Page 71 of My Haven
“I’m so gonna tell him,” Meryn said, smiling to herself as she held up her phone.
Caiden continued. “Next, we have four Noble Families. The Primroses, the Appleblossoms, the Mandrakes and the Elderberrys.”
“Wasn’t Troy’s name Primrose?” Genevieve asked.
“Yes, and yes, he is a Noble Family member,” Caiden confirmed.
Genevieve squinted. “But, you also mentioned Temple Heads and an Elder Council.”
Caiden rubbed the back of his neck. “Since the city began to align more with the Academy and the Witches’ Council, less importance was placed on being a Founding or Noble family member, but there were other ways to lead in the city. The Temple Heads are usually inherited because that particular family exceeds in that elemental magic. The head of the Fire Temple is now Mikel Appleblossom, the head of the WaterTemple is Troy, the head of the Earth Temple is my father, the position being held in proxy by Luka Mandrake and the head of the Air Temple is Celeste Silverwood, a cousin on my mother’s side.”
“Man, all y’all are related,” Meryn remarked, watching her phone like a hawk.
Caiden nodded. “The more powerful bloodlines tended to want to have children with each other to produce stronger witches.”
“But not forced matings, right?” Meryn asked.
“No. Each couple came together in an almost business-like meeting. It was wanted on both sides,” he said.
Genevieve felt her head spinning. “The Temple Heads are also Founding or Noble family members?”
He nodded. “It makes sense that the more powerful families are also the ones with the highest elemental affinities.”
Meryn stopped and looked around. “But the Ironwoods and Ashleighs don’t have Founding Family houses.”
Caiden pointed up to the castle. “Technically, all four Founding Families have estates on either side of the castle. They have been taken over by the Witches’ Council family members. Every few years the Witches’ Council tries to remove the Ironwood and Ashleigh steles that stand on either side of the main gate leading into the castle.” He smirked. “It was installed by an Ironwood earth witch, so they haven’t been able to budge them. They do however, have wear and tear around the edges, showing the many attempts to remove them.” He then pointed to the four larger estates surrounding the castle, separating the Founding Families from the Inner City. “Those are the Noble Family houses, they’re being used by the Academy.”
“Dafaq?” Meryn said, glaring at the castle.
Caiden leaned in. “Most of us didn’t want to be near the towers,” he whispered, then straightened, continuing in hisnormal voice. “The estates are on lease. They can be reclaimed whenever we want.”
“Where do Auntie and Uncle Marsh live then?” Meryn asked.
“They built an estate equidistant from the three-unit house that myself, Kyran and Tristan serve in,” he replied.
“And Amelia was raised in the Nu house?”
“Yes. When Amelia was a baby and growing up, Nu was a very popular place to hang out. The men absolutely adored her.” Caiden was about to continue when his phone rang. He looked down and saw Kincaid was calling. He looked to Meryn, who was smiling at him innocently. “You gonna get that?”
Caiden answered. “Hello?”
“What does Meryn mean I’m a Founding Family member for real?” Kincaid said, nearly shouting the words.
Caiden stared at Meryn. She stuck her tongue out.
“Kincaid, I thought you were told once you acquired your third power, you would be eligible to be elevated to Founding Family rank,” Caiden began.
“Yes, but I thought that was just an equivalent rank thing, not an actual thing,” he wheezed.
“Then I probably shouldn’t tell you that your family inherited the Goldenleaf estate.”
“What!”
Meryn laughed, as they all clearly heard Kincaid’s panic.
Caiden’s expression turned thoughtful. “I’m out with Meryn right now, why don’t you call Kendrick, and he can go over the particulars,” he suggested.
“Right. Kendrick. He’ll know how to fix this,” Kincaid said, then hung up.
