20
Replaced
The wave of energy sparked her senses as she drove closer to the house off the highway. Crap, she huffed. It definitely wasn’t energy from someone from the Midnight Coven. She cursed as she pulled over and quickly dialed Ethan’s number.
“What?”
Ah, he was as pleasant as ever.
“My lord, I think we may have a problem.”
“You know, I’m seriously considering having a T-shirt made for you with those exact words on it,” he sneered and then snapped, “Why am I not surprised? What the Hades is going on now … incompetent wench.”
She flinched and bit her tongue. If she said anything disrespectful to him, she would be dead in seconds. “I feel an unfamiliar energy radiating from the house. I think it’s Daylight. I’m just parked off to the side of their driveway.”
“That’s why you’re calling me?”
Duh.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Xylena, do you remember why you’re going to the house?”
What?
“Yes, my lord.”
“And do you remember to whom you are going to visit?”
He really was a jackass. “Yes, my lord.”
“And do you remember that Caia has just been introduced to her new powers? That the energy coming from the house is most probably hers?”
Oops.
“No, my lord. I didn’t think of that.”
“Yes. Obviously.”
“I apologize for disturbing you, my lord.” She was lucky he hadn’t fried her already.
“Just get your ass in there.”
“Of co—”
He hung up on her. Charming. Prince of the coven, my ass, she snarled and threw her phone down. Fricking toad.
Caia took a deep breath and smoothed her hair back before she opened the door. She’d been training constantly for the last week with Marion and hadn’t seen anyone other than Marion, Saffron, and the Elders since the revelation. Everything seemed to be going well so far. Marion was impressed by how quickly she was learning to control her powers and awed by their range.
But Caia was exhausted and she missed her friends. And to be honest, despite all the sadness and madness, she was a little excited by her new powers and wanted to share them with Jaeden and Sebastian. Instead of her working at Lucien’s this Saturday, Jae and Seb were on their way over to visit with her.
“Sebastian.” She smiled and drew him into a hug. He squeezed her tightly and placed an affectionate kiss on the top of her head. “How are you?”
He chuckled and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “How am I? You’re asking me how I am?”
“Yes.”
“I’m okay, now I know you’re not angry at me.”
Caia shoved him playfully and then gestured for him to follow her upstairs. “Angry at you? Seb, you saved my life at school, getting me into your car so fast. Thank you.”
He looked adorably embarrassed by her gratitude, shrugging and mumbling under his breath. She wanted him to know she was serious. He’d been a true friend to her throughout the whole ordeal.
“Honestly, Sebastian. Thank you.” She exhaled slowly. “You even tried to tell me the truth that Saturday …”
“About that.” He blushed again. “Caia, I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I was wasted.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, you were. But you were also sweet. Wanting to mate with me so the pack would accept me.”
Sebastian groaned but it morphed into laughter. “Will you stop? I’m dying of humiliation here.”
“Don’t be humiliated, Seb—”
The doorbell rang, cutting her off.
“Just go up to my room. That’ll be Jae—we’ll be a sec.”
When she threw open the door seconds later, she followed the action up by throwing herself into her best friend’s arms. Jaeden laughed but hugged her close.
“Whoa, Cy. You OK?”
Pulling back, she was shocked by the strange feeling of unfamiliarity that hit her. She smelled like Jaeden, her energy felt like Jaeden, but there seemed to be something else there. It was the strangest trace she’d ever encountered—thick, smog-like, icy. It was difficult to describe the feelings that ran through her. She blinked, trying to clear her mind, and then noticed how uncomfortable Jaeden was. Jae’s eyes darted all over the house, into the hall, the kitchen, up the staircase.
“I’m fine. Just glad you’re here,” Caia answered. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Of course. Is Sebastian coming?”
“He’s already here. Let’s go up.” Caia frowned over her shoulder at Jae as they walked upstairs. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Really. Anyway, you’re the one who’s been through all the crap. How are you really? How’s the training?”
“Good, I think.”
Once they were seated in her bedroom with Sebastian, Caia’s brows furrowed at how stiff her friend seemed, still trying to identify the unfamiliar trace that Jae reeked of. Jaeden narrowed her eyes at her scrutiny. “So, Cy, everyone at school’s been talking about your meltdown with Alexa last week.”
“Oh, great.” Just what she needed—gossiping kids when she returned to school on Monday.
“I wish I’d been there to see Alexa fly across the room.”
Sebastian nodded. “Right? Man, it would’ve made my year.”