Well, it wasn’t very nice of you to keep it all to yourself.” Inez shakes her head, tsking as though she’s scolding a child for stealing a penny candy. I half expect her to squirm and sink in her chair, but she does not she sits tall and straight, and I feel a swell of pride. “Yes, ma’am.” Tess flushes from all the attention. “There’s never been an oracle who was also a witch, much less a witch capable of mind-magic. I stare at Maura, who gazes down at her lap, her fingers fiddling with the lace tablecloth. Isn’t that right, Tess?”Įveryone swivels in her seat to look at Tess. “It has come to my attention,” Inez repeats, relishing the way we all hang on her words, “that it’s not Cate who has been blessed by Persephone with visions of the future. Is Inez going to cast her support for Maura? There’s no more evidence of Maura being an oracle than of me being one. She believed that Cate was likeliest to be the oracle. “Cora put great stock in the prophecy that one of the Cahill sisters would lead us into the next century. Inez gives a dry chuckle like the crack of an old twig. My fork falls out of my hand and lands on the china plate with a dull clink, and I choke on my indignation. We all have the same aims now, don’t we? And the same enemies?” “The Sisterhood has been divided for years, but I hope you will soon see that I have your best interests at heart. “In accordance with the plan of succession, as the eldest witch capable of mind-magic, I am your new headmistress.” Inez’s dark eyes meet mine. Her funeral will take place tomorrow morning at Richmond Cathedral.

“Nonetheless, Cora devoted her life to the Sisterhood, and that is worthy of our respect. Inez holds up a hand, the silver ring of the Sisterhood glinting in the early-morning light.

We did not agree on how to lead the Sisterhood forward, and I thought her overly cautious.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gretchen bristling. “I make no pretense that Cora and I were friends. “I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that Sister Cora passed away last night.” Inez pauses, and the girls around me cast their faces down.

Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood