“Covens?” I must have missed her previous comment.
“Yes, the covens. She’s been working to improve human-witch relations. Humans are now allowed to work for the covens in administrative roles, managing spell ingredient databases, that sort of thing.”
That was news to me, but whatever. No doubt she had an ulterior motive for wanting humans nearby. Brianna never did anything without a good reason. Like my father, she was a natural tactician, ice-cold and calculating.
They were a perfect team.
I forced a smile and checked the time again. It was still early. Too early to make my excuses and leave. Petronella eventually wandered off to talk to her mother, leaving me alone for a blessed minute.
Since my father and Brianna were busy chatting with two members of the Mage Council, I dropped my glass on a nearby table and left. Only, before I was even halfway out the door, Rink appeared with an oily smile.
“Leaving so soon, Master Alaric?” The man made me ill, with his shoulder-length stringy hair and smarmy smile. He hadn’t been here the last few times I’d visited, much to my relief, although it begged the question of what nefarious tasks my father had given him to complete.
“I wanted to check on my mother,” I said in a low voice. None of the guests here tonight knew she existed. They all assumed Brianna was my father’s soul-bonded mate. His one true love.
If only they knew the truth.
“Going somewhere, Alaric?” Dad’s voice startled me. He must have spotted Rink. Damn it. Now I’d never get away.
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
My father glared at me before forcing a smile to avoid attracting attention.
“I invited sweet Petronella so you could get to know each other. It would be rude to leave now.”
“I think we’ve exhausted all topics. She doesn’t have much to say.” Two spots of color bloomed in my father’s normally pale cheeks, and the fire in the grate roared up the chimney. I half expected ice crystals to form too, but he managed to keep a lid on his ice magic.
The same could not be said of my magic. A howling wind buffeted the house, screaming as if an army of demons had just breached the portal. Maybe they had. Nothing would surprise me these days.
Rink shuffled and cleared his throat.
“Sir, I apologize, but I need to talk to you for a moment. I have some news.” My ears perked up as Dad shifted his attention from me to his trusted aide.
“Can it not wait?” he asked irritably.
“No, sir, it cannot.”
Dad grumbled but nodded. “Fine. Let’s go to my office.”
I waited a few minutes before following.
There were wards around my father’s office to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, but he hadn’t closed the door fully. Most likely because he was well into his second bottle of elkwine.
I leaned as close as I dared so I could hear his conversation with Rink.
“Public sentiment is moving against us, sir. The demon attacks are growing in frequency and ferocity.”
“Fucking demons,” my father grumbled. I heard the drinks cabinet open and a splash of liquid, followed by the chink of ice cubes. “Since public safety is apparently a concern, I think it’s time to implement the protocols we discussed.”
What protocols?
“The council will side with me on this.”
“What about Coral Delmar? She’s been outspoken in her criticism, sir.”
Coral Delmar was the Lesser Species’ Supernatural Council chair. If she wasn’t happy with whatever my father had in mind, it meant the races she represented would be disproportionately affected.
“The bitch can get fucked.” Dad chuckled. “Lightfoot will vote in favor.”
