Destined (War of the Covens 2)

“That’s not really your business, Marion.”

“Lucien,” she warned.

He huffed, affronted at having to discuss his personal business with this woman. “I would be better off, wouldn’t I?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“No. I’m not with Rose.”

At that, Marion exhaled loudly while still managing to stare at him in disgust. “Men.”

“I don’t really understand the male bashing, Marion. What exactly are you doing here?”

“Believe it or not, I’ve come to help you stop Caia from making a terrible mistake that will affect you both.”

An immediate panic set in. “What? What’s going on?”

“Caia is staying at the Center.”

“WHAT?”

“Shut up,” she hissed, smoothing her hair after Lucien’s ferocious bellow had blown it back. “It’s your fault.”

“My fault! I’ve been here! I’ve been trying to find out what the hell she’s keeping from me.”

“No. You’ve been with Rose.”

“For the last time—”

“Lucien Líder, do not interrupt me again,” Marion warned, her stern eyes gluing his mouth shut. “Good. As I was saying, I am tired of the complete idiocy you and Caia seem to share when it comes to the matter of your relationship. Caia has not been divulging any information to you, Lucien, because she was hurt and jealous by Rose’s presence in your life.”

Well, that doesn’t sound right.

“Are we talking about the same Caia Ribeiro?”

“Oh dear Gaia, I’m surrounded by fools.” Marion threw her hands up in dismay and flopped down onto his sofa. “Lucien, when you arrived at the Center, was Caia talking to you? Yes. When Rose arrived, did Caia stop confiding in you? Yes.”

“What, no—” He stopped, an uncomfortable feeling telling him to take a moment. Now that she mentioned it, there had been a few times Caia had seemed to want to talk to him about something, but there had always been an interruption. And true, lately, that interruption had been Rose.

Marion must have seen the comprehension dawn on his face because she clucked, gloating. “And everything starts to make sense.”

Lucien shook his head, trying to remain cool. “Are you telling me Caia thinks I’ve abandoned her?”

“I’m telling you that you let my sister’s plot—to separate you and Caia so she would be more inclined to stay at the Center with her—work. I’m telling you that for the last seven months, you haven’t been with your mate because you didn’t say the one thing she needed to hear. I’m telling you what I tried to tell you the night Caia was attacked by that daemon.”

“What?” he asked hoarsely.

“Lucien.” Marion tut-tutted and got up off the sofa. “What do you think? Caia has never really had a family until you. Right now, she is the most valuable magik in our world, and she doesn’t know who to trust. If she knew how you really felt about her, if she was secure in that, she would turn to you.” Her eyes filled and she coughed, embarrassed, looking away from him. “I care about her a great deal, Lucien, but I worry for her all the time. This war is going to swallow her whole if she’s not careful. She needs you. So choke on that stubborn pride of yours and tell her those three little words she’s been waiting to hear.”

He clenched his jaw, fear breaking out across every inch of his body. “And if she doesn’t say it back?”

Marion smiled slowly, softly. “She will.”

He searched her eyes, astounded by her certainty in Caia’s love. Did she know something he didn’t? That certainty eased the ache that had been pressing on his chest for the last few months. He nodded, feeling an elated sense of hope. “I need to speak to Rose first.”

Pressing her hand against the glass, Caia wished the rain in Paris could hit against the Center’s window. She loved the sound of the rat-a-tat-tat against the house when you were tucked inside, safe and sound, flames roaring in a fireplace.

A loud rap sounded on her door.

“Come in!” she called, keeping her back to her visitor, her eyes glued hypnotically to the blurry world outside.

She heard the door open. Heavy footsteps drew across the room toward her. She inhaled the scent of damp earth and electric air and wasn’t surprised when Lucien came to a stop by her side, staring straight ahead out the window.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he told her in a quiet, deep voice.

At least he doesn’t sound angry.

She’d been waiting for the explosion to come ever since she’d gotten back from the lab with Phoebe. So far, she hadn’t seen him.

There’s a surprise.

“I like the rain.”

“Me too.”

After a moment of silence, Caia asked, “Did you hear the news?”

She wasn’t looking forward to telling the truth, of explaining about Laila and Vilhelm, or her plans to stage a coup after her discovery of what lay beneath the Center.

“Yes.” His tone didn’t give anything away, and Caia snuck a glance at him out of the corner of her eye. His entire body was rigid with emotion. He was angry. Time for the truth.