Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Jaeden studied her carefully.

Caia waited, trying to keep her pulse rate normal.

Finally, her friend grinned. “You’re loco, you know that?”

“It’s been drawn to my attention on occasion.”

“Besides the loco, I’m really glad you came back. You’re sort of soothing to be around.”

Caia would take it. “You were right before. I’m not used to being around so many people. I hope I can keep the names straight. I feel like a bumbling idiot most of the time”

“Yeah … you are kind of awkward.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Laughing, Jaeden threw a pillow at her. “I’m kidding.”

After a moment of comfortable silence, Jaeden giggled as if she had just remembered something. “So, you ready to bare all to the goddess on your first run with the pack?”

Caia’s heart stopped. “Bare what?”

“Are things going to plan?” he asked his agent.

“Very well. I nearly have all the information I require to execute Phase One,” she purred.

“You’ve raised no suspicions?”

“Not a single one.”

“Good. Make sure it stays that way. I want the information soon. Very soon.”

“You’ll have it, sir.”

“Hmm, we’ll see. I’ll be in contact.” He placed the phone down on the receiver, eyeing Lars. His assistant was hopping from one foot to the other, like a puppy waiting on a treat.

“Well?” Lars asked excitedly.

“Do you have to be right at my back? Go stand on the other side of the room.”

“I take it things aren’t going well.” Lars’s face fell as he retreated from his superior.

“According to our spy, everything’s going perfectly well. She’ll be sending the information we need over the next few weeks.”

“And Caia?”

“Integrating into the pack. By the time we get the little bitch, the pack may actually mourn her.”

Lars sneered. “Yes, but by then, we’ll have all the information we need to destroy the rest of the mangy mutts … they won’t have time to mourn the abomination.”

A slow, lazy smile spread across his face. He liked it when his lackeys were enthusiastic. “Sometimes, I do like your way with words.”

8

Secret Worlds

“You nervous about the run tomorrow?” Sebastian asked as he eased back on her bed. She’d been hoping to sleep late, with it being Saturday and all, but Caia had been awoken by Ella, who told her she had visitors coming over. She’d reluctantly gotten up and showered and had a sleepy breakfast with Ella while Irini sipped cup after cup of coffee in preparation for her early picnic with Aidan. Caia hoped Aidan liked grumpy for brunch because Irini really wasn’t a morning person. An hour after she’d gotten up, Sebastian and Jaeden came strolling in, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Goddess, they were superhuman.

“I don’t know. A little.” She nodded from her position at her desk. “Especially after the reminder that we’ll all be naked together.”

Jaeden was on the floor doing sit-ups. She smiled in between each one. “There is nothing to worry about, I promise. It’s a lot of fun, the whole pack running together, the sound of all those paws pounding the ground.”

“All those parts bouncing around,” Sebastian teased.

Caia groaned. “There’s a mental image I didn’t need.”

“Oh, come on, Caia, just keep your eyes at face level and you’ll be fine.”

They laughed together for a moment, enjoying her embarrassment.

“What about the little ones?” Caia frowned. “Who looks after them?”

One thing Caia did know about the pack run, anyone under the age of fifteen was not allowed to take part.

“You mean, like Jaela and Sunday and the others?”

Caia had no idea who the kids were, except Jaela, so she just nodded. “I guess I do.”

“The moms take turns looking after them. For instance, Lucia will look after all of them one run, but for the next one, Cera will, and then Imogen.”

She found herself frowning again. “Who are Cera and Imogen?”

“Cera is Lucia’s sister—and Ivan, Joaquin, and Kerianna’s mom. Her husband died a year back … shot,” Jaeden whispered the word.

Caia’s eyes widened. “Shot?”

Jaeden teared up. “Some stupid human wanted his wallet, and he wouldn’t give it to him. We guess it’s because he thought he could take him, you know, if it came to a fight, but he just pulled out the gun and shot Michel in the head. If it hadn’t been such close range, he would’ve been able to change so he could regenerate.”

“My goddess … how awful.”

They were silent a moment until Sebastian cleared his throat and sat up on the bed. “Imogen is my mom, by the way,” he offered. “Sunday’s my little sister. She’s five. I have another little sister, Seana. And Isaac’s my dad.”

Caia shook her head. “I’m never going to remember everyone, am I?”

Jaeden stopped exercising. “It’ll take time. There’s a lot of us.”

She nodded and was quiet as Jaeden scolded Sebastian for putting his feet on the bed.

“Hey, I have a question,” Caia interrupted their squabble.

“Yeah?”

“Where do we run?”

“At the back of your place.” Sebastian indicated her window with a nod.