Page 68 of Rites of Passage

Brimstone nudged him affectionately.I would never eat you.

The cat licked him, pleased.

Color returned to Ephra’s face, though her expression remained somewhat wooden. “Still, none of this detracts from what we came here to do today.”

Mae tensed.Here we go.

“Before you begin, might I say a few words?” Marlena interrupted.

Ephra lowered her brows. “If you must.”

Mae studied Nikolai’s aunt from under her lashes.I assumed she and Nadia were here as honorary guests, but it looks like I was wrong.

They are not to be dismissed,Brimstone observed.Even their familiars are powerful in their own right.

Mae’s gaze dropped to Marlena’s terrier and Nadia’s fox. Brimstone was right.

Marlena looked around the room, her expression strained yet resolute. “We’re all aware of the increasing activities of the Dark Council within our territories these past few years. Things appear to have died down since the incident in New York, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. The peace since Mae Jin’s awakening is likely the calm before the storm. We should expect the Sorcerer King to retaliate soon.” She glanced at Nikolai and Mae. “This is why I have two suggestions I would like you to strongly consider. Mae should be allowed into the High Council and Nikolai should take his place at my side in the Council of the Moon.”

Mae’s gut twisted. She looked jerkily at Nikolai, her pulse quickening. Vlad glanced sideways at the sorcerer, his face tight despite the triumphant gleam that flashed in his pupils.

From what Mae had learned, the Council of the Moon was based in Europe. Having the sorcerer on another continent would clear the way for the incubus to court her.

Nikolai’s gaze stayed locked on his aunt.

Karin scoffed. “Besides the fact that what you’ve just suggested is utterly absurd, there is no evidence of this threat you all keep talking about.” A reproachful look dawned on the witch’s face. “I really wish the ones who stand at the top of our magic community would stop spreading lies and fear. We clearly outnumber the Dark Council. We shouldn’t be afraid of them. So, no. I object to your suggestion that Mae Jin join the High Council. As for your own household, it’s your business what you do with it.”

Mae blinked.Jeez, she really doesn’t get it, does she?

That woman is a fool, Brimstone grunted.

“You really do believe that, don’t you?” Marlena said, aghast.

Karin shrugged, undaunted. “Of course. There are plenty of powerful magic users in this room, let alone the rest of our covens.”

Nadia was staring at Karin like she’d grown a second head. “You imbeciles have really lost touch with reality.” She ignored the witch’s outraged gasp and directed a scathing glare at Ephra and Gerard. “You are fools if you’ve convinced yourself that the Sorcerer King doesn’t pose a threat to our way of life. That man would crush us under his feet in a heartbeat to rule over the world of magic.”

Karin’s eyes shrank to slits. “Why, you—!”

“Nadia is right,” Derrick interrupted brusquely. A muscle jumped in the sorcerer’s jawline. “Just because your coven hasn’t had any direct confrontation with the Dark Council in the last decade doesn’t mean you should be misguided about the threat they pose, Karin. This applies to you too, Gerard.”

Gerard scowled.

Karin jutted her chin out, body fairly quaking with rage. “Your collective hysteria doesn’t make you right! I for one believe the events in New York were grossly exaggerated to justify the prophecy about the Witch Queen.” She glared at Bryony. “We’re old enough to realize that that prophecy is but a children’s fairy tale passed down the generations to glorify how we view the world of magic!”

A crimson aura erupted around Vlad.

“I have video evidence of that fairy tale in action!” the incubus snarled. “Wanna see it?!”

Nikolai stepped forward, his posture equally aggressive.

“None of you has ever fought my brother,” he ground out. “Believe me when I say you should be afraid of Oscar. As for Barquiel, only Mae can match him.”

Gerard furrowed his brow. “Barquiel?”

Karin’s mouth became a thin line. “Who the hell is that?”

“He’s an Archduke of Hell and the ninth leader of the Grigori,” Mae stated, her voice calm despite her drumming heart and the anger bubbling through her veins. “He’s the fallen angel who once went by the namethe Lightning of God. He allied himself with the first Sorcerer King and each one who’s taken the throne after him.” She paused, her nails digging into her palms. “He’s the reason why my father’s kingdom fell.”

---