“That’s what your mother thought happened, but nobody truly knows. Nightshade witches are sworn to secrecy regarding coven matters. They take a blood oath when they join. Only death ends the blood oath.”
“He’s right,” Rasmus said. “It’s common practice in the older, more traditional covens.”
“How convenient,” I muttered. “So if Brianna is the powerful one in their fucked-up relationship, does that mean killing the queen bitch herself will neuter Tiberius?”
“Not entirely, but it will certainly make it much harder for him to remain in power,” Adam admitted.
“I’ll find out what Vane’s plans are, and then we can figure out a way to get close to Brianna.”
“My cousins and I can bypass all the dark witch’s protection spells,” Kenji confirmed.
I glanced over at Zane, who was busy scrolling on his phone. He caught me looking and winked.
“Sparky’s daddy has just announced he’ll be attending a gala dinner in two nights, here in the city. Looks like he wants to smooth things over with the human president after all the bad press lately. Oh, and Brianna will be there.”
“Then that’s our chance to nail the bitch,” I announced, excited about the prospect of exacting revenge on the witch who’d hurt my storm mage mate.
Yes, Alaric had abandoned me, but I didn’t hold that against him. The storm mage seemed to think he needed to protect me from his father. Well, the joke was on him because I had special magic now.
Magic that could suck the life out of a nasty piece like Tiberius Vane. Literally.
“It could work,” Adam said cautiously.
“Great!” I jumped up, eager for a break from the suffocating atmosphere. “I’m off to bed. Good night.” Without waiting for a response, I left. The guys could play host.
Once in my room, I threw myself onto the bed, fully expecting Zane to join me because of all my mates, he was the least likely to role-play a polite host.
But instead of my incubus, it was Maverick who appeared a few minutes later.
“Little mate, are you okay?” I was not, in fact, okay, but I forced a smile.
“Yeah, I’ll live.”
My bear grumbled unhappily. “That’s not the answer I want or need. Would you prefer it if I tossed the mage out?”
I snorted despite myself, and then huffed out a sigh. “No, it’s okay. I…I just hate seeing him with her. It feels wrong, you know?”
Rasmus pushed past Maverick and lay down next to me, easing me onto his chest and stroking my hair comfortingly.
“Where are they now?”
“I showed them to a guest bedroom in the east wing,mea amica. It’s far enough away that you won’t hear them.” The subtext being I wouldn’t have to listen to any sexy time. Thank the goddess. No daughter needed to hear that. Not that I was Adam’s daughter. But still.
Eww.
42
Raven
Isat huddled under a thick blanket beneath the sweeping branches of a cottonwood tree, a steaming mug of hot chocolate in my hands.
Maverick and Adam were inside talking strategy, or rather arguing about the best way to fry Brianna’s bony ass.
Zane had taken Kai for a swim in Lake Michigan a while back while Rasmus was sleeping the sleep of the undead in the cellar.
Nula had disappeared into one of the upstairs bedrooms, much to my relief. I wanted to like her—she seemed sweet—but seeing her simp all over Adam creeped me out.
Maybe in time I’d get used to them being together, but that day hadn’t arrived yet.
