Page 65 of Rites of Passage

An argument was in full flow inside the meeting chamber.

Armand sighed when he saw her expression. “I’d advise you to give them a few minutes, but something tells me that’s not going to work.”

Mae narrowed her eyes. “Bingo.”

She stepped around him, opened the door, and barged inside.

“Good morning. Are we interrupting?” she said brightly.

Karin whipped around where she stood face-to-face with Barbara and a woman Mae didn’t recognize in a circle ringed by tables.

There were two other people in the room whose faces were unfamiliar to her. One was a man with a hawk whom she presumed to be Derrick Adlington, the High Priest of the Baton Rouge coven. The other was a beautiful, olive-skinned woman with a lazy expression and a desert fox familiar.

“That’s Nadia Hadid, the High Priestess of the Council of the Sun,” Armand murmured behind Mae. “She landed in the country last night. The woman next to Barbara is Marlena Kosek, the High Priestess of the Council of the Moon.”

Karin paled slightly when she saw Mae and Brimstone. She recovered her composure and scowled at Armand. “I told you not to let them in yet!”

This witch really hasn’t learned her lesson, Brimstone growled.

Armand held Karin’s angry gaze unflinchingly. “I’m afraid that was an impossible task to accomplish. It is not within my power to stop the Witch Queen.”

Nadia stirred, her languid face sharpening for a moment as she scrutinized Mae. Derrick stared, equally curious.

Charlotte Brix carried on with her knitting, her demeanor relaxed.

Karin’s expression turned ugly. “And what are they doing here?!” She pointed an accusing finger at Nikolai and Vlad. “They’re not on the guest list!”

A threatening sound rumbled up Tarang’s throat.

“Nikolai is acting as my aide,” Bryony said steadily. “I entered his name as an attendee for this meeting yesterday.”

“I thought you already had an aide,” Ephra said suspiciously.

“He’s busy.”

Mae indicated Vlad. “Mr. Vissarion is here as my legal advisor.”

Derrick choked on a snort. Nadia inspected her manicured nails, a faint smile playing on her lips. Charlotte looked up briefly.

A nervous look darted across Gerard’s face. “He’s not a lawyer.”

Vlad smiled. “I am more than familiar with your coven laws. I’ve broken them a few times.” He shrugged at Mae’s pointed stare. “They’re archaic.”

“Right,” Barbara declared briskly. “Like I was saying, Karin, you can’t stop me from being here. It is my right as the previous head of the Council to attend this meeting.” She ignored Karin’s outraged gasp and whirled around. “Come, Marlena, let us sit down. I am sure they will consider your demandsobjectively.”

Marlena eyed Nikolai worriedly.

“It’s okay,” the sorcerer murmured.

She hesitated, her troubled gaze swinging between him and Mae. She dipped her head and returned to her seat beside Barbara, her movements stiff.

“You know her?” Mae asked Nikolai in a low voice.

“She’s my aunt.”

Surprise jolted Mae. Vlad cut his eyes to the sorcerer, equally startled.

Nadia leaned her elbows on the table and dropped her chin on her steepled hands. “Where is Linus?” She arched an eyebrow. “I find it strange that you would begin this meeting without him.”

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