United. (Book 5 of the Lupus Antiqua Series)

She'd never been able to teleport before, but she knew how to now. It was like something about snapping had given her more power than she'd ever had before.

She had no idea what to make of it, no clue where it had come from. But it didn't matter now. All that mattered was Endymion. They landed in her bedroom, on the bed.

She pulled off his dirty clothes and got a wash rag and a bowl of warm water. He wasn't quite conscious. She worried that the poison had reached his mind. If it had, he'd be addicted to it for life, and there were no more Anguis to stave off the lethal withdrawal. Had she gone too far?

She fought back the tears that threatened to fall and started to wipe him down.

"That will help, but he needs a healer, daughter." Abby shot up and spun around that newly accessible massive well of power roaring into the space around her, ready to face any threat. She came up short when she realized who was in the room with her.

"High Witch Earth!" She gasped. The woman smiled gently as Abby got a grip on herself and tamped her power down.

"Hello, my hidden Imperium." The High Witch reached out and moved some of Abby's hair back behind her ear, eyes going soft with sadness. "Oh daughter, this day has not been kind. Will you permit me to inspect your mate?" She asked, seeming to understand that Abby was feeling very protective of Endymion.

"Yes." She nearly whispered feeling emotional over the kindness in the older woman's eyes and touch.

"They used a great deal of poison but it did not have time to reach his mind. How did you get him out in time?" Abby blinked and swallowed hard.

"I slaughtered them." She admitted. The High Witch turned to look at her appraisingly.

"All of them?" She asked, something like awe in her voice.

"All but Natalie. The Naga's father did that, to make amends and then pulled the poison out of him."

"I shall inspect the scene and converse with the Naga, to inform the High Council. But they threatened your mate. That is sacrosanct and inviolable. They brought it upon themselves so I doubt you will be punished, but an investigation must be done."

"I understand."

"Good. I will call our healer here, he'll be good as new in no time, do not fear."

**

Anya, the High Witch of the Earth covens stood in the warren of tunnels and caverns that had once housed her Anguis coven. It was dead silent, dead being the operative word.

"It's carnage without a drop of blood spilled. Are you telling me this sheltered Imperium with zero War Witch training did all of this?" Kani, the leader of the War college leaned against a table where a dead Anguis was slumped over.

Her fierce grey eyes missed nothing about the place.

"Yes. They took her mate, and she obliterated them. The Naga himself made amends by ending Natalie." Kani's eyes widened.

"She frightened the Naga?"

"Why else would he have destroyed his progeny? He made this entire cave system to protect and house them." Anya stated.

Kani whistled low, face impressed.

"She made quite the showing for her first time out. She's very welcome at the War college. We'd never turn down an Imperium anyway. Their power is of the mind, which makes it's potential unlimited. If she's this much a force to be reckoned with already, imagine what a weapon she will be when fully trained and educated.

And this connection to the wolves can only be good for us. I've been saying for centuries that we should be closer with them. Of all the supernatural beings their interests most closely align with ours. This can only be good for us with everything that is about to go down."

Anya sighed.

"None of those prophecies are confirmed. There are so many different ways for it to go." She knew that what she was saying was wishful thinking, but she held out hope.

Kani knew that too, but she wasn't the type who was willing to pretend everything was okay when it wasn't.

"You know better Anya. It is more and more likely that the uprising is coming. The necessary people are being born as we speak, coming into their own power.

What is asleep is waking. What has been biding its time is now on the move. The oracles have been clear about this. We shall need Abigail in the coming war. We shall need the wolves." Kani gestured around to the dead Anguis.

"We should get this cleaned up. Shall I attend to the Matron?" Anya nearly growled with anger.

"I will deal with her myself. She shall be made an example of. The Matrons are becoming too full of themselves and they must be put in their place. That she thought to conceal such a powerful girl from the High Council indicates a rift that must be sealed. We must be unified as we have always been since the last Witch War."

"Agreed." Kani said. "I will attend to the dead, and seal off this cave system so that none are exposed to the Naga here while you attend to the Matron."

**

The High Council made up of all the elemental High Witches gathered in the meeting chamber, all staring at the woman on the floor.

She was screaming and writhing around, scratching at her skin. The image of this meeting was being broadcast to all matrons. Anya stepped forward.

This Matron of the Birch Coven has hidden one of the True Witches born under her purview. The woman she hid away is an Imperium." There were gasps all around. "This woman was stowed in a remote mountain cabin, and she was left untrained in her abilities beyond the Duty of The Blessed and basic casting. As it turns out the Imperium is the fated mate of one of the ancient werewolves.

When this Matron discovered this, she employed the Anguis to take her mate from her and have their way with him. The Imperium, as you might expect, snapped and went to get her mate back.

In the process, she massacred the entire Anguis coven. They no longer exist. They have been wiped off the map. She even received an apology from the Naga himself for the actions of his progeny.

This is what she did to the Matron for the betrayal." Anya gestured to the prone woman.

"Do any of you wish to penalize the Imperium?" There was a ringing silence and then one by one, every matron and High Witch voted no. Anya shook her head. As she suspected. The Matrons crimes were of the worst sort. She had stunted that girl's life for selfishness and greed. It was not acceptable.

"Then look. And behold the wrath of a War Witch Imperium, and remember what happens to Matrons who overstep themselves" With that, she cut off the feed and glanced to the High Witch of the Light, Serena, who was often the final decider of punishment and law. As the oldest of them, she was also the wisest.

"Display her publicly until she dies naturally. Let her suffering be a firm example of why we cannot tolerate disorder among such power as we possess.

We are the guardians of this Earth. Corrupt motives deserve no mercy. It seems the Imperium knew this instinctively. I expect great things from her. It will be interesting to watch her progress."

"Indeed, what a weapon she will be." High Witch of Night, Calliope murmured, eyes on the suffering matron with a wicked glint of amusement.

Two of the most dangerous High Witches were intrigued by her coven daughter. Abigail was in for an interesting and complex future.