Page 33 of Joined By Magic

The women discussed which of their contacts could be prevailed upon to donate funds. Celia had an encyclopedic mental list of who had donated to what, how long since they’d made a donation, and what sort of inducement—an invitation to the opening weekend at an exclusive new restaurant, or a trip to northern Alaria to see snow—might persuade them to dig deep.

An hour passed. I tried not to let my mind wander. It had the feel of a ritual. There seemed to be an expectation that the upper circle of mages contribute funds, and the game played by the committees was securing the donation at the expense of others. It made limited sense. If everyone acknowledged what was going on, they could contribute a set amount to be used where it was most useful. But then it would lose its appeal. It wouldn’t be fun anymore.

Celia moved to bring the meeting to a close. I caught her eye. “Do we discuss the application of the funds at all? How to best use the money?”

“Yes, that’s discussed at the second meeting of the week. Day after tomorrow. Shall you be returning?” She seemed genuinely curious.

“Yes, thanks.”

“And we’ll see you tomorrow also, for the wives’ luncheon? It’s monthly at the Songbird.”

“Yes, I’ll be there.” I would be now. I’d ask Helen to make sure my name was on the list.

Grace looked at Celia in disgust. “Really? Why invite her?”

Celia shrugged. “Leopold has made his choice. We have to live with it.”

Not a ringing endorsement, but I wasn’t about to argue with the only person who seemed willing to include me. The meeting ended. Grace and Anita left without a backward glance. Celia touched my shoulder as I turned toward the door. She held an oversized address book in her hand.

“Give me your number. I’ll call you later to go through some specifics of the projects, get you up to speed.”

A smile formed on my lips. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Celia smiled back. “Don’t mention it.”

I breathed a little easier as I headed home.

Chapter Sixteen

Liv

Thatevening,Leoarrivedhome—before seven, for once—with his face drawn and stress evident in the tense lines of his body. My good mood evaporated.

“What’s happened?” I shifted my legs from the couch, giving him room to sit.

He flung himself down.

“The priests delivered an ultimatum to the Assembly today. They say I’m an abomination in the eyes of Zantus for creating the Ataran portal, and for my relationship with you. They’re going on strike until I’m removed from office.”

I stared at him, shock ricocheting through my body. On strike? I studied Leo’s exhausted face. He couldn’t keep this up much longer.

“They can’t remove you though. You took power, they didn’t give it to you.”

“I know. It was different when my focus was all here, I had everything under control. But I have to spend so much time and energy on Ataran issues now.” He leaned his head against the sofa and closed his eyes.

I slid close to him and rested my hand on his leg. “If you could find someone you trusted enough to run things here, one of the Assembly—”

“I know that. Don’t you think I’ve thought of it? There isn’t anyone.”

I squeezed his knee. Maybe if he wasn’t such a control freak, he’d find the right person for the job. Now wasn’t the time to make that observation, though. Not when he’d received such bad news.

He took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and looked at me properly. “That’s an elegant outfit. But I thought I told you to wait for me naked?”

Anticipation surged through me as I glanced down at my dress. It’d been days. We both needed this.

“Sorry, I—”

“Take it off. Right now.”

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