The brief glimpse of Nivera’s true form, and the way she slithered from her grasp, brought Claire up short. Better judgement intruded on her anger-hazed mind. This was a very old witch. Though Claire came from the more powerful lineage, Nivera had had more time to hone her Craft. Furthermore, she’d been more ruthless about it. Claire couldn’t barge in like a battering ram. The medieval oaf did that, not her, and it was for him that she was here.
“Leo is my friend,” Claire replied. “And he’s told me about your…work on him. He still bears the scars, mental and physical.” For the first time, she wished she had taken the role of Matriarch. They would be having this discussion in the mansion’s dungeon and she would be able to wield considerable more power to punish Nivera and her “associates”.
“I’ve heard about you for quite some time, Nivera. I think it’s time you answer for what you’ve done.”
“Your friend? A Devereaux witch befriending a warlock? Shame the news never reached my ears. I am pleased to hear it from the source.” She turned back to Aaron and pressed her palm to his forehead and the warlock shuddered once before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. “What happened towards the end of Leonard’s cleansing was something like collateral damage, and if I had more time he would have benefitted, and the scars would have been an afterthought. He would have thanked me."
She answered Claire with a small laugh. "Answer to who? To you? My darling, you’ve no power over me and I’ve the Guardians support. You're blinded to my reasoning because you’ve befriended one. Can’t you see? His magic has twisted you!”
