Ascended (War of the Covens 3)

“Yes.”

“I can sense each magiks’ different energy.” He tapped his nose. “I’ll just follow this. I’ll need Marion and Saffron’s help.”

“Of course.” Marion nodded and then smiled sadly at Caia.

I killed her sister.

“I’m sorry, Marion,” she whispered.

The witch shook her head, her lips pinched. She came forward, drawing Caia into a delicate hug. “Don’t be. You did what I couldn’t.”

Pulling back, Marion glanced at Reuben and Saffron over her shoulder. “Let’s make this quick.” She held a hand out to Reuben, and he clutched it tightly as if offering her comfort.

Caia sighed. He could be sweet when he wanted to be.

With a little buzz in the air, all three of them vanished.

A tense silence fell among the pack, a heightened sense of expectation leaping from member to member. They wanted to know where they went from here. But as Caia’s eyes drifted over them and stopped on Rose, who stood off to the side from the rest of them, they would have to wait and see until after her showdown. The lykan flinched under Caia’s regard and she immediately saw the guilt there.

A snarl ripped from deep within her, and Caia shot out her hand, sending Rose flying back into the wall with a crack of her head. She lifted her with her magik and pinned her there.

“Caia, what the hell!” Lucien gripped her arm tightly and tried to pull her back. The pack broke apart as if unsure what to do. The children cried out, frightened by the unexpected attack. The only one who appeared calm was Jaeden who took a step toward Caia.

“What did she do?” she asked with a growl.

Through her anger she felt a deep connection of friendship with Jae, and her gratitude for it was undying. “She called Marita. She told her about the Septum. She betrayed us.”

“No.” Lucien growled. “Caia, you’re mistaken.” He tugged once more at her hand, trying to break her hold.

She threw him an angry, hurt look. “You believe her over me?” she whispered hoarsely, not letting go.

He glared at her. “I think you’ve been through a lot. Caia, for goddess’ sake.” He wrapped a hand around her waist and tried to pull her away from Rose.

A noise of distress drifted out of Jaeden, and Lucien was shoved away from Caia with an invisible force. Jae was using her telekinesis against the Alpha. He was glaring at Caia, though, so he thought it was her, and she wasn’t about to give Jae away.

“I’m telling you the truth. Marita told me Rose told her where to get Eliza. How else would she have found out? And she has motive. She’s in love with you and wants me gone!”

“Lucien, no!” Rose shrieked from her place up on the wall. “She’s lying. I didn’t do that!”

Fury shot through Caia, and she gripped a magikal hand around the lykan’s throat, choking her. “People died because of you!”

“Caia, stop it! That’s an order!” Lucien yelled.

Seemingly out of nowhere, little Laila strolled slowly out in front of the trio and came to a stop before Rose. Tentatively, she reached up and placed a gentle hand on Rose’s. The lykan watched her warily and then stopped struggling. Laila took her hand away, her shoulders wilting, and turned back toward Caia and Lucien. “I think she betrayed us to Marita, Lucien.”

He shook his head in disbelief, and Rose’s eyes widened. “No! It’s not true.”

Caia choked her harder, and she made horrible gagging sounds.

“Caia—” Magnus implored quietly.

“Caia, don’t.” Laila shook her head, and some of the anger dissipated, enough to bring Caia back under control.

She relaxed her grip but kept Rose suspended. “Tell him the truth.”

No answer.

She envisioned a little water filling up Rose’s airway; the lykan must’ve felt it because she began to struggle anew.

“Tell him the truth!”

She nodded frantically, so Caia made the water disappear. “Okay!” she cried, frightened tears streaming down her cheeks. “I did it! I went to Marita, but only to protect you and your pack from her!” She gestured hatefully to Caia. “She’s a monster, Lucien!”

An almighty howl exploded around the room, followed by a harsh row of snarls. When he spoke, his lykan was evident in his words. “Caia, let me go.”

Caia nodded subtly at Jae, and Lucien slumped free. He straightened and clamped a hand down on Caia’s shoulder. “Let her go.”

Gazing up into his eyes, she saw pain and betrayal and sorrow. She wished she could take it all away from him. With a sympathetic nod, Caia retracted her magik, and Rose crumpled to the floor with a thud.

The pack all turned on her, and their Alpha approached her like a hunter going in for the kill. She scrambled against the floor until her back pressed to the wall, her lips trembling, pathetic tears spilling down her pretty cheeks.

“Please,” she whimpered.

Lucien’s hands curled into fists. Caia knew how difficult this was for him. “As pack Alpha, it is my prerogative to kill you for your act of betrayal against the pack and its Alpha’s mate.”