“Right, cherie.” He cleared his throat. “I held her for days while she slipped between human and wolf, unable to hold either shape. It nearly killed her.” He gave a Gallic shrug. “And it’s worth noting that biting Teresa is what set off this whole chain of evens. Biting more witches could add fuel to the fire that Luciana’s trying to start.”

“I don’t know. Hopefully the other covens can see through Luciana’s crap, and I’d rather have a chance than the alternative.” Beth cracked her knuckles. “And trying would be taking a step to fixing this. Staying like we are isn’t working for anyone.”

Everyone started talking all at once. But Tia Rosa had left me a clue. “You said barring extreme circumstances.” I spoke loudly until the others quieted down. “What might those be?”

Tia Rosa coughed, and the wheeze made my lungs ache. “The wolves are right,” she said when she had her breath back. “Becoming a wolf would break it, but it is dangerous. There are some other supernaturals that might help, but only at a great cost. Most likely a cost higher than any of you would be willing to pay. Otherwise, you must bind to a stronger witch to override the oath, but I know of no such one as long as Luciana holds your power.”

I shook my head. “And Teresa doesn’t count?”

“No. She hasn’t fully come into her powers yet, and by the time she does, it might be too late.”

Yeah. That would’ve been too easy. “Then I don’t know anyone either.” On her own, Luciana was hardly the most powerful coven leader, but with the forces she’d been drawing to her, and all the energy she’d drained from me these past years…

The truth was exactly as I’d feared. My own power was locking all of us in.

“What if you broke your oath?” Raphael said. “If you could get free, the rest of us could bind to you to break ours.”

I laughed with frustration. “Sure. Fine. Great. But we’re facing the same problem either way. I can’t break my oath.” I’d hoped to at least free the others, but we all knew that Luciana had bound me the tightest. It would be that much harder for me to break from her.

“What of Peru?” Donovan asked.

“You mean Muraco’s quest?” He had to be joking. “There’s nothing solid there.” I’d rather do my grasping for straws here, surrounded by my few allies, than alone in a foreign country, where there was no guarantee I’d find anything to make the trip worthwhile.

“Bear with me for a second.”

I took a breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.”

“Muraco says he knows of mages who can fight the kind of magic Luciana is wielding. If you find those mages, and if they have that kind of magic, then it stands to reason that they might also be stronger than she is. Then, you could break your bond and return not only with the magic we need to fight Luciana, but also with the ability to save your coven members from their oaths.”