Page 24 of First Ritual

“The answer is in the name itself, Miss Corentine. Caves is a game of territories, of taking and holding space in The Buried Knolls until one side possesses it all. At that point, the other side has no choice but to cave.”

Okay. If someone won a fight, their team got more space.

My next question burned within me, yet it was the only one that couldn’t be uttered. Where does this leave me?

A coven in tumult had almost suited my end, allowing me to move about and ask questions and find answers without drawing attention. A coven split in two was the direct opposite of what I needed, especially if I was sorted into one side. Then half of the coven would treat me with suspicion and watch my every move. The divide at esbat, even the divide at the end of the council meeting. All that made sense now.

Dammit, Tempest. You chose the wrong freakin’ coven.

What the hell was I going to do with this mess?

I glanced up to find Varden watching me.

“Ah, Miss Corentine,” he said softly. “I believe we can expect interesting times ahead in Buried Knolls. Interesting times indeed.”

That’s if I decided to stay. And that was a big if. “Why’s that, sir?”

His eyes glinted. “Because you haven’t asked the question that everyone usually asks.”

“Which is?”

“Most magus ask what will happen to them? Far before they ask how to win.”

His subtle accusation hung in the air, and I inwardly kicked myself at showing my hand. A person would ask that exact question… unless they had a reason for being here.

Varden smiled as the moment extended. “As I said, we can expect interesting times ahead.” He lifted his chin. “And now, I believe you have rather enough to go on. There only remains a choice to be made.”

A dismissal. I walked to the door, then paused. “Sir. Do you think my mother and grandmother left here because of Caves?”

He didn’t shift his focus from the fireplace. “A grimoire can always sense when another’s brain is quite full. Until now, I have found your mind blissfully peaceful if truth be told, unusually so. But not presently. Ask me another time, Miss Corentine, of what I suppose about the departure of Rowaness and Hazeluna.”

8

I gave my magic the reins and padded down a tunnel, hoping I’d end up outside, maybe at the bar. Maybe on a bus leaving the Buried Knolls. Returning to my room didn’t feel right. Being around other people didn’t feel right either. Caves changed everything. I’d seen the fury in those men’s faces as they fought. This wasn’t a cute game of chess. I could get hurt in this ridiculous contest.

I’d come to the coven in the quest of finding healing and true happiness. Less hurt—an anchor.

When my magic led my feet toward the communal eating area, I frowned but continued on. My magic had only led me astray a few times in my life, and under great stress. I edged around the outer perimeter of the eating area, and my power suddenly whipped back to curl around me like a warm blanket. We’ve arrived.

I peered around.

Though open to the surrounding tables of chatting magus, this corner was empty. Glass bottles lined the shelves behind the bar. They were dusty and self-labeled—probably moonshine.

I grinned.

Moonshine sounded perfect. Thank you, magic of mine.

A woman with pastel-purple hair slipped behind the bar. “What can I get for ya, cuz?”

I slid onto a barstool, studying my cousin. Maybe my magic had an agenda after all. “You work here?”

She winked. “I don’t let anyone else work here is more accurate to say. I didn’t get a chance to speak more with you last night. My name is Rooke.”

Rooke. “Nice to meet you properly.” After the chat with Varden, I didn’t have anything left to guard me against meeting my cousin. I hadn’t had family in years. And never a cousin. I took in her funky midriff top and billowing pants and the confidence in her brisk movements as she grabbed two glasses.

“How are you related to me?” I asked quietly. “The council said there weren’t any Corentines in the coven.”

“Phew, you’re brave asking that question around here. Unless you want people to get out the ten-foot chalk board and draw family trees, I wouldn’t ask that too much. You’ll be related to a lot of the coven. Let’s just say there was inbreeding before the covens stopped fighting each other and exchanges became the norm.” She threw me a grin. “When it comes to you and me, it’s easy. First cousins. My dad was your uncle. Your mother’s brother. When a man and woman go through their union ceremony here, the man takes the woman’s name. I’m not a Corentine—just related to the line.”

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