“Yes. Did you know they have the authority to permit a challenger for the position of Head of the Coven if they have evidence that the current Head is not the best magik for the job?”
“What are you saying?”
She gulped. “I’m saying that I’m the most powerful weapon they have, and Gaia put me here for a reason. I’m saying that if they knew what Marita was up to … Vil can take me to the Council, and I’m going to challenge Marita for the post. If they agree, a political campaign will begin, and the coven will vote for their choice of candidate.”
“Caia, if the Council discovers what Marita is up to, there will be no election.” Lucien shook his head. “They will kill Marita.”
“No, no, we’re better than that, than her.” She jerked her head. “I would ask for them to keep her alive. She could keep the trace, work for me, do for me what I’ve been doing for her.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I can see that happening.”
“She would have to. It would be her only choice.”
Lucien was quiet for so long, she knew he wasn’t as convinced as she was. Still, he kissed her softly. He wrapped her in his arms and whispered in her ear, “I’ll make the badges and banners. You can write the speeches.”
Caia smiled, comfort flooding her, and pulled him in for a grateful kiss.
They somehow managed to disentangle themselves to make the difficult decision to lie to Marion. When they found her waiting in the reception for them, her bright eyes wide with hope, Caia felt awful duping her. She and Lucien walked with a deliberate distance between them, fake frostiness preceding them to the waiting magik. Caia winced, watching Marion slump in disappointment, glaring at Lucien as if he were to blame.
Tactful as always, however, she didn’t mention the state of their relationship.
“Ready, then?” She heaved an exasperated sigh, gesturing to the portal awaiting them past security.
Lucien surprised her by pulling her into a hug. “Thanks for everything, Marion.”
Caia wanted to slap him; he was going to give them away.
Sappy idiot.
The witch giggled at his unexpected affection and pushed him off. “I didn’t do anything apparently,” she tut-tutted and guided him toward the portal, missing the mischievous grin he threw over her head at Caia.
Trying her hardest to ignore him, a Herculean task since the very thought of him made her want to melt into a puddle, Caia hugged Marion and prayed to Gaia that her friend would forgive her as she lied, “See you in a few days.”
“Hmm, yes, you will.” Marion shook her head as she pulled back. “Silly girl.”
With a vague gesture, Caia smiled and headed toward Lucien who waited by the portal for her.
Wary of Marion’s eyes on them, Caia stuck her hand out to him as if it was the last thing she wanted to do. He reached for it tentatively but gripped it tight.
Relief and anxiety poured through her as the gel-like quality of the portal slithered across her skin. In moments they were blinking past the light streaming in from the lamppost outside the windows of the disused workout room in Magic Fitness.
She felt like a bird freed from a cage.
“Are you okay?” Lucien pulled her to him, wrapping her in his solid embrace.
“I just can’t believe I’m going to do this,” she mumbled into his chest. It rumbled with his laughter underneath her, and she buried deeper into him.
“Yeah, I can’t believe you are either. But I believe in you.”
Tilting her head back, she was surprised to find his eyes smoke with fierceness. “You really do, don’t you?”
“You need to stop sounding surprised by that.”
She smiled shyly. “But I am surprised.”
He chuckled and took hold of her hand, leading her out of the room and out of the quiet gymnasium. “If you’re going to be this bad mother-you-know-what, then you’re going to have to start sounding like you’re aware you’re epic.”
Caia nodded, straightening her shoulders. “I have to be confident, match my badass powers.”
“Yeah.” He grinned and then his smile fell. “Damn.” Lucien stopped, crouching by the wheel of his truck. Heavy yellow clamps stood between them and the pack. Of course—the car had been sitting in the lot for days.
“Do you want me to …?” She wriggled her fingers.
“This doesn’t need magik.” He quickly scanned the lot to make sure there was no one else around and then gripped the tire clamps with both hands. With what appeared to be the gentlest of tugs, the clamp split in two and he pulled it out from under the car. He did the same with the others and gestured for Caia to get in.
“Wow.” She smiled as she slid her seat belt on.
“What?”
“Was that a deliberate attempt to make me feel like the little Mrs.?”