Page 61 of Rites of Passage

He indicated the skeleton key dangling off Hellreaver’s chain.

Raven frowned. “A key?”

“What does it do?” April asked.

“We don’t know. We were hoping to find the answer here.” Mae paused, her stomach fluttering with fresh unease. “Also, does anyone know a sorcerer in his late thirties with brown hair and green eyes? He has a white cat familiar.”

The High Priestesses and Armand traded a surprised look.

“That sounds like Linus Jarrett.” Bryony frowned. “He’s standing in for Isabella West, the Phoenix coven High Priestess. She’s been bedridden since last month.”

“Why do you ask?” Raven said curiously.

“Because he gave me this tonight.” Mae uncurled her right hand and showed them the balled-up paper fragment in her palm.

Nikolai drew a sharp breath. “Wait. He’s the guy who bumped into you when we were headed for the balcony!”

Mae dipped her chin. She’d already read the contents of Linus Jarrett’s note. She showed it to them.

Raven swore. Bryony and the others scowled.

* * *

Nikolai splashedwater on his face and stared at his reflection in the mirror above the sink. It was past midnight and they’d just returned to their suite.

They’d spent an hour coming up with a strategy in light of what Linus Jarrett had revealed in his hastily written message to Mae. Although Mae had wanted to leave straight afterward, Bryony and the others had convinced her to join the reception. There was now a queue of people who wanted to introduce themselves to her after witnessing her showdown with the High Council.

Looks like many covens are unhappy with Karin, Ephra, and Gerard.He clenched his jaw.Let’s hope we’re all wrong about tomorrow.

A knock came at the door of his room just as he was drying his face.

He stepped out of the bathroom. Alastair was snoozing on top of the wardrobe. If there had been a nefarious magic user outside, they’d both have sensed it. He grimaced.

Plus Brimstone or Hellreaver would have had their teeth in them by now.

He went over to the door and checked the peephole. A woman stood outside, her back to the room. His pulse quickened.

Mae?!

Nikolai yanked the door open. “What’s wrong? Why are you—?”

He froze when the woman turned.

It wasn’t Mae.

Nikolai drew on his magic and unleashed his spear.

“I don’t know who you are or how you got in here, but access to this suite is by invitation only,” he said threateningly. “You should—”

He stopped, startled.

Tears had sprung to the woman’s eyes. Her breath hitched. She swallowed heavily and composed herself.

“Bryony let me in.” Her voice quavered. “I’m Marlena Kosek. I’m your aunt.”

A buzzing noise filled Nikolai’s ears. He gripped the door with white-knuckled fingers.

“What?!” he whispered hoarsely.

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