Page 31 of Rites of Passage

Abraham swore. He twisted on his heels and stormed into Bryony’s office.

“Where is he going?” Mae asked warily.

“To have a drink,” the High Priestess said dismissively. She narrowed her eyes at Nikolai and Vlad. “So, what say you?”

The two men glanced at one another.

“We can obey orders,” Nikolai said with a shrug.

“Sure,” Vlad murmured. “Whatever you say.”

Mae swallowed a groan. The gleam in Nikolai and Vlad’s eyes told her otherwise. Judging from Bryony’s skeptical stare, the witch wasn’t buying their bullshit either.

“Why don’t I go take a look at that sorcerer’s remains?” Mae said to break the tension.

CHAPTER16

To Mae’sutter lack of surprise, Abraham led them to the basement.

It must be part of some unspoken code.

What is?Brimstone said.

The lift opened on a brightly lit corridor.

Mae pursed her lips.Dead bodies and basements.

Well, theyarecloser to Hell that way.

Mae sighed.Thanks for that unpleasant reminder.

She studied the shadowy passages branching off the intersections they crossed. They were lined with steel doors sealed with magic.

“That’s the coven’s arsenal,” Vlad explained at her curious expression.

“Arsenal?”

“Weapons, grimoires, potions.” Nikolai shrugged. “Things they’ll need if they have to fight a battle.”

“Do I even want to ask how you two know this?” Abraham said darkly over his shoulder.

Vlad smiled. Nikolai kept quiet.

They’d insisted on coming along despite her protests. Jared had returned to his precinct, Miles had gone off to a lecture, and Violet had elected to stay upstairs with Bryony.

Mae pondered the two men’s words with a faint frown.To think all this stuff’s been happening and most of the city’s not even aware of it.

Her eyes widened when they reached the infirmary. It was a large, modern space divided into three bays and a row of cubicles. She spotted two operating theaters and a handful of treatment rooms lining one of the walls. Mae could tell no expense had been spared to equip the place.

“I think you do this place a disservice calling it an infirmary.”

Abraham’s chest puffed out slightly. “You think so?”

She smiled wryly. “Yeah.”

It was clear just how much the sorcerer cared for his coven.

He’s a nice guy once you peel away his prickly exterior.

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