Page 4 of Midnight Witch

“There’s a reception this Friday I would like you to attend,” the New York coven High Priestess announced without preamble.

Mae swallowed a groan. “Why?”

Bryony ignored her sullen tone. “Representatives from our South American sister covens wish to pay their respects to you.” She paused, her tone turning sharp. “Your little friend Cortes will be in attendance. Did you know he’s joined the Medellin coven and is next in line to be their High Priest?”

Mae’s eyebrows shot up. “No, I didn’t.”

Enrique Cortes was the second-in-command andde factofuture head of theBacatá Cartel,one of the most dangerous gangs in South America. Had it not been for an ugly twist of fate, Cortes would have grown to be a powerful sorcerer instead of a criminal. Born into a prestigious but cruel family of rare Arcane Magic users, he was cast out of the world of magic after his familiar was killed and his core broken when he was only a teenager.

It was his aunt who had struck the blows that had rendered him unable to use his powers. Threatened by his genius potential and keen to assume the mantle of leadership she felt she was owed, Raya Medeiros had had no qualms squashing the young sorcerer related to her by blood. Ironically, she had never become the High Priestess of the Medellin coven. Instead, she’d joined ranks with the Sorcerer King and taken on the role of his most valuable seer.

Cortes had finally gotten his revenge in Prague by killing Raya and her familiar during their battle with the Dark Council. It was a feat that had no doubt made the Sorcerer King furious and put a target on his back.

“And he only started using his magic properly at the end of summer,” Mae mumbled, suitably impressed. Cortes’s expression after he’d killed Raya flashed before her eyes. She wrinkled her nose, wary. “He didn’t get rid of anyone who was being considered for that role, right?”

Bryony sighed. “I wish I could claim that, but no. He is just that strong. The Medellin coven had no option but to welcome him into their fold. I heard rumors he challenged their most powerful members to a combined duel and totally trashed them.”

A warm feeling blossomed in Mae’s chest. She was glad she and Nikolai had managed to repair Cortes’s broken core. He was someone she knew she could count on to help her defeat the Sorcerer King, regardless of his criminal affiliations. He’d helped them find Roman after all.

“Are you smiling right now?” Bryony said suspiciously.

“No,” Mae said guiltily. She hesitated. “So, does this mean Enrique has finally reconciled with his family?”

When she’d last spoken to him, Cortes had intimated he would have to make contact with the kin who had abandoned him if he wished to officially re-enter the world of magic and be recognized as a sorcerer.

“Reconciled is not quite the right word.” Bryony sighed. “He pretty much subjugated them into acknowledging him as their head. Between you and me, that family totally deserves their fate.”

Mae scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Ah.”

She couldn’t exactly blame Cortes. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t done some subjugation herself in Philadelphia. Her first Annual Grand Meeting had begun and ended somewhat explosively.

Brimstone huffed.That was different. Those fools needed to learn some humility.

Mae was distracted by Bryony’s voice.

“Honestly, it scares me how many criminal organization heads you’ve got twisted around your little finger,” the witch continued sourly. “First Yuliy Vissarion, then Budimir Volkov, and now Cortes. Your mother worries about you.”

“It’s not as if I’m doing it on purpose,” Mae protested. She paused as Bryony’s words sank in. “Wait. You and Yoo-Mi talk?”

“She comes over for tea sometimes.”

Mae shuddered. The thought of her first-generation South Korean matriarch mother indulging in small talk with one of the most powerful witches on the East Coast was enough to give her heartburn.

“The party is in the Élysée Room, at Chateau Monteville. I’ll have Abraham send you the details. Nikolai’s also invited, of course.” Bryony sniffed. “Don’t be late.”

CHAPTER3

Nikolai’s facetook on the expression of a man who’d just been informed he had a venereal disease when Mae told him about the party over dinner that night.

“Another one?” He stabbed his steak forcefully with his fork, sliced off a chunk of meat with barely suppressed irritation, and stuffed it vengefully in his mouth. “How about she sticks us in a zoo and be done with it?”

Alastair rustled his feathers with obvious displeasure where he was eating a bowl of nuts and raisins on the windowsill, his emotions attuned to his sorcerer’s mood.

“Yeah, well, I’m not happy about it either.” Mae grimaced. “I don’t think a pantsuit is gonna cut it this time.”

Nikolai made a sympathetic noise while he chewed and swallowed.

After news of how they’d faced down the Dark Council in Philadelphia and Prague had started circulating in the magic community, numerous overseas covens had started getting in touch with Bryony to arrange introductions to their Witch Queen. Word of Nikolai’s abilities had also reached their ears, which meant everyone now wanted to get into the good graces of the only white magic sorcerer who could access ley lines, regardless of his past association with the Dark Council. Add to this the rumor that he was a contender for the position of her consort and the sorcerer was practically having to beat off the sudden interest in his person.

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