Free Illusions: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Seekers Book 1) by Carina Wilder Page B

it.
    And today she’d sent Paxx to run an errand for her: to attend a town meeting and to gather information about Salem’s concerns, to figure out what action needed to be taken. Most of all, she wanted to know if the time had come to move in on the Sisterhood.
    “He’ll be back soon,” she said, standing and pacing the length of the room.
    “I suppose he’ll be hearing about the hangings,” said Crow, laughing. “The latest about the hysteria that’s sweeping the land.”
    “Yes, well, I hope there are many hangings,” the Sorceress replied. “That’s what those women deserve for refusing the Ritual. What sort of sane female would turn down such an opportunity? It’s preposterous.”
    Their policy was to take the young women, holding them captive until they either agreed to the Ritual or refused. In the latter case they were turned over to the townspeople and accused of witchcraft, at which point they were held in Salem’s prisons to be tried. Some had attempted to report the Guild for their behaviour, throwing out allegations of sexual slavery. Those in Salem simply attributed the accusations to the women’s lunacy and the mass hysteria that they claimed was overtaking the female population.
    But the Sorceress had grown bored with that whole pursuit: it was the Sisterhood that she wanted now. They sat on their high horses in their cozy little village, feeling invincible against threat, she said. But they were unguarded. Most were still Aspirants, and no match for her men. And besides, when they discovered what she planned for them, they would thank her for it a million times. A life of sexual pleasure: two men for each woman. Not to mention enhanced powers beyond their wildest dreams. What could be better?
    As for her Guild, when their powers had fully developed, the males would become unstoppable. An army which could advance unfettered westward, north and south, taking land as they went. They would form an empire unrivalled since the Romans had spread their impressive strength throughout millions of square miles.
    “Ah, there you are, Paxx,” said Crow as the tall man entered the room at last, bending to make his way through the door. “How went the meeting?”
    “It was fairly dull,” Paxx replied, masking his true thoughts as best he could. He knew how the Sorceress functioned; he knew that she could read the Guild’s members like books. And so he kept a veil over his mind to the best of his abilities, doing everything possible not to think of the lovely woman he’d spoken to outside the church.
    As he spoke, his mind cycled deliberately through memories of every aspect of the meeting but Serafina. “The assembly was largely uninteresting. The town essentially approves of our actions. They’re convinced that it’s right to take women as we do. It’s as though we’re the governors of all things moral, and they’re just as happy not to have to deal with it.”
    “Good,” said the Sorceress. “So we can continue without worry that they’ll resist. Then I say that we move immediately to Ealdor’s borders and start taking the Sisterhood. The women of Salem have nothing to offer us; no powers or skills. But the Aspirants would be a great boon to our men.”
    “I’m not sure that’s a brilliant idea,” said Paxx, his concern about his new acquaintance renewed.
    “And why is that?” asked the Sorceress, her voice harsh. He’d never questioned her before, and she wasn’t keen on insubordination. What had he seen that he wasn’t telling her?
    “They—the Crones—can be powerful. You’ve said so yourself. While some of our men are fully developed shifters, others such as me are not. How will we take them?”
    “The Crones are fading these days, like leaves that wilt and fall from the trees. Their power is waning, Paxx, whether they choose to admit it or not. And so we will take their Aspirants, one at a time,” said the Sorceress. “And we’ll begin tomorrow, with the weakest of