Chapter 20

20

I stared up at the ceiling. For some reason, I’d held hope that my demon would miraculously appear overnight.

She hadn’t.

“Nothing?” Wild grunted.

He was turned from me in bed. I’d thought he was asleep.

“Not yet.” I rested a hand on his back. “How did you sleep?”

“Great.”

Great. I had a feeling that meant I didn’t sleep at all. “There’s time for some frisky business before breakfast. I could do with the stress relief.”

“I’m due at a sentry meeting,” he answered.

Wild was sick. He just said no to sex. I swallowed disappointment, trying to push it down within, too, so Wild didn’t get the memo through our bond. If he felt my reaction, he didn’t respond. “Maybe later then. Do you need help with anything today?”

“No.”

I drew my hand away. “Let me know if that changes.”

“Okay.”

“Wild?”

“Yeah?”

I kissed between his shoulder blades. “I love you. We’ll figure this out because that’s the only option. You know how good I am when backed into a corner.”

“You’re a one-woman army.”

The words held bitterness that took me aback. Yet none of this was him in the same way that chaos wasn’t really any of us. Chaos was an ugly pit that seemed impossible to extract ourselves from. “Who I am is Tempest, and you are Wild, and you are mine forever.”

He didn’t reply, and I rolled out of bed to get ready for the day. If Wild wasn’t able to function, then I’d keep the ball rolling. We’d find a pinprick of light to follow eventually.

One step at a time. I had to walk for both of us for the time being.

I strode toward the smaller set of tunnels that led to my actual esteemed quarters. I missed them and the space they provided. Having my own area in the cave hadn’t been an issue when I was regular ol’ Tempest Corentine. Now I valued time away from the list of things to do and people who wanted me. I’d lost the easy access to my quipu too. I’d need to schedule in time for the sentries to leave their posts so I could work with it. I could feel the room pulling me toward it, and I should listen to that call. More than ever, I had to keep my mind and magic united and clear. Wild’s happiness depended on it.

The quipu really was pulling me.

Maybe I should work with it instead of having breakfast. I paused at the fork to my esteemed quarters.

Life should have taught me not to hesitate.

“High Esteemed?”

There went my quipu time. The person wasn’t Postman Barrow. Opal hurried down the main tunnel toward me. “We’ve received news from other covens. I believe an advisor meeting is needed.”

Her expression told me the news wasn’t good. “You got it.”

I gripped my advisor pendant and excluded Wild from the summons. He needed to be with himself this morning. “Let’s head there now.

Barrow was already in the chamber, and he was aware of the news, judging by the solemn set to his face. I waited for the others to arrive, resisting the urge to tap my finger on the stone slab when they took longer than two minutes.

“Opal and Barrow have received news from the other covens,” I said when Huxley’s ass touched his seat.

Opal fretted, “I don’t know how they found out.”

“Who? The covens?” I asked her.

Barrow sighed. “We received word from three of the seven covens who had offered us support. They’ve heard of our imminent alliance with Vissimo and Luthers and will not mix with other species. We’ve lost all support from two covens who’d offered us magus, and the remaining coven who had offered us their magus have altered their offer to weapons, charms, and knowledge.”

Fuck. “How did they find out?”

Not that I’d planned to keep it a secret, but the alliance wasn’t even signed for fuck’s sake.

I held up a hand. “Don’t tell me. Frond.”

Opal frowned. “You suspect Frond?”

Varden said drily, “You’ve somehow missed the mob he’s accruing, Opal?”

“No, but this is a serious accusation. Discussion of coven matters outside of the coven is in breach of our laws.”

Yes, it was. “Frond is in communication with the original coven and has been for some time. He alerted them, and they approached our supporters. Which covens have dropped their support?”

“Timmo, Nafia, and Rguc.”

Rguc. I didn’t see that coming. She’d been friends with my mother and had taken a liking to me. She seemed so certain in general. “I’d like to speak with High Esteemed Nightlock now.”

Barrow and Opal exchanged a look.

“Could you arrange that?” I prompted.

“I can try, High Esteemed,” he answered. “She’s hard to get hold of.”

Opal walked to the far wall and swept her hand across the blank stone. Symbols appeared, and I didn’t need to count to know there would be ninety-six of them, one to represent each foreign coven. A sole symbol was larger than the others—the symbol for the original coven, no doubt.

I’d change that.

Opal set her fingers to a jagged symbol in the top right corner, then waited. The symbol glowed a few seconds later, and Opal spoke, “This is an esteemed advisor of the High Esteemed Corentine. Our leader would appreciate a few words with High Esteemed Nightlock.”

“What time and date, please?” a voice floated back.

“Now, if possible.”

There was a silence on the other end. “Unlikely, but I will inquire.”

Opal returned to the table, and the glow of the symbol faded.

Varden hummed. “What does the original coven hope to achieve?”

“Other than revenge?” Ruby asked.

“Their only son resides in this coven. To leave us powerless against a foe that could kill him is something they won’t do.”

Ruby pulled a face. “They didn’t seem to care much about him.”

“They don’t,” I told her. “They care about who he is—the heir to the original coven. They won’t risk his life.”

Winona hummed. “There have been instances where the original coven—and other covens—have offered much-needed aid at a steep price.”

“The price being?”

“Ah, yes,” Varden said. “Well surmised, Winona. The price would be the coven, of course. Fertim did not win, and therefore Wild is not ruling this coven. They seek to secure the coven another way. They wish to make us desperate first, so we’ll accept.”

“But our leader is in a relationship with Wild,” Ruby said. “Surely that’s almost the same as Wild being leader.”

“She proved herself immune to their control while they were visiting,” Huxley answered. “She’s an unpredictable factor, and they don’t like it.”

Ruby tilted her chin. “Our leader shouldn’t be under any other coven’s control.”

“Frond doesn’t feel the same way,” I said.

The jagged symbol glowed again.

Opal hurried over and touched it. “You’re speaking with an esteemed advisor of High Esteemed Corentine.”

“High Esteemed Nightlock will speak with your leader. Her available time is limited.”

“Our thanks,” Opal replied, then appeared to pinch at the symbol on the wall before drawing her hand back. A portal was opened, and I rose from my authority as High Esteemed Nightlock came into view.

“Thank you for speaking with me on short notice, High Esteemed,” I greeted the old woman.

“I usually delay these things because I hate waffling on. What do you want?”

This woman reminded me of my grandmother. I didn’t fear her. I also wasn’ther granddaughter and couldn’t forget that. She owed me nothing. We just liked how the other held herself. “Who told you of our pending alliance with Vissimo and Luthers?”

“Oh, I heard it from Bartemus, who heard it from that sorry excuse for a magus leader in the backcountry of France, who heard it from someone she couldn’t quite recall.” The old woman snorted. “The original coven, of course. Who else would we hear it from?”

I nodded. “I suspected as much. The alliance doesn’t seem to deter you despite the possible partnership with other supernaturals.”

“No. It’s smart. If you’ve only got shit to throw at your enemy, you throw it.”

Princess Basilia might have something to say about that description.

“Any other information you’re able to offer?”

Her green eyes glinted. “Only something the French coven leader let slip to Bartemus after a few too many drinks. The original coven has selected a new leader for your magus for when you come begging to them for help. Any guesses who?”

“Frond,” I replied, my chest tightening with anger.

“Knew you weren’t dumb. You’re up against a lot, High Esteemed, and from what I hear, you’re holding it together. You have my support—my full support. I should have given it to you from the start, but I’d only met you the one time. I like what you’ve done since, and the original coven has too much power over our race. I’ll stand in their way wherever and whenever I can. I’ll get details of numbers and power levels to your minions.”

I wasn’t sure whether making that statement about the original coven to myself and the occupants of this room was smart or stupid. She’d been leader this long, so I was inclined toward the smart option, and regardless, I respected that she showed strength and moral caliber even when outnumbered.

I inclined my head. “My deepest thanks, High Esteemed. If your people are called upon, we will do our utmost to keep them safe. We are holding training sessions geared toward demon combat. If they are interested in joining those, please let us know.”

“They will be. I’ll have my minions speak to yours.”

I smiled at Barrow’s muffled grunt behind me. “A pleasure, High Esteemed.”

“The same to you.” She sounded surprised.

Nightlock closed the portal, and I faced my advisors. “We have Frond’s motive.”

Ruby was about as furious as I’d ever seen her. “I can’t believe it. You should hear him talking—all indignant about how you’re doing this, that, and the other, while he makes deals with another coven to take over leadership.” Her face colored. “We won’t accept him. Everyone should know about this betrayal.”

“I’d like that too.” I walked back to my authority. “Varden, what are our options?”

“You only have hearsay,” he confirmed my direction of thought. “Your options would be to search Frond’s quarters, place him under a truth charm or serum, or to place him on trial. The latter two options require some strong evidence of guilt to be set in motion. The first is possible, and yet if you find nothing in his quarters, then Frond will use the encounter to further his cause. Frond is many detestable things, but he is not a fool.”

No, he’d be keeping anything incriminating in the rooms of his magus mob.

“So we do nothing?” Delta said, her hand curling to a fist.

Frond had more traction than I was comfortable with. Too late to regret not dealing with Frond from the outset. Like the others, I hadn’t expected him to betray us to this extent. If I had, then I might’ve felt less lenient about allowing him a voice in the coven. “We watch the situation for now. An opportunity will appear to bring our accusations forward.”

Huxley scoffed. “That’s it? He’s trying to usurp you, and that’s the reaction?”

“I’m open to other suggestions.”

“Kick him the fuck out.”

It was tempting. “Without hard evidence and a firm belief in a magus’s lack of remorse and lack of intent to make amends to the coven or injured party, then I won’t exile any coven member.” Frond may like to form mobs. I did not. Everyone was treated fairly—even those I couldn’t stand.

“Then you’re giving him far more than he’s giving you, and it’s going to kick you in the ass when you least expect it.” Huxley ignored the shocked looks from some of the others.

Huxley hated Frond for reasons beyond this betrayal.

“That could happen,” I agreed. “If it does, then I’ll be consoled by knowing that I didn’t sink to Frond’s level. I don’t wish to set a precedent in the coven that I can’t continue if another coven member were to break a law in the future. I won’t kick out magus based on how I feel or what the situation appears to be. There must be proof and no possibility of a solution.”

Huxley didn’t reply, just shook his head.

Was I making the right choice? I didn’t know. “Barrow, Opal, please extend our sincere apologies to the covens who rescinded their support. Let them know that subterfuge wasn’t our goal, and we will always appreciate their initial offer of aid.”

“You mean that?” Delta asked.

“When you only have shit to throw…,” I replied, my lips curving. “I understand that magus prefer to be closed off, and that’s a hard mindset to challenge.”

I’d expected more of Rguc, but there was no point crying over it.

However tempting.

There was a knock at the door. Good. I was about done with bad news today. I waved a hand to admit the person.

Rooke was on the other side with her hand still raised.

“Could I have a word, High Esteemed?” She skirted a look at the others.

“You can. Please keep me updated,” I told Barrow and Opal.

The advisors trickled out, all except Huxley, who believed himself better than the rest.

Rooke closed the door after Varden. “Bad news.”

For fuck’s sake. “Go ahead.”

“There’s a massive rumor that three covens have dropped their support since the Vissimo and Luther negotiations.”

I thumped my head back against my stupid, uncomfortable damned authority. “Not a rumor. It’s true, and Frond’s spreading it.”

“People aren’t happy,” she added, wincing because she hated bringing me this stuff.

“If you poisoned Frond, could anyone trace it back to you?” Huxley asked her.

She frowned. “Yes.”

“Is that a no?”

“Yes, Huxley. That’s a no. And what did you do to Spyne?”

“He’s being unreasonable!”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Rooke, I need you to pass on something to Sven, please.”

So far, he’d operated on his own. I felt odd about using his powers for my gain, like it blurred a line on my moral compass. Frond had focused that line when he betrayed this coven. The gloves were off. “Ask Sven to counter the rumors with news that High Esteemed Nightlock has just offered her full support. Her magus will join us for sparring sessions soon.”

“I’ll tell him straightaway.”

Might as well fight fire with fire. “And ask him to start rumors that Frond has been dealing with the original coven and working to betray us all to their rule.”

Rooke’s eyes rounded. “He has?”

“If the original coven has its way, Frond will sit where I am sooner rather than later.”

It wasn’t often that my cousin got fiery, but her eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll be finding a new fucking coven.”

So would I.

And not by choice.