Blackwoods the Blades of Redwater: The Blades of Redwater

By Teressa J. Martin and Adaline McMillan

It’s been three years since Naomi, an empath, entered the Blackwoods Coven. Despite the turmoil her arrival caused, it seems that everyone has finally found their place. Redwater is expanding, the coven is adapting, and the magic is getting stronger. What’s better? Claire and Naomi are enjoying all of the benefits.  

When

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teressa J. Martin
• Release date: Oct 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950277094

Book preview

Prologue

IT WAS RAINING AND, SUPPOSEDLY, that was a good thing. Stumbling through the mud on a night like this, however, it didn’t feel like a good thing. The scents of mud, musk, and mold were thick in the air, and the frigid night felt even colder thanks to the rain soaking her clothes. She shouldn’t have moved to this side of town until the roadways were finished. The property here was cheap, though, and she’d be able to buy her own cottage. Well, she’d gotten what she wanted, and now she was stomping through mud in a ruined dress. She could only hope that the dress she’d purchased wasn’t ruined, too. Her mother deserved something nice, and she’d hate to lose the garment she’d had her eye on for weeks.

The flash of lighting and loud crack of thunder rattled her bones. She hated this. The weather was miserable, and now she was angry because she refused to let herself be scared of lightning that, in reality, was all too close. She swore when her foot sank into the mud of the dirt road, flowing into her shoe. It would take her days to get the shoe clean if it could ever be clean again. She tugged hard, trying to pull her foot free, but the road wouldn’t let her foot go. She didn’t have time for this. Not wanting to dirty her mother’s new dress if she fell, she set the box down a few feet away. It wasn’t ideal, but hopefully, the box would keep the dress safe.

She struggled, wriggling her foot and trying to wrench it free. All it did was sink her other foot into the mud. After a few minutes of tireless effort, she got the first foot free — minus her shoe — but that sent her flying face-first onto the ground. She was still stuck by her other foot, and she didn’t know how she was going to get herself out of this mess.

Ma’am! Ma’am! Are you all right? a dark, velvety voice called.

Perhaps she did have the favor of the gods, even if she was about to be humiliated, too. If she was being honest, though, she really didn’t mind so much. She only wanted the night to be over.

She lifted her head as the man’s footsteps slowed from a trot to a brisk walk before pausing right in front of her. She could only see his face by the dim lights of the houses around them, but by the way they lit the hard planes of his face, she knew he was handsome. She supposed the positive of this night was that the mud would hide her blush. Attempting to push herself up, she found that her other foot was still quite stuck, just as she knew it would be. She groaned, and flopped back down, though she didn’t let her face fall into the mud this time.

Allow me, he said with a slight smile meant to stifle a laugh as he knelt down and gripped waist, pulling her against his body.

I’m sorry about the mud, she whispered once her feet were securely on the ground. It wasn’t the smartest thing she’d ever said, but she needed to distract herself from the way his strong hands felt through the material of her dress.

He chuckled, almost to himself, but it sent a rush of heat through her. I think I’ll live. After another moment in his arms, he had her other foot free. There you are, he said as he let her go.

Thank you. She took a step back and almost tripped. He caught her wrist, steadying her.

He held onto her far longer than was necessary, and his eyes leisurely roamed over her body. You’re soaked to the bone, he said, his voice so dark and mysterious, that it was all she could do to keep herself upright. I believe my wife will have something that fits you. It’s just around the corner.

Wife? Oh, goodness, she’d made quite a mistake. That’s won’t be necessary, she said quickly.

Please, he said, and gods save her, he looked so sincere. Allow me to help.

She shouldn’t. She wasn’t far from home, and she’d be all right on her own. As she was about to refuse him, however, she found herself caught by his captivating gaze. She didn’t have it in her to look away, and she didn’t have the strength to say no.

Reluctantly, she nodded. If it’s not too much trouble. 

A small smile that was both boyish and so sensual that it made her stomach twist danced across his lips. This way.

Picking up her package, she followed him just around the corner of an alley as he’d said. She paused. She knew this alley. She didn’t know of any homes down here. He’d helped her, though, so she kept walking. Plenty of people lived in strange places. Maybe he did, too. They walked two minutes more, and her heart began to beat just a little harder. He’d said they were going just around the corner, but they seemed to be going a bit farther. Moreover, there were no lights in the windows of these buildings, and she didn’t like that, either. Perhaps following him wasn’t so wise.

Sir, I believe I— she began, but he turned to her and frowned.

It’s not much farther.

She stopped walking, hoping her posture looked defiant. I must be getting home.

He took a step toward her, and she took a step back, which placed her up against a wall.

You’ll be uncomfortable. He looked so sad — so much like he wanted to help — that it fed her impulse to help him. That was wrong, wasn’t it? If her not following him made him sad, that was not her fault.

I’ll be fine, she insisted, trying her best to sound firm.

He took another step toward her, and she went to move; but he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the building, making her drop the box in the process.

He pressed his lips to her ear, much the way she’d like if he wasn’t threatening her. Instead of feeling nice, it was terrifying and downright awful. She had no idea what he was going to do or why he’d brought her here. I don’t think you will, he whispered, and she shuddered, her entire body quaking beneath his weight.

She swallowed, trying to find her voice. Please let me go.

He pulled back ever so slightly and smiled at her. Looking up into his cold eyes, he wasn’t so handsome anymore.

Hold still for one moment.

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One

THE SUNS WERE HIGH IN the sky, and no doubt it was a beautiful day. In the summer when the canopy above them was thick with leaves, they were always shrouded in shade. Now, however, the light fell through the branches, creating intricate patterns in the shadows. Claire loved days like this. Training wasn’t miserable in the summer — their side of Easthaven was pretty mild — but it wasn’t fun. Winter, however, she liked much better. Grunting at the hard smack against her ribs, she just hated that she couldn’t enjoy training today.

She was off — way off. Naomi had gotten in another round kick to her side. When they were sparring, Naomi almost never got the upper hand and vice versa. Both were talented fighters, but you’d never know it today. Claire shook her head as if that could shake the fog from her brain. That wouldn’t work, of course, but it couldn’t hurt to try. When Naomi hit her with a blast of water, Claire hit Naomi with a very colorful string of curses. Out of it or not, that she could still do.

Naomi paused, dropping her arms. Are you okay? she asked, lips pursed.

Naomi’s crystalline blue eyes glowed just a little brighter than everyone else’s. When someone joined a coven, their eyes took on an ethereal glow, though only other coven members could see it. Naomi’s had been intense when she’d first arrived at the coven, but over the past three years, they’d started glowing even brighter. It was an interesting look, especially given that Naomi was a good six inches shorter than the other coven members, though she wasn’t short by the standards of the outside world.

Frowning, Claire pulled her shirt away from her torso as though it might bite her. She looked into Naomi’s all too perceptive gaze for about half a second before glancing away like a skittish animal.

I’m fine, Claire said, frowning at her shirt again. She held out her hand and blasted her top with a rush of air. It helped, but only a little. Claire’s real affinity was for earth, though she could use all manner of elemental magic if she had to. The trouble with doing that too often was that it was rather exhausting.

Naomi arched an eyebrow. You don’t seem fine.

Really, I am. Let’s just train for a while longer before we go back.

Naomi almost argued, but she knew it was better to let Claire tell her what was wrong on her own. Unlike Naomi, Claire’s height was average for a woman in a coven, yet rather tall for someone living outside of one. Her eyes were a striking shade of violet, but she wasn’t their only member with eyes that color. Her features were sharp and angular, a little like her personality.

Claire was about to make the first move, but she felt a wave of calm wash over her. Her eyes narrowed. That’s not fair.

The wave of energy suddenly stopped. Sorry, Naomi said with a smug smile. Just trying to keep you on your toes.

Claire smiled back, just like Naomi knew she would.

That was the other thing about being part of a coven. Each member, there were twenty-eight in total, had a gift that was uniquely theirs. Naomi was rather intuitive, and she had the ability to influence people’s emotions and see who they really were. Claire had the sometimes useful, though typically obnoxious, gift of visions. She couldn’t control when they happened or what they were about, she just had to live with the knowledge that sometimes she would pass out and know more about the future than she really wanted to. Her visions usually happened while she was asleep, though, which usually saved her from a very sore backside.

The gifts of the other members varied quite a bit. Some had healing abilities, a few had powers that made them stronger or faster, and some had ones that were more mystical in nature. From what Claire could tell, there was no rhyme or reason, it just was what it was.

They sparred for another hour or so, and Claire started to get into the rhythm of their training, but she was still too distracted for the match to be useful.

Panting, she held her hands up in a gesture of surrender. Pause. You’re winning.

Naomi was more than winning. Claire’s talking was closer to wheezing. It’s not winning if you’re not fighting, she said wryly.

Claire scowled at her, but she was still catching her breath, so she didn’t have a quippy response. In a day or two, she would. She’d have to submit it in writing.

Since you’re not talking, how about we get out of here?

Get out of here? Yep. Still noisily gasping for air.

Get cleaned up? Go for a drink?

Oh. Well, that sounded like just what she needed. It also sounded like a ruse. She’d settle for a ruse. Claire knew that Naomi wasn’t the biggest fan of going out on the town all the time, but Claire was. She liked getting away and losing herself in the city. That was one of the perks of Redwater’s expansion over the last three years. Easthaven was building a military base right next to Redwater, so now it was only thirty minutes away. The main square was still three hours away, but there were houses, shops, and bars on the edge of town.

A drink sounds good.

Naomi tried to hold back her laugh, but she laughed anyway. Claire couldn’t blame her. She was being a little pathetic. She still wanted to ask Claire what was going on but held her tongue. If she knew Claire, and she certainly did, she’d only have to wait until Claire had a drink or two.

The courtyard at the heart of the coven was surrounded by fourteen circular homes and a large table in the middle, with perfectly cut wooden planks covering the forest floor. When the coven had first formed, the rivets and copper-colored framing wasn’t interlaced in the planks. As Redwater expanded, though, they’d begun to appear. Claire kind of missed the clean-cut look, but she also liked watching the coven change. The cabins housed fourteen men and fourteen women all under the guidance of their leader, Vincent. Their coven was only ten years old. Given that covens took a thousand years to reach establishment, it might as well not exist yet. According to Vincent, there were only four established covens in the entire world with other covens rising and falling all the time. The older a coven got, the more balanced it became, but the first few centuries were turbulent.

After the Blackwoods Coven had reached capacity, their first new member hadn’t arrived for seven years. That was when the first trial happened. Naomi became part of the coven while Blayne perished in the first trial. It was something Claire would never forget. After she’d been executed, her body was absorbed by the coven itself, and she’d felt the magic become stronger. It had happened slowly as the glow in Vincent faded. This warm feeling rose from her toes all the way to the crown of her forehead before dying away. For about two weeks, the coven hummed with a revived energy before settling again, but it had never gone back to being as weak as it was before. Two years after that, they’d had their second trial with the introduction of Abigail.

Before the trials, Claire hadn’t understood why they had to happen. The magic that lived inside her and made her who she was told her it was important, but she hadn’t understood it. Now, she thought she almost did. There was something bigger — something greater — at work. The magic was important. It was all about balance and keeping the peace.

Your memory and magic will live on forever.

Vincent had said that because it was true, not because it was just something to say. One way or another, the coven and everyone in it needed them.

As they neared their cabins, a low-pitched yip caught Claire’s attention. She looked over to see Dex and Jorgen playing with Copper and Scout, two of Dex’s wolves. Copper was the youngest of Dru’s pups, but he’d taken Fen’s place at the head of Dex’s tiny pack. It was odd watching the wolves play, given their size. Dex was only a little taller than them at the shoulder, and Dex was plenty tall. As if he could feel her eyes on him, his smile died, and sapphire eyes met hers. Claire’s breath caught, and Copper paused in the playful dance with his brother. Scout slammed into him, catching Copper off balance and knocking him to the ground. It was a rare thing to see Copper play. He was usually so serious. However, with Dex laughing alongside his younger brother, Copper was having the time of his life. It felt like Dex stared at her for a lifetime, but the moment lasted for less than a second — not even long enough to really interrupt Claire’s stride. Before she knew it, Dex released her gaze and whistled at both his wolves.

Claire shook her head and pointedly ignored the small smile Naomi gave her. If she hadn’t been so focused on ignoring that smile, she might have noticed Vlad walking toward her, aided by his crutches.

Giving up already? he asked, and she just about jumped out of her skin.

Vlad was tall, light, and handsome with his sandy brown hair and violet eyes only a shade darker than Claire’s.

She forced a laugh, but that made him frown. It’s just hot today. It wasn’t. It was winter, and it was on the cooler side, and she was an idiot when she was deflecting.

"She’s having a bad day, she’s tired, and I hit her head really hard," Naomi said.

She was getting all the drinks she wanted. Claire would carry her home. Maybe she’d even buy her new shoes.

Vlad smiled at Claire, his deep, violet eyes brightening just a little. Hit your head, huh?

She did her best to smile at him, and it almost worked. Distracted as she was, she was just finding it hard. She’s a menace.

Girl time, then?

Claire loved and hated Vlad for that. In a lot of ways, he knew her inside and out. He could read her like she was an open book made for tiny little kids. It was disconcerting — invasive almost. At times like this, though, it was helpful. It meant she didn’t have to explain herself.

Girl time.

He smiled at her again, and she finally melted a little. When he leaned in to kiss her, she kissed him back and let herself be distracted by the feel of his lips against hers. The sound of a sharp yowl and snarl made her jump and pull out of Vlad’s arms before he was really ready to let her go. The wolves were only playing. She could see that. Even so, the sound of snarling still made her heart lurch into her throat.

I’ll see you tonight, she said to Vlad just in time to avoid meeting Dex’s gaze again. Claire opened the French doors to their cabin with a simple wave of her hand. As she stepped inside, the scent of fresh wood and summer springs filled her nose. That was one of Claire’s favorite things about the coven. The elements all had a certain scent, and when you’d been in the coven long enough, your cabin started to smell like your element.

Vlad’s cabin carried the scent of burnt wood, and Claire absolutely loved it. While all the cabins were almost identical on the outside, they could decorate however they wanted on the inside. Their cabin was the only one with a piano — not that they’d put it there. Over the last three years, they’d decorated their shared living space with paintings of all the places they wanted to go one day. Their favorites were the coastal cities, especially Portsmouth.

Farrah, one of the members with a gift for healing, was from Portsmouth in the nation of Paralia. If the painting on the wall was accurate, it was breathtaking. The water was so blue, and the buildings were made almost entirely of stone. That’s what it looked like, anyway. The natural harbors and inlets were lined with cliffs while some were lined with powder-white beaches. It was just one of the beautiful places in the world, and after being trapped in an orphanage for half her life, Claire wanted to see the world. 

She knew Naomi felt the same way. Her mother loved to travel, but she hadn’t been able to take Naomi all over the world before she’d died.

Not died, Claire reminded herself.

No. Naomi’s mother and her parents had been killed. They owed it to them to see the world. No matter what. Claire had been given a second chance at life when Vincent saved her from the orphanage — when the coven saved her from the orphanage. No matter what, she couldn’t forget that.

As she was lacing up her boots, stars began to dance in front of her eyes. As her pulse slowed down, it felt like all the blood rushed to her feet as a sudden knowing washed over her. Just like that, it was gone. That was only the third time that had happened — a mini-vision of sorts. Claire didn’t particularly like them, but her normal visions usually weren’t happy. These, on the other hand, were more fun than anything.

One boot laced and the other a clear tripping hazard, she hobbled to Naomi’s door and knocked.

Just a second!

She knocked again, a little harder this time. It’s important.

The door slid open, and wide-eyed Naomi stared up at her. What is it?

That outfit that Farrah got you with the gold trim? You should wear it.

Naomi just blinked at her. What?

Claire let out a very long, suffering sigh. The outf—

No, I got that, Naomi said impatiently. Why?

Claire simply shrugged. The baby vision said so.

Naomi snickered. You could have opened with that, she said, sliding the door closed before Claire could respond.

The Blackwoods Forest was the only one of its kind as far as Claire knew. The trees had a bark that was, quite literally, almost black. It varied in density depending on where you were, but it covered a great deal of the western regions of Easthaven. Their particular part of the forest had gotten thicker with trees as Redwater expanded. Trees didn’t grow that fast, Claire knew, but she also knew that the coven adapted as the world around it changed.

After all, a thousand years was a very long time, and nothing stayed the same for that long. She did wonder what would happen if Redwater kept expanding. She’d speculated with Naomi, and they’d come up with a few theories. The first was that the coven magic would stop Redwater from surrounding the coven altogether, but they weren’t so sure about that. Another and more likely scenario was that the coven would adapt and somehow hide itself.

They knew they were getting close to Redwater by the smell of livestock and smoke and the beginning of a metal pathway that mimicked cobblestone in its pattern below them. If they veered to the left or the right, they’d come upon people who’d built houses outside of town. After following the path for another minute or two, they could see roofs and smoke peeking over the treetops. The buildings on the outer edge of town were mostly row houses framed in wood with walls of plaster. Some of the buildings were made of brick or stone, but they all had crafted glass windows complete with the intricate metal panes.

Further still, they came to an area that had been dubbed Redwater West, because it mimicked the main square of Redwater that was now about two hours away by foot. The main square was where the monorail station was. Claire had seen it once or twice in the past few years, but since they didn’t have to go that far anymore, she hadn’t been back.

While the square in Redwater West was smaller, it wasn’t by much. It was bustling with people, marked by a large courtyard with gorgeous, pink flowers and benches. There was an inn, a few pubs and bars, and the largest building in the square was Claire’s favorite by far — Markey’s Tavern.

Shall we? she asked Naomi.

Naomi smiled at her, relieved to see Claire relaxed, though she still hadn’t told her what was wrong. As they passed by the flowers in the middle of the square, Naomi couldn’t help but stare at them. She’d visited Redwater with her parents countless times during her childhood.

Even now, she could picture her father grabbing handfuls of pink flowers that grew in the center of town and giving them to her and her mother. She remembered her mother’s smile as she gazed up into her father’s eyes, and she remembered the way her auburn hair had spilled down her back. Vincent was the master of making Kate smile with the smallest gestures. Kate’s eyes would sparkle as she bent down to put a flower in Naomi’s hair. Her mother didn’t have to tell her that she loved her. She knew because it was written all over her face. Naomi’s heart squeezed at the memory, but a smile still crossed her face. It had been three years since her mother passed, and Naomi still missed her every day.

Naomi shook her head only to crash right into a very stiff, very tall, and very loud body. The man stopped laughing and frowned down at her, but the harsh expression only highlighted his hollowed cheekbones. His eyes were a captivating shade of light brown, and with the suns hitting them just so, they had golden rays running through them. Naomi’s heart skidded to a stop, and she forgot how to breathe. The only thing that stopped her from staring any longer was his pinched expression.

Sorry, she said as a blush covered her face.

Yeah, fine, was all he said before he turned back to the group he’d been talking to.

Naomi, Claire said, snapping her out of her trance.

She rushed to Claire’s side, determined not to dwell on what had just happened, and followed her inside.

Markey’s wasn’t quiet even when it was empty, and Markey’s was never empty. Today, it was packed, and it was loud. There was a bar, tables where people could be served food, couches, lounge chairs, and an outdoor patio. There was also an upper level that was a little quieter, but their favorite corner table was down here. The tavern usually smelled of pipe smoke and beer, but sometimes the underlying scent of steak permeated the air. Today, though, it was dominated by the smell of burning wood coming from the fireplaces.

Once they’d ordered drinks, Naomi finally said, Claire, the suspense is killing me. She shouldn’t have pressed, but she couldn’t help it.

Claire took a long sip of her drink. She really, really didn’t want to talk about it. The problem with knowing the future was twofold. The first was that she knew what was going to happen, and that was sometimes awful. The second was that whoever she told had to live with that knowledge, too. At times, it made sense to tell everyone in sight. Other times, it wasn’t very nice to burden people with everything that she was destined to carry around. Naomi, however, wouldn’t take no for answer, and she was tired of having no one to talk to.

I had a vision last night, she said.

And? Naomi wasn’t surprised by that part. When something was upsetting Claire so much that she wasn’t ranting and raving, it was usually a vision.

It wasn’t anything specific, just flashes of a new face. The feeling I got is what’s bothering me, Claire took a deep breath. Something’s about to happen.

Naomi sat back in her chair, her eyes shifting to the floor. Another new person, she murmured to herself. Looking back to Claire she said, It’s a little soon. We got Abby only a year ago.

Claire nodded, her mind wandering back to that day. Abigail’s arrival had gone a lot better than Naomi’s. In fact, it’d gone off without a hitch. While Naomi’s arrival had been marked with strife and… an accident, Abigail’s trial had been rather peaceful.

I think so, too, Claire said thoughtfully. It seems like Joan died only yesterday. Joan had been one of the final members to enter the coven before it reached capacity. She’d been nice, but she’d mostly kept to herself. She wasn’t as powerful as most of the other members, which was why she’d been killed. The magic itself chose who lived and who was absorbed into the coven by death.

Naomi studied Claire. Her violet eyes seemed darker than usual, and her finely arched eyebrows were pinched together as she thought.

Did you tell my dad? she asked.

Claire nodded, finally meeting Naomi’s eyes. I told him this morning.

What did he say?

Claire smiled. You know Vincent. He didn’t say anything. ‘Yes, Claire, thank you.’ Sure thing, pal.

Naomi barked out a laugh. Fair enough. I guess you don’t know when?

I’m not that good yet. Let’s talk about something else. That guy over there. He’s attractive.

Naomi glanced over her shoulder and scowled. He’s old.

Claire huffed. He’s not that old.

Okay, maybe he was a little old.

What about him? Naomi asked, nodding toward a man sitting at the opposite corner of the tavern.

Oh, no. That’s your type.

Their game was only interrupted when the doors crashed open and a small crowd of people who were yelling and laughing burst into the tavern. Markey — and you never wanted to see Markey because it meant you were in trouble — exited the kitchen not a second later. His piercing blue eyes were almost hidden by his thick brow, and the hard set of his mouth was all but invisible behind his beard. It was his build that was impressive. Markey was tall — coven magic tall — and he was wider than any member of the Blackwoods coven. If Vincent didn’t have powers, Claire would bet her life that Markey could snap him in half. Maybe not her life. Her left shoe.

I told you not to come back.

Markey didn’t raise his voice, but he didn’t have to. Everyone in the group stopped, and Naomi’s breath caught when she saw the man she’d bumped into earlier at the head. His eyes, while still bright, were dulled by heavy lids, and his arms were loose by his sides. Even with his aggressive posture, he looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.

The man shrugged. You did.

So, leave, boy.

The man frowned at Markey, almost like he didn’t understand why Markey would do this to him.

I want a drink.

Markey looked like he was about to lose it, and so did the man for that matter, though Naomi could tell he was drunk. She concentrated on them both, willing calm to wash over them and compliance to hit the man arguing with Markey. Drunk and annoying or not, a fight didn’t need to happen.

Go, Markey finally said, shoulders slumping as the anger fell from his voice.

The man opened his mouth and closed it. He looked like