Chapter 312

Tessa’s POV

“This isn’t something you need to think about right now,” Patty said when she saw the panicked look on my face. “But if it’s something you are interested in, well… you have our vote and support.”

“We would like it if you were our leader,” Claira said, giving me a small smile.

I was completely stunned. This wasn’t something I was expecting; honestly, the thought of being their new leader didn’t really occur to me. Sure, it’s been joked about in the past, but I didn’t think anyone was serious when they said they wanted me to be their leader.

I didn’t know the first thing about leading a coven; I didn’t even know a thing about magic. At least not yet.

“I might actually join the coven full-time if you were our leader,” Esme said with a wink. “But I’m still going to live in my shop. It’s become my life over the years.”

“Do you really think I’d make a good coven leader?” I asked the group; my voice coming out breathy.

“Of course,” everybody practically said at the same time.

“We would love it and support you the entire time,” Hannah said, giving me a reassuring smile. “It would also make us feel better knowing we had a leader.”

“That’s an understatement,” Amy said, taking a bite of bacon. I ignored the bile rising in my throat as I stared at the bacon. “Just promise us you won’t brainwash us.”

I chuckled at her words.

“I promise, I won’t brainwash you,” I said, smiling at her.

“So, is that a yes?” Laura asked, her tone soft as usual.

“Can I think about it?” I asked them in return. “It’s a lot to process and I think I just need a minute before I decide on anything.”

“Of course,” Claira said, reaching her hand out to squeeze mine gently. “Take your time.”

I smiled at her.

“Thanks,” I replied.

The conversation shifted to different topics. I helped clear the table and wash the dishes while Joseph went to his at-home office to work on his novel. Afterward, I went outside into the backyard with Esme to practice magic.

She had a spell book and we worked on various different spells. I was pleased that others joined us outside and demonstrated their cool elemental powers for me. As the Heavenly Heart, I had an infinity for all elements, including spirit, so I practiced a little with each one. It took a lot of concentration, but eventually, I started to get the hang of things.

Even Esmeralda was impressed with how quickly I was learning.

As I stood outside, my bare feet digging into the prickly grass, I closed my eyes and took in the nature around me. I felt so grounded and alive while I was surrounded by all of the elements. It was like each aspect of the earth was speaking to me and calling for me. It gave me a surge of energy that I never truly expected.

Growing up on the farm, I had always loved being outside. I guess this was the reason for that. As I thought of air and called a light breeze to soothe away the scorching heat of the sun, I felt a light breeze tickling my features and dancing around my body like it was especially there to entertain me.

I could smell the scent of rain as I called water to me and then the light scent of saltwater from the ocean invaded my senses next. It made the backyard feel like a beach, or at least somewhere tropical.

When I opened my eyes, I saw my coven smiling at me. They were happy I was getting the hang of my powers. I was even able to cast a fire spell without burning down any trees, thankfully.

After a few hours, Esme finally put her hand on my shoulder and said, “We will practice more tomorrow. But I think we should call it a day.”

I nodded, knowing that everyone was pretty eager to go shopping.

With that, we went inside, got dressed for the evening in our individual bathrooms and then we boarded the van and went into the city.

The girls basically wanted to go into every single boutique, and they dragged the guys in with them. Amy and Hannah enjoyed doing a fashion show while Laura was more private and stayed in the dressing rooms to try on each outfit for her eyes alone.

It was funny how different each person in this coven was.

Austin was private too and he didn’t buy much stuff. Bennet enjoyed showing off his new clothes, though he didn’t buy much either. He said he had plenty of clothes already and he didn’t despise them.

Cole, on the other hand, had no issues taking advantage of Joseph’s generosity and bought as much stuff as he could get. Like the girls and Bennet, he enjoyed showing off his clothes. He bought numerous hats and accessories as well.

Claira didn’t want to go shopping, so she stayed behind with Esme.

Patty only wanted to explore the city; she bought a couple of things with her own money, despite my insisting she allowed me to pay for them with Joseph’s card. She still refused any money and paid with her own funds.

Within a few hours of shopping, I found myself getting tired and needing to sit down while the others ran around and shopped to their heart's content. Noticing my fatigue, Patty sat beside me on the bench.

“Are you feeling well?” She asked me.

I nodded, giving her a faint smile.

“Yeah, just tired,” I confessed. “I think training took a lot out of me.”

She nodded in understanding.

“Your mom would be so proud of you,” she said, reaching out and grabbing my hand. “You truly are an incredible woman, Tessa. I’m sorry that things have been so hard and I’m sorry for my part in it all.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Patty. It wasn’t really you, remember?”

She nodded and then bit her lower lip.

“It’s all so confusing though; especially now that I have most of my memories back from that time. Yeah, I know I couldn’t control myself and he had this hold on all of us. But some of my feelings were real, I think. Remembering your father, I know I flirted with him often… for a while, it was mainly jokes. I didn’t really want him, and I respected that he didn’t want any romantic relationship. I don’t think Lucias put those thoughts and feelings in my head… I don’t think he would have thought of something like that. But after Lucias died and I got control of my mind again, most of my thoughts and feelings vanished and my memories from the last couple of decades were wiped until a few days later. But I think I had a thing for your father… like a real thing. I can’t really explain it. It’s so confusing.”

She was rambling and my heart went out to her. I squeezed her hand gently and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Her eyes were downcast as she took a deep breath.

“When he got married to Penny, I was jealous,” she admitted, her lips still being chewed raw between her teeth. “I think something inside of me just snapped and I continued to make a fool out of myself. I don’t know what came over me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he hated me.”

“My father could never hate you, Patty,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. “If anything, right now, he hates me for saying terrible things about his beloved Penny… or Eevee… whoever she is.”

Patty’s face went pale at my words; it was like she forgot that Penny could be Eevee, which would make her way eviler than we initially thought. The thought was unsettling, and I desperately wanted my father to hear the reason, but I doubt he would if I tried to tell him.

I sighed and shook the thought from my mind for right now; I needed to focus on making Patty feel better because it was clear she was upset.

“Whenever you were in need, like with your bakery, or whatever… my father would jump to help you fix it,” I told her, giving her a fond smile. “Even when it was my mother’s birthday, and we were going to go to the grave like we did every year. You had that flood in your bakery, and he went to help you instead of going with me.”

She cringed at my words.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have called him,” she said quickly, tears filling her eyes.

“I know, Patty. I don’t blame you for that. I just don’t want you to blame yourself for anything. My dad doesn’t hate you. He never could,” I assured her.

She nodded and gave me a small smile, which actually reached her eyes this time.

“Have you decided if you want to be our coven leader yet?” She asked.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s a big responsibility. A lot to think about.”

“I think you should,” she said quickly. “We already like you and you are letting us live in your house. You saved us from Lucias, and for that, we will always be grateful to you. The role of coven leader was meant to be yours from the beginning. It was supposed to be passed down to your mother before she died and then later passed to you… We would be honored to have you as our leader.”

“But what about you and Claira? You’ve been a part of this coven for way longer. You are the coven mother,” I reminded her, feeling tears filling my eyes.

I have been feeling so emotional lately. What was wrong with me?

Patty just chuckled.

“Neither of us wants the role; we are happy with our lives as the coven mother and taking care of them as if they were your children. We enjoy being helpful, but we aren’t leaders. We aren’t strong enough to call ourselves leaders. But you… Tessa… are the strongest being to ever exist and we would be honored to call you our leader.”

I wrapped my arm around her and rested my head on her shoulder.

“Thanks, Patty,” I told her. “Then, yes. I’ll be honored to be the coven leader.”

She clapped her hands excitedly and then together; we went to announce the good news.