Ascended (War of the Covens 3)

Caia shook her head slowly. “Reuben, I can’t take this.”

“Please, Caia,” he insisted. “They say that hope dies last, and I think that is true. I thought I had given up hope a long time ago, but I hadn’t. And because of you, that hope was not in vain. When we fight the Midnights, when we meet them on that battlefield, it will be because you have reminded us of who we are and why we shouldn’t be so unsure of ourselves that we would let a race of people keep us down for centuries under the decree that we should be ashamed. Take the coin, Caia. I hope it will always remind you of what you have done for an old creature like me—and for all the young creatures who deserve a chance to live without persecution.”

Caia placed the coin under her pillow, keeping it safe until she left the Center and could find a more secure place for it.

“There is one visitor I’d like you all to meet,” Reuben spoke to the Council, and everyone turned toward the door. Caia gasped as the tall, elegant warlock strode into the room, dressed as dapper as ever in an expensive three-piece suit and greatcoat.

“Nikolai.” She hurried to shake his hand. He smiled kindly at her and then gazed warily over her shoulder. Uh-oh. The Council.

As she feared, when she spun around, the Council had all lined up, prepared to defend or attack, Caia wasn’t sure.

“He’s not an enemy,” Reuben snapped. “I’ve already explained Nikolai’s position.”

“Forgive us for being a little unsure,” Alfred snapped back. “You’ve just allowed the Regent of the Midnight Coven into our midst.”

“Ex-Regent,” Nikolai corrected and spread his hands in a surrender gesture. “I’m not here to harm anyone. I’m here to fight with you.”

The Council seemed to sneer collectively, and Caia felt a rush of annoyance. She understood they were nervous about having a Midnight among them, but they didn’t treat Laila and Eliza with suspicion.

“I can vouch for him,” she said, suffusing authority into her words. “He’s on our side. The Petrovskys have been on our side for three centuries.”

“We have only Reuben’s word on that,” Benedict huffed.

Caia exhaled in exasperation. They needed someone to soothe the situation. She looked around and met Marion’s gaze. Laila, she mouthed.

Marion nodded and hurried away.

“There’s someone I want you to meet, Nikolai.” Caia smiled brightly at him, trying to show the Council she wasn’t afraid of the man. “She’s a Midnight as well.”

Nikolai raised his eyebrows. “Little Eliza? Reuben told me her tragic story.”

At the thought of the poor girl, Caia’s smile dimmed. Eliza wasn’t having such a good time of it. She wouldn’t speak to anyone, and she refused to join them in any social sense. The only person she was unafraid of was Penelope who appeared to have grown quite attached to the little girl. The Council had thought to place Eliza in a home where she would be safe and free from abuse because of her blood, but Penelope had requested she be allowed to care for the girl, and no one could think of a better situation for her. Penelope was trying her hardest to see Eliza through her grief.

“No, not Eliza.” She shook her head. “Another special young lady.”

Laila drew forward and shook Nikolai’s hand as they were introduced. Caia could see Nikolai was intrigued by her, not only because of her unusual energy but because such a tiny person of Midnight blood had managed to gain the trust of the most important people in the Daylight Coven.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Laila,” he said gravely.

Laila smiled sweetly at him, her eyes shining with honesty. “You, too, sir. I much admire what you have done for Reuben and Caia.”

As Caia had hoped, the tension eased out of the Council like a deflating balloon. Laila’s calming presence melted their distrust as they watched her with the Midnight. In her short time at the Center, people had grown to like Laila as much as Caia did and to trust that, for some reason, she had a greater sense of intuition than others. If she approved of Nikolai, could he really be that bad?

Glad her plan worked, Caia turned to Penelope. “Perhaps the Council would like to sit with Mr. Petrovsky to discuss his time with the Midnights.” She glanced at Nikolai. “Would that be all right? You do know who the major players are, and we don’t know much about Orina Beketov.”

“Of course.” He nodded.

Penelope shrugged away from the Council, taking charge. “Mr. Petrovsky.” She took hold of his hand tentatively. “I am Penelope Argyros.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Argyros.”

“Please, call me Penelope.”

“Then you must call me Nikolai.” He grinned at her, his eyes twinkling.

Caia almost laughed when Penelope blushed under his regard, a girlish giggle escaping her. “Would you care to sit down, Nikolai? Some refreshments, perhaps?”