Ascended (War of the Covens 3)

A terrified sob poured out of Rose.

“But I’m not going to. You don’t deserve a quick death, and I’m afraid that’s all I’d be capable of. No.” He glanced back at Caia and his eyes begged for forgiveness. He didn’t seem to be able to look anywhere else, and Caia wanted to run to him and tell him it was okay … it was all over. She nodded to encourage him, and his gaze moved to Vil. “I’m going to leave your judgment, Rose, to the Council.”

The magik instantly understood and moved toward the female. She cried and shook but didn’t struggle as he pulled her to her feet, clamping a hand on her upper arm.

“Ryder, the Council knows you. Go with Vil and explain, please.”

His friend nodded and strode forward to take Rose’s other arm. The three of them disappeared.

Unable to resist any longer, Caia crossed the room to Lucien and placed a comforting hand on his back. He turned into her. “I am so sorry, Caia.”

“You couldn’t have known.”

Jae snorted. “I always disliked the bitch.”

Caia winced. “Not the time.”

“Sorry.”

She let Lucien hold her, ignoring the pack as they mumbled to one another about everything that had happened. So much had happened. So much was still to come. Wanting nothing more than to go back to Lucien’s room and lose herself in him, Caia drew back from him instead. She wouldn’t be allowed that luxury for now … perhaps ever. Her mate wanted no part in the war, but she … she was a piece of it.

She traced the annulet on her palm she’d been trying to keep hidden from the pack and gestured for them to sit around the dining table.

“I have to tell you what’s been going on,” she said wearily as she perched on the chair at the table head, trying to ignore Lucien’s burning gaze. She held up the palm with the annulet and they all frowned, mumbling queries.

“What is that?” Lucien demanded.

She locked gazes with him. “I told you I couldn’t kill the Septum. So I asked Reuben to let me meet the Cassandrian who said all of this was going to happen because of me. The Prophet. I asked him—if I killed Marita and the coven made me Head, could I ask the gods to take the trace back? Both traces—Midnight and Daylight.”

“Freeing us,” Lucien said, his eyes widening. “Caia, that’s brilliant.”

She smiled wryly. “If only I had thought of it sooner, huh?”

Then we wouldn’t be awkward with each other because I wouldn’t have lied to you and you wouldn’t have kicked me out of the pack.

As usual, he seemed to understand and covered her hand with his own, giving it a quick squeeze.

“Anyway, he said the gods already knew what I wanted and he was awaiting their reply.”

“You’re telling me this guy has a direct link to the gods?” Aidan asked, astonished.

Caia grinned ruefully. “Yup. And the gods have a funny sense of humor. They made me wait weeks for an answer.”

Jaeden’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “But they said yes, right?”

“They said yes.”

A whoop rushed around the pack before she quieted them, laughing at their encouragement. “That’s all fine and dandy, but it means this … this war isn’t over for me.” She couldn’t look at Lucien. “This annulet on my palm is part of a blood oath I took with the Council. I promised them that if they made me Head of the Coven, I would complete the rite to the gods and have them take away the trace. If I don’t, all my powers will be given to the Council.”

“What the hell kind of risk is that to take?” Magnus grumbled.

“One I had to,” she insisted. “And now I have to go back to the Center and finish this.”

At their continued silence, Caia finally managed to lift her gaze from the table to look into Lucien’s face. His eyes told her he loved her, but his expression told her how torn he was. He had made a promise to the pack.

And she understood that. As much as she didn’t want to.

Magnus’s cough broke their eye contact, and they looked over at her uncle. He pinned them both with a stern stare. “Now, look here. This stuff about protecting the pack from the war is nonsense. We’ve been in this war for a long time, and we’re not getting out of it without every other supernatural on the planet getting out of it as well. And we will follow you, Lucien, no matter what. Marion told me after she took Eliza to the Council and explained about her being alive and all that—”

Caia almost laughed at the blasé way he said it.

“—they offered the pack a home at the Center until this is all over. So let’s go with Caia. We can’t leave her alone in this.”