Destined (War of the Covens 2)

Caia tensed at her tone, her eyes narrowing as Marita spun to glare at her. “Last time I checked, madam, the coven laws forbid coercion and kidnapping.”

Marita chuckled humorlessly. “So dramatic, Caia.”

“You knew when I got here that it was merely a visit. I’ve been helping you quite well from my home with the pack.”

“Your reports are useful. However, your soldiering is invaluable.”

As the silence thickened between them, Caia could see the witch’s eyes hardening with every tick of the clock.

She really thought I would stay, Caia mused, incredulous.

“What have you got to return to, Caia? Those people who don’t understand you? And if the rumor mill here is correct, your Alpha, the one man who was keeping you bound to that pack, is now in a relationship with Rose Bronson.”

The calculating gleam in her eye, that smug smile, knocked Caia for six.

Son of a bitch, she hissed inwardly. “Rose … isn’t a friend of Phoebe MacLachlan’s, is she?”

Marita gave her a saccharine smile, folding herself elegantly into the armchair before her. “No, not really.”

She didn’t know whether to be disgusted or pay attention to this woman’s tactics. After all, if she was to convince the Council to ally with her and go up against Marita, then she’d better learn to be just as ruthless when dealing with her.

“Why?”

“I need you here.”

In other words, she had deliberately brought Rose here to separate Caia from Lucien, to make her feel isolated from him and the pack, to give her no other option but to call the Center home. There was an absoluteness to Marita in that moment. From the tip of her hair to the tip of her toes, she was determined Caia would remain with her, fight for her. Did she really think Caia would agree to aid her in her experiments with children?

Time to change tactics.

Caia slumped, a small sigh escaping as she glanced up at the magik with a deliberate weariness shimmering in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispered.

The magik tutted and slid a cold hand across to her, patting it condescendingly. “There, there, my dear. You’ve had an exhausting time of it. But there is nowhere better for you than here. It will be better for you emotionally and physically if you stay. I thought you’d made friends here, people who understand you. And there’s always Marion, who I know is extremely fond of you.”

Caia nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear, making her fingers tremble noticeably. “I just … don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

“You mean the pack. Lucien?”

“Yes.”

“He stepped aside so easily, Caia, when I brought Rose in. What loyalty do you really owe him?”

More than I owe you.

With her young heart in her eyes, she looked up at Marita as if a student to her tutor. “I would like to stay here.”

A wide grin split her normally dispassionate face. “Wonderful. I’ll take ca—”

“But I have to go back to say goodbye to everyone. To explain. I would … like to see Jaeden, as well, before I return to the Center.”

For a moment, Marita’s eyes washed over her, searching, suspicious. It took everything Caia had to maintain the sincere facade of a young, confused girl looking for guidance. Inside she was furious at this woman for putting her in this position, this woman who was supposed to be the protector of the Daylight Coven. How Marion’s great-grandmother would be howling from the Underworld at the way Marita had taken to running things. She was an autocrat all right—she was just better at hiding it than most.

Finally, the magik seemed satisfied that Caia was telling the truth. She nodded and stood. “Very well. You should leave today, then. But I expect you back in two days’ time.”

Caia forced a bright smile. “Yes, yes, of course.”

Restraining the urge to run from the room, Caia sedately left Marita’s suite, surprised to find Marion waiting inside the mahogany elevator for her.

“Well?” She smiled kindly.

Oh, how she wished she could confide in Marion, tell her the truth. She abhorred lying to the woman who’d been more than just a mentor, but a solid friend.

“I’m staying,” she managed weakly. “I’m going back to the pack with Lucien to say goodbye, and then I’ll be back here in two days.”

Marion’s reaction wasn’t the one she’d been expecting.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“What do you mean? I thought you’d be happy.”

The witch threw her a sad, knowing look. “It would make me happy if I thought that was what you really wanted.”

Caia frowned. “It is.”

They rode down the elevator, got off at floor five, and rode that elevator up to Caia’s suite in complete silence. Marion stopped her before she could make her way to her room.

“I still believe you can help us win this war, even if you’re living with the pack. My sister doesn’t. That doesn’t mean you have to feel pressured into staying. It would be against the law to keep you here against your will.”