Page 53 of Rites of Passage

Nikolai choked on his champagne. Mae bit her lip.

“Hmm, Regina? That’s Mae Jin,” Armand said glassily. “The Witch Queen.”

Erik blanched.

Regina didn’t miss a beat.

“Your majesty,” she said effusively.

She lifted the skirts of her dress and curtseyed primly.

Mae smiled. “There’s no need for that. And I know what you mean about the dress.” She leaned in and dropped her voice. “You should see the lingerie.”

Nikolai drew a sharp breath.

Regina’s eyes rounded. She burst out laughing the next instant, her cackles drawing scores of frowns.

“I like you!” she told Mae, wiping tears from her cheeks.

Mae grinned.

“You really are just like Bryony described,” Armand murmured dazedly.

Mae glanced self-consciously at Bryony. “Why, what’d she say?”

“That you’re without arrogance or artifice,” the witch stated firmly.

Regina prodded Mae’s ribs with an elbow. “Is it true you drive a Vespa?”

“Yeah. Her name’s Betsy.”

Regina beamed. “Cool. You gotta take me on a ride next time I’m in New York.”

The little color that had returned to Erik’s face drained straight away at the thought of his mother on a scooter.

Bryony sniffed. “You need to watch the corners. She tends not to slow down when she takes them.”

Barbara almost dropped her cane. “You rode on her Vespa?!”

Nikolai straightened, tension roiling off him. Mae followed the sorcerer’s gaze. She stiffened.

CHAPTER24

Vlad puthis cell away and stormed across the ballroom toward Mae and her companions, face locked in a scowl. Tarang chuffed softly beside him.

The people in their path scattered nervously. Word of his identity had spread through the covenstead like wildfire and everyone was trying to steer clear of him. Not that he gave a damn. He had bigger fish to fry.

Vlad stopped in front of the witch, took her champagne, and placed the flute on a passing waiter’s tray. “We need to talk, Princess.”

Mae’s brow wrinkled at his cold tone, her shoulders tight. “Now?”

Vlad dipped his chin, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He knew he was acting like a dick but the time for pleasantries was long gone. “Now. In private.”

Nikolai bristled, magic flashing in his eyes.

“You should come too,” Vlad said tersely. “You need to hear this.”

Bryony and her entourage watched them leave with worried frowns.

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