Destined (War of the Covens 2)

Jaeden snorted. “Oh yeah, ’cause there aren’t any other options here. It’s too risky, Caia.”

“You would rather I aid Marita in killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people?”

“Innocent according to you.”

Caia’s eyes softened. “It wasn’t a Midnight who attempted to kidnap you. And these people aren’t my uncle, Jaeden.”

“How dare—”

“I don’t mean to upset you. And yes, many of the older families abhor us. Some are just following a faith—it’s a religion to them—while others think it’s moronic and xenophobic. There are Daylights who are beginning to feel the same way. But there are also little kids being experimented upon, and the only way I can get to them is with some major political backing. I can win this. We can win this.”

“We?”

Lucien cleared his throat. “I’m in this with her, which means the pack is. If you don’t want in, you leave the pack.”

Ryder grinned at him. “Final word of the Alpha, huh? You know I’m completely in, right?” He nodded to Caia. “I’ve seen this girl in action. My bet is on her.”

“Jaeden?” Caia asked tentatively. “I know it’s not the war you thought you’d be fighting. It shocked me too. I want to go back to everything being black and white, but it won’t. There are no other options.”

He watched Jae as she turned to lock eyes with Ryder. Whatever passed between them drained the tension from her body, and she turned to Caia. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but … fine. I believe you. I’m in. I won’t stand by and let her get away with this.”

Caia nodded, only a slight curve to her mouth betraying her relief. “Good. I guess that means it’s time for me and Lucien to check in on Laila and Vilhelm. I need Vil to take me to the next Council meeting. It’s in two weeks’ time. Actually, you guys have done me a favor.”

Ryder smiled. “How so?”

“I can use your mating ceremony as an excuse to stall returning to the Center.”

Lucien chuckled. “Crafty.”

“Nice to be of help,” Jaeden said wryly.

Caia jumped at the sound of a door slamming and turned as Vil slowly entered the living room, his hand tangled in Laila’s. The girl looked much healthier than the last time Caia had laid eyes on her. Caia would even go so far as to say she looked radiantly happy. Ryder and Jaeden really must’ve been treating them well.

“Caia?” Laila asked Vil.

Vil smiled at Caia and nodded.

The next thing Caia knew, the girl had her delicate arms wrapped around her, hugging her close.

“Callan.” Laila eased away from her, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. “There are no words to thank you for what you have done.”

Caia’s whole body thrummed with a golden peace at Laila’s proximity, and once more that intangible quality in her trace flummoxed her. The girl was like sunshine and air, her presence so relaxing and sweet, Caia couldn’t believe anyone could ever wish her harm.

Uncomfortable with the gratitude, Caia shrugged, considering she now needed a favor from Vil.

“It was nothing,” she mumbled and held her hand out behind her for Lucien, knowing he would understand. At once she felt his warm, calloused hand engulf her small one, and her breathing eased. It was wonderful, after weeks of feeling alone, to finally trust someone, to be able to lean on him.

“It’s good to see you again, Caia.” Vil smiled warmly at her. “I was afraid something might have happened to you.”

She shook her head. “The attack went forward with the MacLachlans. We dealt with it.” She didn’t want to think about that night. “You should know that Marita can’t pick up your trace.”

The two magiks frowned, glancing at each other questioningly.

Caia grimaced. “I guess that means neither of you know why.”

Laila floated back to Vil’s side. “No, Callan. I’ve heard only a very old supernatural can mask their trace, and Vil is just a boy.”

“Nearly a man,” he mumbled, drawing her close and puffing his chest out a little. Caia tried not to laugh.

“Why are you calling Caia Callan?” Lucien asked in his usual tone, which to outsiders could sound a little reproving.

“Looks like I’m interrupting,” a new, unfamiliar voice greeted from behind Vil and Laila.

They moved out of the doorway to reveal a tall, good-looking young man with dark hair and eyes. His youth could be attributed to his cool, unkempt appearance, the dark jeans and black T-shirt, the silver thumb ring on one hand, the tattoo on his forearm, the silver coin fashioned onto thin black rope around his neck, and the small ring pierced through his lower lip. He had a dangerous bad-boy quality, and suddenly Caia understood why Ryder didn’t like his involvement in Jaeden’s life.

The vampyre looked around the room at them all and then his gaze fell on Caia. Despite his clean-shaven, wrinkle-free face, when Caia met those eyes, she felt as if she was looking into depths that had seen the world in all its forms many times over. The youthfulness combated a confident control she’d never before come across.