Page 96 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“The Vissimo and Luthers agreed to the changes we put forward,” Barrow said, summoning a contract to land in front of me. “They’ve already signed. Varden and I have checked the contents and ensured all changes were satisfactory and no other changes were entered.”

I summoned a pen and planted my initials and signature beside those of Kyros’s father, King Julius, and those of Andie.

There were a lot of pages.

I sat back in my authority after, reflecting that I’d formed the first alliance between magus and other supernaturals ever—to my knowledge at least. Would it be a mistake? “I feel only good will come from this.”

Opal gathered the contract and slipped it into a large document bag. “I wasn’t behind the move at first, High Esteemed, but I can see the wisdom behind the alliance even if I don’t yet share your hope that it will work.”

That did mean something. Long-held grudges were hard to change. Opal had been the most vocal in her disapproval.

The wall opposite me glowed, and I focused on the flashing symbol at the bottom-left corner.

Barrow rushed to answer, touching his fingers to the symbol. “You’re speaking with an esteemed advisor of High Esteemed Corentine.”

A monotone voice replied, “Please be advised that High Esteemed Mydnigh has reevaluated our position with regard to the threat facing the Buried Knolls coven. Correspondence to follow.”

Barrow glanced over his shoulder at me. “I shall alert our leader to expect it.”

No sooner had the connection severed than another symbol glowed close to the large symbol in the center.

A conversation in the same stream followed, and by the time Barrow finished speaking with the second coven, Wild’s suspicion had sparked mine.

“Who told the other covens about our mating ritual?” Wild asked the occupants.

Opal and Barrow exchanged a guilty look.

Barrow drew himself tall. “You tasked us with a job, High Esteemed. This was a powerful bargaining chip to negotiate support from the other covens. We have the first mated magus here, and they are under threat. They must be protected.” He drew out a stack of letters. “We’ve already received more offers of support since.”

“How many?” I asked.

“Ten so far.”

Ten was more than we’d ever had. Seven more since most of our supporters ditched after hearing of the alliance with other supernaturals. I sighed. I didn’t like that the other covens knew something so personal about me. I also knew that sometimes being close to a solution made it impossible to see. “If this works out, then I’ll thank you for it,” I told them. “If it causes a headache or heartache for me and Wild, then I’ll make sure you both feel our pain in equal measure because that was the risk you took when you made the details of our lives general knowledge without consulting us first.”

They looked grim at that.

“Apologies, High Esteemed,” Opal murmured, inclining her head.

Barrow echoed the same.

Wild said, “For what it’s worth, High Esteemed, Frond would’ve told the original coven by now. By making the announcement ourselves, we’ve stolen their thunder. I wonder if we could use an important announcement in the future to catch Frond in the act of conveying information to my parents.”

“I like it,” Huxley said.

Ruby nodded. “Smart. A trap.”

I did rather like a trap.

“I like it. Let’s keep it in mind. So we have a stack of coven letters to get through, and the coven seems to be in a better place,” I said. “What of the demon gates? Any change there?”

“High Esteemed Nightlock’s magus are due in two days for training,” Winona answered. “We believed a celebration of our alliance was in order, and their arrival coincides with esbat and our first group healing. The coven will want to show the visiting magus their best face, so Frond’s group is more likely to partake in the group healing without any displays.”

Also smart. I’d picked the right people to be in this room.

“I’m organizing that,” Ruby spoke. “Perhaps we should take the opportunity to invite magus from other covens who have just offered support. The more unity and harmony from our end, the less food for the demons, right?”

I nodded. “Good idea. In saying that, we’ll need to share our suspicions on any adverse effects from demon magic with visiting magus. They should know what they’re getting into.”

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