Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Caia cleared her throat. “I’m not going to be your mate, Lucien. You deal with that.”

She flinched at the snarl that ripped from his throat. Her hair even blew back from the deep breath of his growl. And then he was gone, slamming the door so hard, the entire upper floor shook.

“That could’ve gone better,” she muttered.

She didn’t give herself time to mope over him. It was time to connect to her evil uncle and see if Jae was all right.

25

Personal Daemons

Two days passed. Caia was growing increasingly more irritable. Two nights now and she hadn’t been able to connect to Ethan in her dreams, and she was beginning to worry what that meant for Jaeden. On top of that, Lucien thundered around the house like a lion with a thorn in his paw, refusing to look at or acknowledge her existence.

Jeez, you would think he was the one who’d been deceived.

In fact, everyone was being pretty lousy to her, except Sebastian, and it might have had something to do with Marion and Saffron returning. They’d shown up the day after Lucien had stormed out of her room. That morning had been her first edgy, downing coffee, snapping at burnt toast in frustration sort of morning because she hadn’t dreamed of Jaeden. It did her nerves no good to have to be sociable to her mentor, who’d wandered into the quiet kitchen with a warm smile.

“Morning, Caia.”

“Mmmff,” she’d mumbled, chewing angrily.

“Where is everyone?” Marion asked, sitting across from Caia while Saffron wandered the kitchen looking bored.

“Bed,” she snapped.

“Oh my, we are in a good mood,” Saffron drawled behind her, but Marion held up her hand to shush her.

“I guess we are a little early.”

Caia didn’t say anything, just kept chewing and frowning and wondering what on earth she had done wrong last night not to have been able to connect to Ethan.

“I can feel an awful lot of tension in the house, Caia. And you smell … different … Oh.”

Caia looked up in time to see Marion’s eyes widen.

“You and Lucien … he told you.”

“You knew!” Bits of toast flew out with the accusation.

“Ahem.” Marion wiped delicately at her face. “Yes, I knew.”

“Always the last to know, huh? Don’t know why I’m surprised. I suppose the tree knew too.” She thumbed behind her at Saffron.

“Oh, dear Gaia, no.” Saffron appeared in front of her, her slender hands sitting defiantly on her narrow hips. “Please do not even think of imitating that idiot.”

“Ryder’s my friend. Watch your mouth,” Caia said.

“Oh my.” Marion exhaled. “You’re really not taking this well. I don’t remember you having this much attitude.”

“It’s called being lied to, too many damn times to count.”

Marion shooed Saffron away again and leaned across the table, gripping one of Caia’s hands comfortingly. “I know you must be upset, but it doesn’t take away your choices, Caia. You’re too important for that.”

Now she had her interest. “What do you mean?”

“Yes, what do you mean?” Lucien sauntered into the kitchen, his body language casual, his expression a storm cloud. Ella and Magnus trailed at his back. Caia hadn’t even known Magnus had stayed over. He smiled weakly at her, but she looked away. She was mad at everyone.

Marion’s smile didn’t falter. “Perhaps you should all take a seat.”

Hmm, this was going to be interesting.

When everyone was seated, Lucien, thankfully just as mad at Caia, sat as far away from her as possible.

“I spoke with my sister and her husband,” Marion began.

“And?” Ella asked, pouring her and Magnus coffee.

“Well …” Caia might have been seeing things but Marion’s smile looked a little nervous. “Marita and Vanne are impressed with what I had to tell them about Caia, and of course very anxious that she remain safe.”

“Of course.” Magnus nodded.

“They are aware of the situation with Jaeden and understand that Caia would like to stay here until its conclusion.”

Lucien drew in a sharp breath. “I don’t like where this is going.”

“Caia.” Marion ignored him; Caia happily followed suit. “Marita would like to offer you a home within our Center, where you can train with the very best in magik. Where you can train to be a soldier for Daylight, but most importantly, where you can really put your tracing magik to good use and help us prevent anymore Midnight attacks.”

No one breathed. Caia couldn’t look at anyone but Marion—Marion who had come back and with her brought a huge gust of air, allowing Caia to breathe again.

“Really?” she asked, trying not to sound so excited.

“Over my dead body.”

She closed her eyes and slumped in her chair, refusing to look at the big oaf.

What ensued was one of those seething but quiet, controlled arguments fired back and forth between Marion and Lucien. But as it stretched and heightened, their voices rose, and with that, Ella and Magnus joined in, trying to smooth things over. Caia sat listening but not really processing; all she could think about was how she was being given the opportunity to be where they really accepted her, where they really needed her. Wouldn’t her father have wanted her to do everything in her power to stop the Midnights after all they’d done to him and the people he loved?