her instructions. He opened the heavy door. Steamy air rushed inside the cottage. Koltis frowned. “All of Spain smells of burning flesh. Even tonight when no fires dance in the town square. Leave like the others.” He glanced at Carlos solemnly, then met Isabel’s gaze, “Alone you could make it.”

She covered Carlos’ wrinkled hand with her own, “After a hundred years on earth, I found love. I am more woman than witch now.” She lifted the pouch carrying the werewolf teeth. “Either in death or in life, this will ensure we are together. I will not leave my true love to perish. I lived too long without him.”

Enough torches burned in the deserted square even Isabel’s half-blind eyes saw clearly. Six red-garbed soldiers guarded the square’s gate.

Cardinal Vega had overseen her binding to the stake personally, but thanks to a whispered spell, the ropes hung just loose enough for her to slip from them when the time came.

If the time came.

Vega had veered from his usual theatrical display of power. He barred the peasants from the square to prevent their interference in the execution of a woman many revered.

The crowd had been an integral part of the plan, but Isabel hoped Carlos found another way to reach her.