Sacred Circle by Rachel James Page A

If you do, we will be ousted from the commune before our twenty-four hours is up.”
    Brianna jerked free of his fingers.
    “Stop bossing me around. I outrank you, thanks to my heritage.”
    He took a step back, his expression one of impatience. And then he grabbed her elbow and shoved her into the now open elevator cage. In less than a minute, they were moving through the downstairs lobby, and out the front door, into the full fledged darkness of night. Reaching the sidewalk, Brianna slowed her steps.
    “I didn’t mean what I said back there,” she apologized. “You bring out the worst in me. You always have.”
    He sighed at her words.
    “I’m not your enemy, Brianna.”
    She sighed even louder.
    “I know that . . . no, don’t say it. I’m not your babysitter either, but I need to know that we are both on the same page here.” She saw his mouth open. “No, I need your assurance right now, or I swear I will invoke my rights as High Priestess and toss you out of the commune.”
    He took her elbow again, this time more gently; however, his words were anything but gentle.
    “You may be used to browbeating clients in your daily life, but don’t try that bullshit on me. If by some miracle, we get permission to enter the clearing, neither of us will be attempting any secondary ritual in an effort to resolve this problem—even if you’ve thought everything out in that level-headed brain of yours. Disrupting a spell always results in disaster. Mother Nature sees to it.”
    Satisfaction pursed Brianna’s mouth.
    “We are on the same page at last. We will examine first, talk it out, and then make a decision together.”
    “Unless of course, a hasty marriage is the best option,” Devlin added.
    Brianna’s hiss was out before she could stop it.
    “Don’t make me cast a spell on you instead of Francis.” She felt her elbow gripped harder, followed by a strong push towards a grassy swale.
    “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Rapunzel. Being married to you doesn’t have the same fascination it once did. It sounds more like a prison sentence now.”
    Brianna didn’t bother to hide her laughter.
    “See, I knew we were on the same page.”
    “Well, hold that thought, because if I remember right, Rufus Lord never liked either of us very much. One misplaced threat, and he’ll have the Council come down on us hard.”
    “You think he knows we’re here?”
    “Is the Pope Catholic?”
    “Right.” Brianna frowned. “Let’s get a move on. Patience is not my strong suit.”
    “Amen to that.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
ELDER OFFICES
    The Healing Center was empty except for the sound of falling water, a fact that pleased Brianna more than she could say. She needed to hear something soothing for a change, and she only hoped that her current feeling of calm wouldn’t desert her during their upcoming meeting with Rufus Lord. She glanced at the far end of the room, to the etched rock formation called Spirit Fountain. At least they had retained the beauty of the building in its purest, physical form.
    “Try not to be a rotten brat when we get in there, huh?”
    Brianna crinkled her nose, entering the narrow hallway ahead of Devlin’s mock bow. She had never learned the art of holding her tongue; however, it was rude of him to remind her of it. After all, they had just agreed to work together. She passed a pastel mural on the wall, and then another, impressed by the serenity of the pieces. Had Rufus chosen the paintings? It was hard to imagine, given his sour disposition and chilling stare.
    Reaching the back offices, Brianna heard raised voices and instantly recognized the deeper of the two. She bustled down the corridor and through Rufus’s open door.
    “Tommy! For heaven sakes! What are you doing here? However did you find me?”
    Her colleague’s grin was amiable, a total contrast to his rumpled clothes.
    “It wasn’t easy. This place isn’t listed on any GPS tracking map in the known world. I have to say, however,