Free The Coven by Cate Tiernan Page A

is my private sanctuary,” she said, brushing her fingers over the doorjamb. For a fleeting moment I saw sigils glimmering there. They must be for privacy or protection. But I had no idea how to read them. There was so much I needed to learn. I was a complete novice.
    Selene had already drawn a small circle on the wooden floor, using a reddish powder that gave off a strong, spicy scent. She motioned me into the circle with her and then closed it behind us.
    “Let’s sit down,” she said. With us facing each other, sitting cross-legged on the floor, there was very little room inside the circle.
    We each sprinkled salt around our half of the circle, saying, “With this salt, I purify my circle.”
    Then Selene closed her eyes and let her head droop, her hands on her knees as if doing yoga. “With every breath out, release a negative emotion. With every breath in, take in white light, healing light, soothing and calming light. Feel it enter your fingers, your toes, settle in your stomach, reach up through the crown of your head.”
    As she spoke her voice became slower, deeper, more mesmerizing. My eyes were closed, my chin practically resting on my chest. I breathed out, forcing air completely out of my lungs.Then I breathed in, listening to her soothing words.
    “I release tension,” she murmured, and I repeated it after her without hesitation.
    “I release fear and anger,” she said, her words floating to me on a sea of calm. I repeated it and literally felt the knots in my stomach begin to uncoil, the tightness in my arms and calves unravel.
    “I release uncertainty,” she said, and I followed her.
    We breathed deeply, silently for several minutes. My headache dissolved, my temples ceased throbbing, my chest expanded, and I could breathe more easily.
    “I feel calm,” Selene said.
    “Me too,” I agreed dreamily. I sensed rather than saw her smile.
    “No, say it,” she prompted, humor in her voice.
    “Oh. I feel calm,” I said.
    “Open your eyes. Make this symbol with your right hand,” she prompted, drawing in the air with two fingers. “It’s the rune for comfort.”
    I watched her, then carefully drew in the air one straight line down, then a small triangle attached to the top, like a little flag.
    “I feel at peace,” she said, drawing the same rune on my forehead.
    “I feel at peace,” I said, feeling her finger trace heat on my skin.The memory of what had happened to my birth parents receded into the distance. I was aware of it, but it had less power to hurt me.
    “I am love. I am peace. I am strength.”
    I said the words, feeling a delicious warmth flow over me.
    “I call on the strength of the Goddess and the God. I call on the power of the Earth Mother,” said Selene, tracing another rune onto my forehead.This one felt like half of a lop-sided rectangle, and as it sank into my skin I thought, Strength.
    Selene and I were joined. I could feel her strength inside my head, feel her smoothing every wrinkle in my emotions, searching out every knot of fear, every snarl of anger. She probed deeper and deeper, and languidly I let her. She soothed away the pain until I was almost in a trance.
    Ages later, I seemed to come awake again. Unbidden, I opened my eyes in time to see her raising her head and opening hers. I felt a little groggy and so much better, I couldn’t help smiling. She smiled back.
    “All right now?” she said softly.
    “Oh, yes,” I said, unable to put my feelings into words.
    “Here’s one more for you,” she said, and she traced two triangles, touching, onto the backs of my hands. “That’s for new beginnings.”
    “Thank you,” I said, awed by her power. “I feel much better.”
    “Good.” We stood, and she dissolved the circle and blew out the candles mounted around the small room. As we passed through the larger coven’s room I saw a reflection of Selene’s face in a huge, gilt-frame wall mirror. She was smiling. Her face was bright, almost triumphant as