"Of course we do. That's just fabulous."

"Look, I've seen some messed up stuff in my life. Any of you ever try to herd brownies or set a shifter's leg? Didn't think so. Trust me, it's ugly. But I've seen nothing as bad as you lot." Audra's words were laced with venom, and she seemed to gather inches to her height with every word she spit out. "And you, sorcerer! You should be ashamed of yourself. You call yourself a guardian of this group, and yet you spend more time shoving your tongue down your charge's throat than educating her on the world she's a part of!"

Declan blanched and said nothing to defend himself. The shifting of his feet and the slump of his shoulders proclaimed guilt where his mouth was silent. Lux had wondered when his conscience would catch up with his desire, but she refused to allow this stranger to be the reason he pushed her away.

Feeling the energy she'd drawn from nature earlier still sweeping through her, she fed it with anger, darkening its pure light. The wind picked up around them, the branches in the trees quivering as the gusts tore the leaves away. The ache in her chest, her now familiar companion, thrummed in time with her rage. A small voice whispered that this wild creature, controlled by emotion, wasn't her. That her magic was stripping away her essence.

Audra watched from the porch with a bemused expression, but around her swirled the scent of a summer breeze and Lux knew the witch was harnessing the element most familiar to her. The element that was answering Lux's call now.

"This isn't a fight you'll win," the redhead warned, amusement fading as lightning split the blue canopy above and thunder crackled in the distance.

"I don't think you're so certain," Lux hissed, curling her toes in the soft ground, borrowing its strength as the pain inside of her grew. A stranger's voice filled Lux's mind. 'The air witch's blood will soak into the soil; her body will feed the worms. Back to nature she'll return, feeding strength to the proper witches. Like me.'

"Enough," Declan commanded, reaching out and taking Lux by the hand. That odd spark they shared ignited, and the pain disappeared in an instant. The river of magic drowning her quieted and became a tranquil pool, sweet and wonderful.

Gasping, she squeezed his hand tighter, making certain he knew she needed him to touch her. To stay connected.

"Audra..."

"It's fine," the girl shrugged. "You were in the Sway. It happens to Bloodborn witches. Our human halves crave that power, demonizes it. Without the angelic half to soothe it, you'll eventually succumb to it it."

"But they fight it?" Lux asked.

"For a while, yes. But I've never seen anyone come out of it so quickly. But I've also never seen a witch with no training call forth lightning. Took me an entire year to do that. Sure, she's not an air witch?"

Declan shook his head, draping his arm around Lux. "I'm not certain of anything where she's concerned." He tried to infuse laughter into his words. But it was brittle. "I think the magic she uses has to do with the witch she's around."

Audra mulled over his explanation. "Hmm, most spirit witches find a measure of strength in all elements. Spirit ties us all together, but I've only ever heard of an Opal witch doing anything remotely similar to what you're suggesting. You sure that's not her stone."

"I've tried the Opal. There's nothing there," Lux answered. She could speak for herself.

"Hmm, well, I do like a mystery. Now, the other girls are late."

"Always," Declan grumbled.

"Lux, can you call them? Find out when we can expect them? I'll try to track down Hanish. He's a good sort to have for sparring practice."

"Wait, what? Sparring?" Lux's question fell on deaf ears as Audra took off through the yard and down the street, her short legs no hindrance to her speed.

"Well, crap. I do not want to fight that girl." She shuddered.

"Strengthening our bodies is just as important as strengthening our powers."

"Yes, Yoda."

"Who-"

"Never mind. I guess I need to call the others, but I don't have Ruby's number."

"I can call her. But I need to get in touch with Phoebe first. She'll want to know about Audra."

"You know, that's odd. I haven't heard from her since she left. That's not like her. I hope everything is okay."

"I think it's some old family business. She didn't want to get you and your mom involved."

They settled on to the porch swing, hands still clasp tightly together. "Why shouldn't we be told about family business? I'm tired of the secrets, Decs."

"Decs? I like that."

"Hm," she said, running her fingers down his arm as they rocked gently in the swing. "Can I be the only one who calls you that?"

Declan didn't respond the way she expected. He drew in a shuddering breath before replying, "Lux, we need to talk. Audra is right. I'm not doing you any favors. I'm so distracted by the way you make me feel... I've been a terrible teacher. If something had happened to you last night... I can't do that again."

She turned to him and placed a hand against his cheek. Choosing to ignore his last statement, she asked, "How do I make you feel?"

"I- I don't even know how to describe it. When I'm away from you, I can remind myself that you're forbidden, and I resolve to tell you this can go nowhere. But when I'm near you... it's like telling the tides to ignore the moon's phases. Every part of me wants you...my body, my mind, even my magic."

He pulled his hand away from her and stood up. The warmth in her skin leeched out, and the ache began a new. "Why does that have to be bad?"

Turning away from her, he spoke, "The First Daughters and First Sons declared that we must never cross our lines. It is taboo. And it has been so since our kind first walked the earth. Lovers were stoned if they were discovered, and they slaughtered offspring."

The image of a dark eyed, cinnamon haired infant being torn from her breast consumed Lux. Bile filled her mouth, and she leaned over the porch to spit it out, hoping Declan hadn't heard her. "That's repulsive."

"The practice was long ago banished, but every High Priestess and High Sorcerer must go through the Swearing when they are appointed."

"A swearing?"

His hands ran through his hair. "The High Priest and the High Sorcerer bond themselves in a ceremony that ties his power to her and the Circle. If there are any...any relations... both individuals involved will lose their power forever."

"Let someone else be High Priestess."

"It doesn't work like that. The Swearing holds all members of the Circle accountable."

"Then I want another High Sorcerer." She was screaming now, tears dripping from her lashes.

He scooped her up in a crushing hug. "A Circle Sworn is a Circle bound. There is no way around it."

"Decs, please."

A soft kiss pressed against her brow. And then those powerful arms pulled away, and he stepped into the yard. "I'll be waiting at the training area Audra selected."

She did not respond as he walked away from her. Raising her hand, she settled it beneath her breast where an additional torment grew. She'd never felt this ache before, but she was sure it was from a breaking heart. And it was far greater than the one caused by magic.

                                                            *********************************

"You're going to have to move faster than that," Audra taunted, dancing out of Kitty's reach.

They'd been training for the last hour. Even Ruby joined them, paler than usual and looking exhausted. But she'd joined them, and Lux couldn't help but note a sense of rightness had washed over her when the last girl arrived and the Circle was complete for the first time. Sweat and dirt covered them all in a thin layer, and from the number of blows Audra was landing, bruises would mottle their skin before the sun disappeared.

Declan remained in the shade, watching over the proceedings with a wary eye that never flickered toward her. He refused to step into the training circle, stating he wanted to use today to assess each girl, find their strengths and weaknesses, so he could map out a careful regime that would suit the individual. The wild part of her that had screamed and cried on the porch as he walked away fumed at his refusal to fight. It wanted to tear into him for luring her heart into his fickle embrace and tossing it casually aside. He'd used her like the incubus, but the damage he inflicted was far more lasting.

But she shoved that strange side down and embraced the numbing pain radiating from her sternum. The bits of her from weeks ago that still existed could appreciate someone who made plans before acting. Applauded his choice. And then she stepped into the ring with the feisty redhead and relished each impact of a fist against her flesh.

She'd been surprised by how well she held her own against the seasoned witch. Audra had trained as a warrior for over a decade now, but Lux's gift of foresight helped to compensate for her lack of instruction. Her opponent was deadly and accurate, but something whispered to Lux before Audra swung, helping her dodge the worst of the blows. Audra gave her a grudging nod of respect as their bout ended, and Kitty openly gaped at her as she settled in the grass beside her.

"Where's the man candy?"

Lux turned to find Travis joining the group. He promised to keep their secret, but he expected to be a part of their new world. His amber eyes scoured the field, searching for the handsome Fae.

"Audra said he's still out enjoying nature." Lux delivered a sharp jab to his ribs with her elbow. "But he'll be back soon."

Travis sighed and poked his lips out in an exaggerated pout. "Just my luck that he'd be a fan of nature. I prefer men who like to shop and by me nice things."

"All Fae prefer the natural world. They were born of the earth." Declan intruded on their conversation, his voice steaming Lux's blood, whether with desire or anger she couldn't be sure.

"You," Audra pointed at Travis as Kitty limped toward them. "If you're going to hang with us, then you're going to train with us. Otherwise, you'll be a liability we can't afford, especially if the demons are already beginning to escape."

Travis blanched. "Did bossy bitch just say demons?"

Lux patted him encouragingly. "Unfortunately."

The boy muttered as he rose to his feet. She was surprised he was more anxious about demons than he was about fighting Audra, but as soon as he faced the redhead, his lanky body relaxed. His feet shifted into a fighting stance, and a serious mask slipped over his face. The warrior witch flashed a wicked grin before launching into an attack, holding nothing back.

"Holy shit," Kitty shouted, "Declan, stop her! She'll hurt him."

Declan didn't move because Travis dodged and danced around the witch like a blur, her strikes never landing. Energy crackled about him, the air humming with power as he lifted an arm to deflect a blow before dropping it to stop the knee that was hurtling toward his stomach. Faster and faster they whirled until Lux was hard pressed to tell them apart.

The humid breeze lost its stickiness as the temperature plummeted, and the wind howled. The soft, clean scent of Audra's magic clogged Lux's nostrils as the trees swayed in the gale the witch created. Travis could fight like the wind, but he couldn't win against it. Audra had to believe she would lose this fight without her magic.

"Audra," Lux screamed, digging through the pain in her breast to find the center of what was her own power. She would brave the Sway if it meant saving her friend. "Audra, stop!"

The others were standing now, channeling stones glowing as every witch reached for her power. Even Declan had abandoned his tree, those strange gloves covering his hands as he sought for an opening in the fight. Together they could put her down, but just as Lux prepared to grasp her magic, the tempest ceased. And an eerie quiet stole across the clearing as they beheld the winner of the duel.

Travis straddled Audra. He wrapped his long fingers around her throat, his eyes wild as she panted beneath him. But Audra didn't look afraid. She regarded the boy with calm speculation.

"Sorry," he rasped, rolling off of the witch and springing to his feet. Oddly, he was not breathing half as hard as the warrior he'd just defeated.

"What the hell dude?" Kitty screeched. "When did you learn to fight like that?"

He shrugged, looking embarrassed for the first time in his life. "When I told my dad I was gay, he enrolled me in mixed martial arts. He didn't want me to get beat up for being different."

"I've never fought a human who could move like that," Audra insisted, finally rising to her feet. Travis glared at her not liking the implications she was making. "There's more to you than meets the eye."

A wolfish grin graced his lips, and the Travis Lux recognized reappeared, "Oh, there's a lot of me that doesn't meet the eye."

"Why did you use your magic against him?" Declan demanded, ignoring the innuendo, or more likely, missing it entirely. "You didn't use it with any of the girls."

"Sore loser," Sara Elizabeth said. She'd been sullen since her ass was handed to her. Kitty nodded, but Ruby remained silent and still, her face even more wan than it had been upon arriving.

"Hardly. I appreciate skill and power, but a human is still a human. And I needed Travis to understand that what he'll be facing if he remains a part of this Circle. The enemy doesn't fight fair. All of his skills will go to waste against a demon, but obviously, there's something Travis isn't telling us, or doesn't know about himself."

"You keep talking about demons, but you haven't told us why we're going to be fighting them. Phoebe didn't say a damn thing about demons," Kitty yelled, her arms crossed and her eyes wild in her soiled face.

"The Gateways are failing, which means demons will slip into the world." Ruby spoke so quietly Lux almost missed the words.

"At least one of you knows something. There are nine Gateways to the underworld, and a millennia ago, your ancestors sealed them to protect mankind. They appointed the most powerful Circles to guard them. The First Circle, the most powerful of them all, was ordered to guard the central Gateway- for if it fails, the other eight will open."

No one seemed to draw a breath as Audra spoke. Her words cut into their souls, leaving jagged rips as the girls finally understood the price of their ancestors' refusal to keep the guard.

"Has it already opened?" Lux asked.

"No," Declan answered, his eyes meeting hers for the first time since he'd left her broken on the porch. The anguish in those black depths nearly broke her again. "Every Lughnasadh, the day which marks the beginning of the harvests, the Circles gather around the Gateway and start the Rite that will seal the Gateway shut for another year. They must feed the spell until Samhain, when the veil between death and life is thinnest."

"Then how has it not open?" Lux demanded. "No Circle has existed here for years."

"The Circles didn't want to leave anything to chance, and so they have always fed more power than required into the spells. At the last Rite, the seal had enough power to last for a hundred years without another Rite being performed."

"Oh gods," Ruby moaned.

"How many years will this year make?" Lux knew the answer but had to ask.

Declan looked haunted. "August 1st will be a hundred years."

The newly formed Circle let his words sink in. What were the odds they had come together just in time to stop a literal hell from being unleashed on the world?

"Then we have time," Kitty sighed. "We made it. All we have to do is start the Rite and finish it."

"In theory," Audra agreed. "But you have to have a full Circle to complete the Rite."

Sara Elizabeth gestured towards each girl before growling at the air witch, "Did you not complete our Circle?"

Lux didn't let Audra answer. "We still need a spirit witch."

"Is that not you?" Travis asked, his question echoing in the field and in their heads.

But no one could answer.