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“No coven.”
On a gasp, Vera’s hand flew to her chest. “No coven?!” she cried dramatically. “What do you mean no coven? How is that possible? Who protects you and your interests?”
“I do,” Casimir answered.
“I protect myself,” I corrected irritably.
He looked down his shoulder at me, meeting my lifted brow. “And now you have me to help,” he amended with a wink.
I bit the inside of my cheeks.
“Obviously the two of you are … a new development. What about before you met? How did you learn control? Who ensured you were thriving? Young witches are often so vulnerable.” Vera actually looked pained.
Control could be more dangerous than raw power alone. It was easy to make a small dagger fly across the room. With good control, it landed precisely where you meant it to land, without an ounce more power required.
Dianic witches were well known for having both. They were also notorious for having little respect for creatures of lesser powers. There was only one way to deal with a witch like Vera.
“I can assure you,” I stated as I pulled a swirling sphere of water out of the tub and elevated it a few feet off the surface, “I came into maturity with few issues. Control included.”
“A youngling could hold a ball of water,” she mocked.
Instead of launching the liquid at her head, I morphed the shape into an exact replica of Vera’s face. Last second buck teeth were added for my own amusement. And then a giant wart for good measure.
Was it petty? Yes. Did I care? No.
I pulled more water from the tub and created a feminine hand and wrist. Creating detailed sculptures from a natural element took a tremendous amount of command without requiring much power. Admittedly, it did help that my father’s primary talent was control over water, something both Kol and I had inherited.
When the replica blew a kiss at its twin, the real Vera applauded.
“Impressive! What a treasure you’ve found, Cas. I can’t wait to see what else she can do.”
My lips parted. She was being truthful. No longer feeling quite so smug, I lowered the water back into the tub.
“But first, handsome, perhaps you can help me figure out where to put my things?”
“Where are your things?” he asked.
“In the entrance hall with my traveling companion.”
“How were you able to get onto this floor?” I interrogated. There were security measures everywhere, as well as protective spells. Lyric had pointed them out when she gave me the tour.
“I am well known at Embour,” Vera assured instead of answering my question.
Did that mean she had been granted free rein to roam? I assumed everyone inside Embour would have known by now that Casimir had found his mate and was staying with him in his quarters. Why would they allow Vera to traipse about one of the Council’s private floors?
“I thought these levels were spelled to keep out uninvited guests.” I was also certain that the main door to these rooms had been locked, not that it took much to undo an actual lock.
“Deary, who do you think created most of the protection spells all around this place?” Vera walked over to the shower and skimmed her fingers across the invisible barrier like she was strumming a harp. “This one was one of the first, free of charge, of course. Cas was worried about the noise level and I told him I could—”
“That’s enough, Vera,” Casimir barked. “Why don’t you head back downstairs. I’m sure one of the Council members is down there and will place you in an appropriate space. Someone will deliver your things. We can meet for a night cap in the drawing room. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“As you wish, darling.”
I was contemplating hitting her with a spell or perhaps some of my fae magic when she blurred out of existence. Her rose-scented perfume was the only trace she’d been here.
“Well, that explains how she got in,” I murmured before I dipped my body under the water. When I surfaced I hastily began washing up, contemplating this new complication.
“She can only do that for short distances and not very often,” Casimir explained, rubbing soap haphazardly up and down his arms.
