Gideon stood, lifted Enola over his shoulder, and headed back to the house.

“I’m just gonna carry you, darlin’. It’s just safer that way,” he chuckled.

Enola pushed her hair out of her face and slapped him on the back. Gideon entered the patio doors and slid her down his brawny torso. He graced her with a precious kiss before grabbing her hand and leading her back to the parlor. When they entered, all conversation ceased. Everyone in the room seemed to have been waiting to find out if Enola and Gideon had worked out their differences. It was Ruby that first noticed their joined hands.

“Oh, thank God,” Ruby breathed. She walked over and stood in front of them. Ruby smiled, but her eyes were sad. “I’m really glad that y’all made up. Since your relationship is so new, your feelings are all over the place. It’s really hard for me to block your emotions. I’m really sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” Enola said sincerely.

She’d never had words with her aunt before, and it didn’t feel good. Her life had taken a drastic turn in such a short time. She’d had to leave her home, her job, and her friends. Her family was all she had. She wrapped her arms around her aunt and hugged her tight.

Gideon rubbed Ruby’s shoulder before walking over to his brother. “So, where are we? What’s the plan?” he asked Marie.

“We’re waiting on Margo.”

Enola and Ruby turned towards Marie. Her tone was filled with impatience.

“Well, your wait is over,” Margo blurted as she entered the room.

“Thank you for joining us,” Ruby jabbed.

“I ain’t have no other choice. I can’t keep grandma out my head,” Margo grumbled.

Margo was making her way to a chair, but was stopped in her tracks when her eyes landed on Gabriel and Boone.

“Hello,” she flirted.

Enola wasn’t sure if she was flirting with Boone or Gabriel. But if she had to bet, she would put her money on both. After being greeted by both men, Margo took her seat.

“The plan?” Gideon asked again, displaying the same lack of patience as her grandmother.

“Enola found the priest,” Marie announced.

“What!” Gabriel thundered, causing half of the people in the room to nearly jump out of their skin.

Gideon went to his brother, but Enola looked over at her aunt. No one needed to be an empath to feel the rage coming from Gabriel.

“Yes,” Marie continued. “She broke through his cloaking spell.”

“Where is he?” Gabriel growled.

“Slow down, Gabriel, he—”

“Where is he?” Gabriel demanded.

Marie managed to remain calm after being yelled at. Everyone knew his history with the priest. She looked over at Gideon as if to urge him to handle his brother.

“He has a right to his anger. Don’t you agree, Madame Roux?” Gideon said, defending his brother.

“Of course, I agree, but it’s taken more than a hundred years to break the cloaking spell. Don’t doubt that there isn’t already a protection spell in place. And you both know, better than anyone, how powerful that spell is.”

Gideon placed his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and whispered something at him.

“So, what do you propose?” he asked Marie.

“We need to penetrate the protection spell.”

“How?” Gabriel questioned.

“We have to get close to him as we can.”

“And how are we going to do that?” Gabriel asked.

“Nola.”

Gideon’s head whipped towards Enola. “No,” he dismissed.

Gabriel grimaced at his twin. “What the hell do you mean, no?”

“She’d have to go through, we don’t know how many, vamps and witches to get near the priest.”

“And!” Gabriel bellowed. “That’s why she was born!”

“Watch yourself, brother,” Gideon warned.

Enola raised a brow at Gideon. “He’s kinda right,” she pointed out.

“No-la,” Gideon growled.

“Gideon, just listen,” Ruby interjected. “Mamma and I will be working a spell from here. Nola and Margo will be working on the spell from the priest’s location. Together, we’ll break the spell, and then y’all can go in and kill ‘em all.”

“No! Why would you send Nola and Margo? Nola has the least experience of all of you, and Margo doesn’t even have a power.”

“I agree,” Margo mumbled, inspecting one of her nails.

“First of all, Margo’s power is in her blood. She is of the Moreau line, and totally capable of casting spells. And secondly, inexperienced or not, Nola is the only one strong enough to break the witches’ spell. We’re really just here for back up.”

As the argument continued, it hadn’t evaded Enola that none of the people arguing had asked her, even once, what she thought. Since her power had first surfaced, Enola had been under attack. She had no intention of looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life, and she wasn’t going to leave her family unprotected—not if she had to power to do something about it.

She walked over to Gideon and looked him right in the eye. “I’m going,” she announced.

Gideon shook his head and whispered, “It’s too dangerous.”

Enola placed her hand on his chest. “I know it’s dangerous, but you’ll be there. And, I’m tired of being attacked, Gideon. I need this to end. Once and for all.”

“Nola, I—”

“Gideon, you know that I’m strong, my family is strong, and your pack is strong. We will win.”

Gideon nodded and stepped back. The anxiety etched on his face brought Enola sadness.

“I have to go and meet with the counsel. I’ll be back later tonight,” he said in a defeated tone.

Enola placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”