Destined (War of the Covens 2)

“And why do you wish to see us, Miss Ribeiro?” Penelope asked her warmly.

Be cool, be confident … be persuasive.

“I’m here to ask for the right to campaign against Marita for Head of the Coven.”

The murmuring turned into heated exclamations, and Caia shifted closer to Vil. He placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.

“Why?” Penelope asked, seeming hurt by Caia’s request.

“Because I believe I can end this war, but not using Marita’s methods. I’m not asking you to kill her and give me the trace. I’m just asking that you give me the authority to make the decisions in this war. Marita would still continue using the trace, but working for me.”

A few of them looked disdainful, but Albert’s gaze had softened. “That’s quite merciful of you, Caia.”

“I have no wish to harm anyone. But I don’t believe this war will ever find closure under Marita’s leadership.”

The tall magik who’d spoken first scoffed. “And how do you think you can do any better? You’re barely out of childhood. Marita has led this coven for decades and recently has garnered great victories for us.”

“Because of Caia,” Penelope inserted. “Marita was doing just as well as any other Head of the Coven until Caia came along. Those victories you speak of have had Caia’s hand in them somewhere.”

More murmuring as this sunk in.

Caia rubbed her sweaty palms against her trouser legs and stepped forward a little more confidently. She wouldn’t tell them her suspicion that Marita had tried to kidnap Jaeden for her own nefarious means; without proof, she would appear a spiteful little girl, thereby undermining her position with the Council. But she would tell them about the children. For that, there was proof.

“While I was at the Center, I followed Marita one day. She disappeared under a trapdoor in the Altar of Gaia. The second marble slab to the right of the statue of Gaia has a gold button attached to it. If you press it, it opens to reveal a basement. Inside the basement, you will find at least one laboratory where Marita is conducting illegal experiments on lykan children who are caged down there.”

A flurry of outrage erupted in the room, some admonishing her for such nonsense, others, like Alfred and Penelope, paling in fear.

“All you need to do is send in a spy. Someone who can mask their thoughts well in their trace.”

“You really expect us to believe this?” the elegant magik sneered.

“I expect you to go in and find the proof for yourselves.”

“Alfred,” a surprisingly young-looking magik intoned in a bored voice, “I’ll go.”

Alfred nodded, never taking his sad eyes off Caia. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Caia, I promise.”

She refused to let go of the bigger picture, however. “And when you do?”

Penelope sighed wearily. “If you’re proved correct, then Marita will be sentenced and the Council will vote on a new Head.”

Be strong. Be powerful. Be confident.

“I will be proved correct. And your decision should be easy. With me as the Head of both covens, I promise I will bring this war to a conclusion. There are Midnights who have an outright aversion to war—believe me, it’s the truth. And no one else in our world can do what I can do. Only days ago, I destroyed four magiks in four different locations simultaneously. In my short career as a magik, as one who has had a few battles in the last few months, I’ve proved the victor.”

She portrayed a deliberate iciness, emanating a balanced impression of power mixed with threat. She softened somewhat at their apprehensive expressions. After all, she didn’t want them so afraid of her they would take her out.

“We’ve lost too many people we love to this war already. Make me the Head of both covens and I promise you I will bring it to an end. If you remember … it has been prophesied.”

Her reminder of that small detail drained all color from their faces. After a few moments of thick, shocked silence, they began to speak among themselves, their words so rushed and confused, she couldn’t make out what they were saying to one another. Finally, Alfred raised his hands to quiet them and directed his next words at Caia. “We will have to discuss this at length, Miss Ribeiro. For now, we will send Derren in to uncover this laboratory. We will visit you when we know more.”

“When can I expect to hear from you?”

Doukas replied, “These things can take days.”

She nodded. “I understand. I want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

Penelope gave her a bracing smile. “You’re welcome. You may go now.”

They rushed by her at lightning speed and she realized Vil, with his hand on her shoulder, had taken Penelope’s words literally, getting them out of there as fast as he could.