Sacred Circle by Rachel James

mind? We are not going to repair anything. Not even to appease our guilt over past mistakes.”
    “Brianna.”
    Brianna hopped to her feet.
    “No, I don’t want to hear it, Papa. You attempted to reverse a spell without knowing its source and look what’s happened.” She whirled around, glaring at both Francis and Devlin. “No one is going to try any type of repair—until I give the word. There have been enough reckless acts already. It’s time for some logical assessments for a change.” She rounded on Francis. “Is there anyone who hasn’t come down with the bug besides you, Francis?”
    He ignored her question, turning his back on her, and retaking his former chair. He shot her a mutinous glare, and then shifted his attention to the outside window. Seeing his slouched posture and mulish expression, Brianna’s anger edged up a decibel; however, before she could utter a scathing retort, Brad intervened.
    “Rufus is still healthy, and so are some of the teens,” he said.
    “Where can we find Rufus?” Devlin asked, clutching Brianna’s elbow and pulling her towards him.
    “In his office,” Francis finally spoke up. “But if you think you can convince him to let you examine the circle, let me warn you, you cannot step foot in the clearing.”
    “Why the hell not?” Brianna hissed.
    “You aren’t married,” he gloated. “The Sanctity Law clearly states that no unmarried man or woman can enter the Sacred Clearing once they are of age.”
    His words floored Brianna, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, her mouth formed a perfect rosette.
    “Oh, dear, didn’t anyone tell you, Francis? Devlin and I married years ago.”
    Shock siphoned the blood from his face and Brianna would’ve laughed if she hadn’t heard the intake of breath mirrored by Devlin. Francis’ gaze dropped to her ring-less hand and then to Devlin’s left hand.
    “You always did love making a mockery of our laws, Brianna,” he stated.
    “No, it was you I loved making a mockery of,” she replied.
    Devlin quelled the rivalry at once.
    “Can the insults, you two. We’ve a pressing problem to solve. We need to get Rufus’s permission to examine the clearing and we need to get it now.” Francis started to rise from the chair; however, Devlin waved him down. “It’s best we face Rufus on our own, Francis.”
    “Like you did fifteen years ago?”
    For the first time since they had arrived, Brianna saw Devlin’s demeanor darken.
    “Careful, Francis, you’re treading on thin ice here. I still know a thing or two about spell making, and I’m not above proving that to you.”
    Francis blanched at the threat, and then slouched deeper into his chair. Noting his posture, Devlin pushed Brianna out the door, and down the hallway. Nearing the elevator, Brianna balked at his aggressive shoving.
    “Stop pushing me, I’m not a vacuum cleaner.” Reaching the elevator, she jammed the “down” button rapidly.
    “Neither of us can afford to act like brats,” Devlin replied. “We have to sound grown up and confident—even if we aren’t.”
    “Do you honestly think either of us is ready to face a Sacred Circle again?”
    “Not without the Council’s blessing.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “I know what you meant.”
    “It is forbidden for an unmarried couple to enter a Sacred Clearing; we forgot that. So unless you can conjure up a wife in the next few minutes, we are screwed.”
    Devlin stuffed his hands into his back jeans pocket.
    “Our problem will be solved if you consent to marry me in the next few minutes,” he countered.
    “That isn’t funny.” Brianna shot him a withering glance. “We have to find a way to circumvent the Sanctity law.”
    “Rufus will never agree.”
    “He’ll have to. Otherwise, I’ll make so many allegations of attempted murder, his head will spin.”
    A black scowl saturated Devlin’s features at the threat. He snatched her arm and shook it.
    “Don’t even think about pushing him.