Page 11 of Midnight Witch

“What the heck are you doing?” Mae squeaked.

We decided not to stand in the way of what your loins want, my witch, Brimstone confessed sheepishly.

Hellreaver came out with one of Vlad’s risqué gifts draped delicately over a blade.Why don’t you put this on and mosey on down the corridor to claim the sorcerer?

Mae crossed the floor in three quick strides, snatched the lace and silk contraption, picked up Brimstone by his scruff and Hellreaver by his knuckle-duster, and dumped them both in the corridor.

“You two are sleeping outside tonight!” she hissed before slamming the door shut.

Brimstone’s faint whine came through the wood.Oh come on! Where’s your sense of humor?

He scratched at the door.

I think her libido ate it,Hellreaver stated.

CHAPTER6

The High Priestessof the Caracas coven dipped in a deferential bow.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Witch Queen,” she murmured gravely.

“Please, call me Mae,” Mae said hastily.

Surprise darted across Valentina Flores’s face. The older witch straightened, her expression relaxing into a faint smile. “It seems the rumors I heard about you are true. You don’t like to stand on ceremony.”

“It kinda makes me uncomfortable,” Mae confessed.

Nikolai noted Bryony’s chagrined face and hid a smile behind his champagne glass. Mae refusing to stand on ceremony was a constant source of exasperation for her.

He became aware of the Caracas High Priestess’s guarded stare. Considering his affiliation with the Dark Council a mere three months ago, he was hardly surprised at the somewhat cool reception he had received at the parties Bryony had cornered him and Mae into attending.

“It is good to finally meet you, Mr. Stanisic,” Valentina said in a neutral tone.

Nikolai dipped his chin curtly. “Nikolai is fine.”

The High Priestess and her party chatted to them briefly before taking their leave. Mae sagged after they left.

“What’s gotten into you?” Bryony asked sharply.

Penley meowed softly where she cradled him in her arms.

“Nothing,” Mae replied sullenly.

Nikolai had an inkling about the reason for Mae’s foul mood. His guarded gaze swept the elegant hall.

Chateau Monteville, the venue Abraham had chosen to host the reception the New York coven was holding in honor of their visiting South American brethren, was an opulent five-star hotel with views over Central Park. The Élysée Room was a stunning ballroom modeled after neoclassical architecture and had enough iconic marble columns and crystal chandeliers to sink a luxury ship.

Nikolai would have appreciated the decor even more were it not for the fact that he and Mae were the focus of everyone’s attention where they stood in the garden court. A limestone fountain babbled pleasantly in the center of the atrium, the jets of water spouting off it reflecting light off the stained-glass roof and across the lush greenery filling the space.

They’d only been there half an hour and had already greeted twenty people. It seemed practically every major South American coven had sent representatives to New York to meet them.

“We’re like hostages on a glitzy stage,” Mae said sourly.

“Tell me about it,” Nikolai murmured in agreement.

“Honestly, it’s about time you two got used to these functions,” Bryony said, unrepentant.

Nikolai glimpsed the bold gazes some of the witches were directing at him. He ran a finger discreetly around the collar of his suit. “Now I know what a prized stud feels like.”

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