Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Lucien nodded, glad he didn’t have to deal with inquisitive humans. Before he could say anything on the matter, Ella asked, “Caia, why did you … magikally poof Alexa across the room? She wouldn’t say.”

Caia blanched, her eyes flicking to him. “Uh—”

Something about her expression alerted him.

“Uh …” She struggled to explain and finally snapped defiantly. “You know what? I’d rather not say, and given your little penchant for secrets, I’m sure you won’t mind if I keep a few of my own.”

Lucien narrowed his gaze in annoyance. He’d let her have her secret. For now.

Caia received a phone call from Jaeden shortly after, begging Caia to forgive her for her own part in the deception. But it wasn’t Jaeden she was incensed with; neither was it Sebastian nor Magnus. Her anger was directed solely at Lucien and the other Elders. As everyone else in the pack had to do what they and Lucien advised, she realized how difficult it must’ve been for her friends to lie to her.

As she revisited their past conversations, they’d even hinted at the truth. Sebastian had almost told her on Saturday evening when he was drunk, but Lucien had intervened at the moment of truth, and then kissed her. Which brought her to the question of why he would do that, but then sleep with Alexa? She concluded he was trying to (a) distract her from Sebastian’s faux pas, and (b) butter her up to keep her on their side so she wouldn’t fight against them with the Midnight Coven.

“Do you really believe Alexa?” Jaeden asked her.

Caia glanced once more at her door. She was paranoid the pack would keep a closer eye on her now, to even go so far as to spy. An irritating thought suddenly occurred to her.

“Saffron?” she asked, scouring the room. Thankfully, she heard nothing and felt no one else’s energy.

“What?” Jaeden asked, confused.

“Sorry, not you. And, no, I’m not positive Alexa was telling the truth. But if so, she’s a hell of a liar and you know how cozy the two of them were in his shop. She’s been there every day of the week since.”

“Yeah, but, Cy, Alexa is the mistress of lies and manipulation. She could cover the lie easily. I just don’t see Lucien sleeping with her.”

“I don’t want to believe it either, but I’m not exactly going to ask him about it. I’m not really in a talkative mood with the master of lies and manipulation. See? They’re perfect for each other.”

“I don’t believe her.”

Caia slumped back on her bed. “It doesn’t matter. Right now, I have uncontrolled powers and a prophecy to deal with. The part where my mother murdered my father is getting tucked to the back of my brain for the time being.”

“You’re compartmentalizing.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“Sure,” Jaeden said, a smile in her voice. “It’s what Sydney does in Alias all the time. Talk about dysfunctional families. Woof.”

“I thought you didn’t watch a lot of TV?”

“I don’t, but Alias isn’t just any old TV show. It’s Alias.”

“Well, never mind that it’s fictional, Jae, my reality is that my mother killed my dad.”

“Sydney inadvertently killed her mother.”

“I’m a lykan and have to hide within a human world.”

“She’s a spy and has to hide her identity from everyone she loves.”

“I’m prophecy girl.”

“So was she.”

Caia sighed. “Again … I actually exist, Jae. I think I win.”

“I guess you do. I was …” Jaeden exhaled noisily, and Caia sensed she felt helpless. “I was just trying to make you feel better in a situation where that can’t possibly happen.”

“The fact that you tried means a lot.”

“I’m here for you. Always.”

The sound of the floorboards creaking outside her room made her tense. She narrowed her eyes as she felt waves of curiosity, mixed with guilt, filtering through the walls. “I’m going to have to go, Jaeden.”

“Wait!”

“What?” She really didn’t want whoever was outside listening to hear something they shouldn’t. She sniffed and Lucien’s scent hit her. He really wanted to piss her off, didn’t he?

“I was just wondering what happens now?”

“Training with Marion. You’ll cover for me at school?”

“Of course.”

“Gotta go, Jae. Talk later.”

“Bye.”

Caia hung up and tiptoed to the door. He was still standing outside; she could feel him. With perverse satisfaction, she pulled the door open lightning quick. Aghast, Lucien stood looking at her, his ear turned toward the door. If she hadn’t been so angry at him, the sheepish look on his face would have been comical. “I can feel you, remember,” she snapped.

“Oh. Right.” He straightened to his full six feet six and then wiped the sheepishness from his face and demeanor. “I was just making sure you were alright.”

“That’s not really your problem anymore.”

He cut her a dark look. “I’m still your Pack Leader, Caia.”

“Do you lie to every member of your pack, or am I just special?”