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I had
no desire to mingle with the others.
    As the son of the High Priestess, I was
frequently plagued by women in the coven, who wanted to exploit my
connection to my mother. I wasn’t interested in a serious
relationship and if I showed interest in a member of the coven I
would be expected to commit. I chose to only see non-witches
because those relationships came with no strings attached. Luckily,
the human population was overrun with sexually frustrated women,
who considered me the bad boy type. I never wanted for company, and
I did not need the complications of the type of company I would
find here tonight.
    My mother, Diamante climbed the stairs to
the stage at the back. She commanded their obedience without saying
or doing anything. They simply quieted at the sight of her.
    “I’m glad to see you’re all here. We need to
address an issue and it cannot wait since there is limited time to
court her. The child of Irena and Devon Cross, is about to ascend.”
Diamante paused for the coven to react, and proceeded. “I know you
must be surprised, because I have kept their child a secret all
these years. However, I did not wish another coven to learn about
her existence and stake a claim on her. Unfortunately, it has come
to my attention that another has.”
    The assembly of people began murmuring, a
sign that my mother’s capabilities were being doubted. As the High
Priestess, she was expected to uphold our coven’s best interest. A
witch with Cross blood in her veins could have brought an obscene
level of power to our collective.
    Bored, I began inching away from the wall to
leave the room. I wasn’t interested in politics or my mother’s
plotting. I was almost entirely through the exit, when I heard my
mother say my name.
    “Liam has agreed to help us fix this
issue.”
    Hearing shouts that questioned how I could
possibly help; I couldn’t help wondering the same thing. I thought
back to the past few days and… nope. I did not suffer an injury
that would cause memory loss or poor judgment, and that was the
only way I could be expected to help my mother with anything. I
wondered how she expected to ensure my cooperation.
    “The Cross girl is an adolescent, which
means she is likely to be guided by her hormones and nothing more.
Girls at that age don’t care about anything other than themselves
and boys. This is how we can be certain she will choose us for her
initiation. Liam will seduce her into falling in love with him, and
when she does, she won’t dare choose another coven for fear of
losing him.”
    Oh, God. My blood began to rush, while a
roaring began in my ears. I saw black, as I ground my teeth and
induced a migraine. My mother expected me to pimp myself out
to a teenage witch, who had mostly likely been a pampered little
princess from the day she was born. The Cross family was one of the
highest lineages in the paranormal community. Famous, Rich, and
Royalty; meant that she would probably be a spoiled, opinionated
ditz, with no idea what the real world was like. I couldn’t believe
my mother expected me to seduce that.
    After the coven dissipated, my mother found
me in her suite. The floor was evidence of my continued pacing,
while waiting for her to finish with the coven.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I
asked. “Offering my help to the coven, without even speaking to me
about it?”
    “What’s the matter? At least we will finally
put your womanizing talent to good use.” Diamante challenged. She
sat at her vanity and pulled her black hair down to brush, while
looking at me in the mirror.
    “I only date non-witches. There is no way I
am helping you with this scheme. You want me to seduce a 16 year
old? Are you crazy?” I crossed my arms and leaned against the post
of her four poster bed.
    Diamante pursed her lips. “I have understood
your rebellion. I haven’t asked for you to take responsibility, as
my son. I’ve let you do what you want, when you have wanted, but
this