Page 5 of Rites of Passage

It had begun to dawn on Mae that she would not be able to split herself three ways once she started back at Grandview. The autopsy labs at the hospital were nearing the end of their refurbishment, having finally been released back to the hospital by NYPD following the end of their investigation into the attack. She couldn’t hold on to her day job, help out at the family business, and unite the world of magic against the Sorcerer King and the Dark Council, like she was fated to do. Her chest grew tight.

Something had to give.

Oh well, I still have some time to figure things out. And I can always ask fortheiradvice.

The faces of the two men who had entered her life in a dramatic fashion after she had awakened as the Witch Queen flitted across her inner mind. She bit her lip.

Nikolai Stanisic and Vlad Vissarion were as different from each other as day was from night. And they had both started to lay claim to an equal share of her heart. Her face warmed when she recalled the kiss she’d shared with each man.

Brimstone’s voice echoed inside her skull, his tone disapproving.Are you in heat again?

Mae narrowed her eyes. “No. And I’d be grateful if you’d stop reading my mind.”

Brimstone sniffed.I am not reading your mind. I can sense it in your magic.He eyed Kyo Seung and Jang-Mi warily.Those two women look like they’re about to rip each other’s throat out.

“You’re not wrong. This could very well turn into a bloodbath.”

Hellreaver stirred where he lay in his medallion disguise under her dress shirt, his interest piqued.Did someone say blood?

“No!” Mae said hastily. “Now shut up and stay still.”

The last thing she needed was for her demonic weapon to put in an appearance. She stiffened when she noticed Mrs. Son-Ha’s stare.

Dammit. That woman is like a hawk when it comes to sniffing out trouble.

Hellreaver grew heavy around her neck.

Sure,the weapon sulked.It’s alright for the snake to steal the food offerings of a dead man, but I can’t mention the B word.

“What snake?” Mae snapped.

Several guests close to the podium glanced at her.

A sixth sense made Mae look over at the altar. Her eyes bulged.

Miles Nolan’s familiar Millie was slithering her way across the dais, the boa constrictor’s attention focused on the pear she evidently intended to snack on.

“Shit!”

The nearby guests startled and stared at Mae. Luckily, most of the funeral hall didn’t hear her above the sobs and howls still punctuating the air. Mrs. Son-Ha’s suspicious gaze swung from Mae to the altar.

Mae scanned the chamber frantically, relieved that normal humans could not see familiars.Where the hell is that damn sorcerer?!

Instinct had her checking out the corridor leading to the back offices.

Yoo-Mi stood frozen behind Ye-Seul, mouth open and left eye twitching. Ye-Seul was snorting into her juice carton, her cackles drowned out by the noisy crowd. Though Yoo-Mi and Ye-Seul did not harbor magic in their souls, they could see Millie; familiars possessed the ability to make themselves visible to the people they trusted.

Bianca was frowning at the pair. A little way behind the mortician, making desperate beckoning gestures at his boa constrictor, stood Miles, AKA a-soon-to-be-dead-sorcerer if Mae had any choice in the matter. His cousin Violet was beside him, her familiar Trixie perched on her shoulder. The rabbit had covered her eyes with her ears, clearly horrified. The witch, on the other hand, was wearing the sick smile of someone determined to enjoy this situation to the max.

The two sorcerers and the witch who formed part of the protection team the New York coven had assigned to Mae’s family returned from patrolling the grounds and rocked to an abrupt halt next to Violet. Macabre fascination dawned on their faces as they watched the goings-on in the hall.

Miles caught Mae’s glare.

I’m sorry!he mouthed.

Mae’s eyes shrank to slits. A snicker drew her attention.

Brimstone was studying Millie with a grin, his bushy tail brushing warmly against her legs as it swept the floor.This will be most amusing.

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