Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Blinking back sudden exhaustion, Caia looked away. Tonight, he was supposed to have been her comfort, her safe place, and that’s why she’d given herself to him without thought, without hesitation. And the way he’d looked at her, as if she were the only thing worthwhile in this world.

Lucien may have come to terms with their respective parents taking away their choices when they were children. He may even want her for real now. But he wanted her on his terms, and the more he kept things from her—important things that concerned not only the pack but this entire war—the more he made her feel like a pawn. And she wasn’t a pawn.

She tore away from the bed and clambered out of her bedroom window. The change burned out her exhaustion and soothed her jangling nerves as she rushed into the woods with renewed energy. She found the clearing where she and Lucien had first played together and stood staring up at the moon, the scents of the night fluttering into her snout and spreading through her body like rightness. She knew Lucien would hear her howl, but she didn’t care. She trusted at least that he would leave her in peace for the moment.

After howling her heart out, Caia padded around in a circle, back and forth, around and around, her mind whirling. What she needed was to be in on finding Jaeden. She couldn’t just let the others search while she stayed home twiddling her thumbs like the little Mrs.

Ha! She snorted and bared her canines instinctively. Bastard, she whined.

No, what she needed was to find Ethan, and to do that, she needed to connect to him again.

She glanced back through the woods toward the house. Unfortunately, that meant returning to the scene of the crime—her bed. She needed to sleep, and she needed to hope that in her dreams, Ethan would inadvertently lead her to her friend.

24

Resolve

“She sounds impressive, Marion,” Vanne mused begrudgingly, as he looked to his wife for agreement. Marion waited. If anyone thought Marion was hard to impress, they hadn’t met her sister. Marita was probably the most difficult person to please in the coven. That proved intolerable at times, considering she was its Head.

Sometimes Marion thanked Gaia for sending a magik with Vanne’s stubborn patience to deal with her sister. Her gaze lingered over him for a moment too long.

She looked away as Marita held her husband’s stare, the connection between them evident. Marita nodded. “Somewhat, yes,” she finally said.

Marion reached for her coffee and then eased back into the huge sofa that faced its twin on which Vanne lounged. As per usual, Marita acted the diva, perched primly on a reproduction Louis XIV chair situated near the head of the coffee table. Her sister’s home was an amusing clash of tastes—Vanne’s rustic coziness and Marita’s stern elegance.

“I said I would return to the pack as soon as I could. With Jaeden’s kidnapping, I’m sure Ethan’s closing in. Perhaps reinforcements?” she queried casually.

Marita sniffed. “If what you say is true, then surely Caia will sense the Midnight’s attack before it happens. Reinforcements will be sent then. For now, we are struggling to deal with infighting in Italy over territory between the largest packs in the north, a potential rogue Daylight magik in Caithness, Scotland, and we’ve received intel that there is a planned attack against the Króls.”

Marion’s mouth fell open. “The New York Króls?”

Vanne nodded, his lips pressed thin with tension. The Króls were one of the largest vampyre covens in the United States and a highly respected, powerful member of Daylight. That the Midnights would even contemplate such a direct attack reinforced their fears that the war was gaining momentum again.

“I see. I will return with Saffron, then, and continue my training with Caia, hoping for the best that her heritage pulls through in time to save the pack. I think perhaps I will—”

Marita hummed from the back of her throat. Marion stopped talking and waited for her sister to speak.

Marita smiled appreciatively. “I was just thinking …”

“Yes?” she and Vanne drawled at the same time.

“I understand that Caia will wish to stay with the pack until this business with her friend is concluded. However, I think it would be best for the coven if Caia were brought here to continue her training.”

Marion shook her head. “I don’t know about that, Marita. Cai—”

“Here me out,” her sister interrupted. “If Caia is going to be this important in the war, it stands to reason that she should be brought to the Center where she can benefit from our best magiks’ training.”

“What are you saying? That I am incapable of training her?”

Her sister seemed to realize her insult and actually blanched. “Goddess, no, sister. I wouldn’t have allowed you to be Caia’s protector all this time if I hadn’t thought you were the best. I merely meant that she should be with those who share her magikal abilities, and with those who are leading this war against the Midnights. What’s the use of having a weapon at our disposal if it’s not at our disposal?”