Chapter One
âLook! There she is!â
Deme Chattox smiled as she stepped off the escalator into the baggage claim area of Chicago OâHare Airport. All four of her siblings stood in a group. Each one of the Chattox sisters were so different in looks and personality, no one would guess they were related.
But Deme knew. Even when they werenât nearby, she felt their presence, sensed when one of them was in trouble and shared their emotions from happiness to sorrow, more intensely than normal humans.
Truth was, the Chattox sisters and all the sisters on the Chattox side before them werenât normal. They were witches. Once Deme had railed against the differences. Now she embraced their uniqueness. Not everyone was as in tune to the world around them, nor could others wield magic like herself and her siblings.
âWe missed you so much.â Aurai, the youngest, engulfed her in a bear hug so tight Deme could barely breathe. A wisp of wind swirled around her, a sure sign of Auraiâs emotions. The young woman had so much power at her fingertips, sometimes it scared Deme.
âHey, loosen up a bit. I was only gone a month.â Deme laughed and hugged her little sister, smoothing her hand over her long, silky hair. âI missed you too. Howâs college?â
Aurai laughed. âMuch better without a monster in the cellar.â
Deme frowned. âAny other weirdness going on at Colyer-Fenton?â
Aurai shook her white-blond head. âNot since the initiation. Iâve kept busy studying and flirting with the hot guys.â
Deme sighed. âAs it should be for any college student.â
âHi, Deme.â Selene shook back her thick, chocolate brown hair. She wore one of her signature flowing broomstick skirts and peasant-style blouses, all soft and feminine compared to Deme. Selene wrapped her arms around Aurai and Deme, smiling softly. âIâm so glad youâre moving back to Chicago. Weâre not the same when youâre gone.â
âLet me have some of that love.â Gina grinned, her sea-green eyes sparkling as she slid into the group hug.
âHey, Sis. About time you came home.â Brigid crossed her arms over her chest, her black leather jacket swooshing softly. She looked like a badass biker chick, but Deme knew it was a front to protect her big heart from being broken.
Deme held out a hand. âGet over here.â
Brigidâs cheeks reddened, but she complied, completing the clutch of woman, all hugging.
Deep inside, Deme could feel the rightness of having all of them together. They were meant to be close, to live in the same city and be a part of each otherâs lives. Her time in St. Croix had only added to that conviction. With so many miles between them sheâd been a shell of herself, running a business she had no passion for.
âOkay, okay, let her have some air.â Brigid was the first to back away.
Deme caught her hand and Auraiâs. The women formed a circle of joined hands. Then whispering quietly so that others wouldnât hear, Deme lead a prayer to the goddess.
âWith the strength of the earth
With the rising of the wind
With the calm of the water
With the intensity of fire
With the freedom of spirit
The goddess is within us
She is power
We are her
We are one
Blessed Be.â
Her sisters repeated, âBlessed Be.â
Aurai let go first, heading toward the luggage carousel. âLetâs collect your bags and get you home.â
Deme followed more slowly, walking in step with Brigid. âHowâs everything been in Chicago? Anything I should know about?â
Brigid worked in a motorcycle shop in the heart of the city and moonlighted for the Chicago Police Department. If something was happening, sheâd know. âGuess you heard they captured Vladimir Romanov?â
Deme nodded. Cal had filled her in during their last telephone conversation, several days ago. âCal said it took some doing. Did they get enough evidence for the Tribunal to put him away?â
Her sister nodded. âThe knife he used to kill Franco Ledet and an eyewitness to the murder.â
âItâs hard to believe anyone would come forward and testify against Vladimir. Heâs about the worst of the worst paranorm mafia there is.â
âLucky us to have him in Chicago.â Brigid shrugged. âIf it had been me, Iâd have dusted him on sight. This waiting for the Tribunal to punish him leaves too much time for him to plot his escape.â