Page 126 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

Bit of flattering never went astray with Huxley.

He forced a smile, but the grimoire was currently minus the man he’d pined over for years, and a grimness sat upon the firm press of his mouth and the bruised areas under his eyes. Instead of lashing out or being loud about his anger, the quad member had turned inward.

That was real pain right there.

I picked up a ham and cheese sandwich off the tray and took a bite. Around the mouthful, I said, “You’re just in time for the fun part.”

I slid the letter to Ruby. “Could you do the honors while I eat?”

She turned the message over. “It’s from the original coven.” When I didn’t say anything more, Ruby broke the seal and spread the single page of parchment flat.

“High Esteemed Corentine,” Ruby read aloud.

Wild entered the room and took his seat, casting me a searching look. I smiled and nodded toward Ruby.

She kept reading. “We are troubled beyond measure to hear of the upset within the Buried Knoll coven of late that is a response to the way you have chosen to lead. Our upset originates not only from this reported turmoil and division but also over the vicious attack on your magic. It is no wonder you and our son made the decision to hide your mating from your coven and the wider magus community, only revealing this when backed into a corner by those who should be nearest and dearest to you but are not.”

Ruby’s nostrils flared, and she looked at me.

My smile widened. “Keep reading, please.”

She did so, clear anger in her voice. “Perhaps most troubling of all is the threat from demonkind that the Buried Knolls coven faces largely alone and without support from our loving and fierce magus network. That you have chosen to align with baser supernaturals speaks of your awareness of the direness of the coven’s defensive position, of their impaired ability to fight back, and—apologies if this appears coldly critical—your awareness of the grievous errors you have made during your very brief reign as leader. We are not all meant for this role, as I am sure you can now attest.”

Ruby dropped the letter. “I can’t read more of that shit.”

Huxley snatched it up. I should’ve given the job to the grimoire in the first place, knowing curiosity would overwhelm his other feelings.

He read rapidly, “The original coven feels, as the homeplace of the originals of our race, a particular fatherly duty toward caring for the flock of magus covens as a whole. We have a Mother, but our coven operates to fill the paternal role and offer a complete, nurturing upbringing to maguskind.”

“That is fucking sick,” Winona said.

Winona just swore! That made up for a lot of things in life.

I grinned.

Huxley said, “As such, recognizing a child in need, we extend help to you despite the great risk to ourselves from the state of your coven and the threat of demon attack. Though we believe your alliance with the lesser supernatural races to be disrespectful to the Mother’s grand design, we accept that such contracts cannot be easily dissolved, and will uphold any dealings you have embroiled the coven in already. In return for the full aid of the original coven and any sister and brother covens loyal to us—numbering seventy-seven at the time of this letter—we would require you to step down from the authority immediately, to renounce your leadership and ill-begotten relics, and to agree that the Buried Knoll coven would henceforth be known as a long-distance extension of the original coven itself. The coven will thrive under our experienced and cherished rule—as the length of occupation of our authority can serve as a witness. Furthermore, we acknowledge that distance does complicate matters, and as such we agree to appoint a regent to act in our stead. This regent will act in accordance with our laws and ways in full effect. Appointing a regent will be at our discretion, and while our son may appear to be the natural choice here, his relationship and mating with yourself has tainted him by association. Therefore, rest easy that he will not be offered the position of regency. Better yet, we are happy, despite mistreatment from yourself in the past, to reopen our doors to you and our son and to offer a fresh start from the mistakes you have made. You might still be able to attain a semblance of respect in the magus world if you can see this for the gift it is.” Huxley lifted his head. “It’s signed by the Astars.”

I licked crumbs off my fingers. “That truly exceeded my every expectation. Bravo to them. Bravo.”

Wild was simmering in fury across the table and didn’t trust himself to say a single word. He loathed his parents. There was no question of that.

“I can’t believe the level of manipulation in that letter.” Ruby was plain ol’ shocked. “I can’t believe the way they’re tearing you down to get what they want, and acting like they’re doing you a favor too.”

“If I accept, they want me to be aware that I’ll be crawling to them for help,” I said. “They want this to be personal.”

Like me, Varden appeared amused. “Ill-begotten relics.”

I laughed. “That was my favorite part too.”

Delta appeared grim. “They want this coven, the alliance with Vissimo and Luthers, and the first mated magus couple in their home. They want all those things badly despite how they’ve turned all that into an offer.”

That was about the size of it. “They don’t wish to lose their self-appointed father image to the other covens. They have to appear to help us, but they want the same as the demons, really. In essence, but using different strategy.”

Winona’s face twisted. “The audacity to place themselves as equals to the Mother.”

“They don’t see themselves as her equals,” Wild told her. “They see themselves above her.”

That earned a horrified silence from the others.

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