"One who keeps getting attacked," I murmured. "Not exactly the ideal person to envy."
"No, that is not enviable. Nonetheless, you keep trying."
"What does this have to do with Hunter?" I asked, frowning.
"He saw you as the only obstacle to my reunion with the family, and doing my duty. Even when I told him we were history, he thought, without you, I would be easier to manipulate."
I laughed, but failed to conceal the traces of bitterness. "Has he met you?"
"He doesn't know me," said Evan. "He never has. He was wrong. Our relationship... ended, and he took that as the ultimate sign that I was ready to embrace my demon half over my human side. Just as Étoile and I predicted, he pulled me further in, allowing me access to places and things that I would never have gotten otherwise. Information, plans, and not just the ones that supported the High Council, but the secret plotting too. I even had access to track Irina. She's always done my father's dirty work. I knew about her involvement with Tobias Grigg; and it was easy to track her magic to what we found on Kevin Wyatt's body."
"You were Étoile's double agent? This whole time?"
"Yes. She knows everything that I've learned."
"Why didn't either of you tell me?"
"I made Étoile swear not to tell you. Our parting had to be real for you. Your anger had to be spontaneous and sincere in order for my mission to succeed."
"Obviously, that worked out just fine," I snapped, folding my arms across my stomach defensively.
"Yes, it did. On the surface, it worked just fine. Then, my father made the marriage arrangements with Irina, a full-blooded demon who is as power-hungry as she is beautiful."
"I heard she was your ex."
Evan sighed. "She was. We dated briefly many, many years ago; and I broke it off when I found out what our families’ plans for us were. That, and I found out what she was really like. Vicious. The marriage would have meshed our families together, resulting in enormous power. I couldn't go through with it then, but this time... I had to go along with the facade for my own cover."
"Did you actually intend to go through with it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"No."
"Even if..."
"I would have found some way out of it. I would never have married her."
"Did you sleep with her?" I spat out, regretting my choice of words as soon as I spoke them. I was a hypocrite and knew it. That didn't make his answer hurt any less.
"Did you sleep with Gage?" Evan asked softly.
For a long time we sat there, and I imagined I heard a clock ticking, even though the clock on the wall was silent. I knew we would have to break the silence at some point, but what to say? Thanks for the breakup and glad it served your purpose? Thanks for plotting with Étoile and leaving me in the dark? Yes, I slept with Gage when I was free to do so, but that doesn't mean expected you to be with anyone else; and by the way, you were engaged?
"I am sorry a thousand times for hurting you," said Evan. "I would take the hurt away from you if I could."
"I understand," I said in an equally quiet voice.
"You do?"
"Some of it, I think. The other bits... I don't know. I had no claim on you. You could do whatever you wanted, but that didn't mean I had to like it."
"Same as you." Evan's voice was gruff.
"I know that, but I don't want to play the ‘you did stuff, I did stuff’ game. I can't change the past anymore than you can. What I want to know is where do we go from here?"
Before he could answer, the telephone on the desk rang sharply. I thought about ignoring it, but decided that I had better answer in case it was important. Who knew what was decided in the past hour? Who knew what decisions Étoile made in the past few months? I pondered those questions, wondering if I could hate her for the deceit she used on me in the name of saving the High Council. If that were politics, they could keep it. I wanted no part of it. Reaching for the phone put me in closer proximity to Evan, and I could feel the warmth radiating from him as I picked up the receiver.
"Stella?" came Étoile's voice.
"Yes, it's me."
"The wolves have invited us to watch their leadership fight. I'm told it is very interesting and a rare opportunity. Will you come?"
"I don't know. Will it be bloody?"
"Who knows? Maybe they'll play cards like adults, shake hands, and it'll be done."
I smiled at that. Then we both sighed and said together, "It'll be bloody."
Étoile continued, not surprising me at all when she added, "Gage will participate."
"Willingly?"
"There will be two contenders matched against each other, and the victor will take on Noah."
"Who's the other challenger?"
"A wolf from the Rockford pack. His name is Hal Hoag. He has as much support as Gage. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have concerns about the true intentions of the other wolf, should he win."
"I've met him. He's a big guy. Close to Tobias Grigg."
"That's my concern. I'm trying to find out if their policies match, or if this Hal Hoag has his own agenda."
I couldn't answer that so I tried to match Hal against Gage in my head. Both were tall, broad, and very large-muscled. Gage was smart too, and I didn't think Hal was as intelligent. Working in Hal's favour, he was a bit stockier and heavier built. That meant Gage had to probably be lighter on his feet. But, I conceded in my own internal argument, it would still be a very close match. "What if neither wins?"
"Then they'll just go on fighting until there is a winner. And if they don't like the winner, who knows? It's in an hour. You'll be called."
"I'll be there."
"And Stella?"
"Yes?"
"Regardless of what happens, everything changes. Remember that."
"What do you mean?" I asked, but Étoile had already gone. I hung up, staring at the phone, puzzled. What did she mean by that? What could change?
"They've set a time?" Evan asked before clarifying, "the wolves?"
"In an hour." The proximity between us closed as I stood less than a few inches from him. Close enough to reach out and hug him, and far enough that I could step away. I was paralysed by indecision. Finally, I stepped backwards, just beyond his reach. "What about the demons? What happens to Hunter now?" I asked, aware that Evan never mentioned what would happen after the arrests. Everything changes, rang Étoile's voice. I needed to know what would change.
"He won't be able to proceed leading demonkind. There will be some in-fighting, then a victor will emerge. I think things will sway towards a demon with High Council sympathies, even if only as a protective measure."
"Would that demon be you?"
"No." Evan loomed over me. He repeated more emphatically, "No. I've always said I'm not interested in politics, and I'm not. I'll help where I can, but I don't want anything to do with the running of the High Council, or even of my own kin. I'll settle for a vote, maybe even advise when asked, but I do not want to lead. That's Hunter... and Irina... but it's definitely not me. I swear to you now, Stella, as soon as demonkind have their new leader and the High Council is fully sworn in, I'm out."
"Back to your normal life?" I asked, surprised somehow by his sincere determination.
"I don't know what normal is. What about you? Have you developed a taste for Council business?"
I shook my head. "Doing what Étoile does every day? That's not for me. Everything you've told me today just reaffirms that."
"Don't be pissed at Étoile. She wanted to tell you herself."
"I'm not angry, I'm..." I trailed off. Truthfully, I didn't know what I was, or at least, what churning emotions I was feeling.
A hand landed on my arm. "What about us?"
"What about us?" I repeated softly, because that was the question I wanted to ask too.
"Where do we go from here?"
I stayed silent. I just didn't know. Over the past few months I knew I didn't want Eva
n out of my life permanently, and at least now, I understood the reasons why he had been cold; but could I handle him again? Had too much happened? Once more, I felt the cruel stab of exclusion and confusion that first led me to feeling alone and turning to my friend for affection. Except... that would have been an awfully simple way of describing what I felt for Gage.
"I don't know," I replied honestly.
"May I call you when you get home? Maybe visit sometime? We can talk some more, away from all this. Just you and me."
"Maybe." I took a deep breath. "Okay."
Evan's hand slid down my arm to join mine. "Can we, at least… be friends?" he said, his hand wavering, poised for me to take it. "I don't want to lose you again. Please."
I squeezed my fingers around his, sealing us together symbolically. "Friends," I agreed. "Let's just start with friends."
Chapter Twenty-One
We were ordered to assemble in a little more than an hour after Étoile's phone call. I stayed in the same clothes as earlier, deciding that if the ceremony were to get messy, I didn't want to ruin a decent outfit. It was a frugal part of me that remained, no matter how different my life was from the years of living out of a bag in foster care. I just didn't see the point in wasting perfectly good clothing. However, it clearly wasn't a sentiment that was shared in its entirety by those assembled. Some were dressed in their same day clothes, but a few, like Étoile, were dressed to the nines. As I looked around, making my way carefully through the excited crowd, I noted several prominent witches, as well as representatives from all the other factions, except the demons. I figured they had their own problems to deal with for now.
My stomach felt like a knot of nerves, and magic tickled my skin, like pins-and-needles, making me nervous and full of expectation. I was sure I couldn't be the only one feeling so apprehensive, but as I walked around, I got the impression there was more excitement in the air than dread. The werewolves, who comprised the majority of the crowd, were wound up into a state of eager anticipation. It showed on their faces, their posture, and most of all, in the elongated claws some of them revealed instead of their human fingers. Through the crowd, I searched for Gage, but I wasn't sure what to do when I found him. Congratulate him? Warn him to be careful? Hug him?
If we were simply a couple, I could do any of those things, but with our current positions, and our strange circumstances, I feared I could hinder him more than help. Would the werewolves embrace a leader that demonstrated a particular attachment to a witch? Or would that ruin his chances? I wished I could ask him when he chose to put himself forwards as contender; and if the decision were made recently, or long before things changed between us. Despite his rapid ascent in pack politics, he never showed any interest in taking over to me. This was a new and worrying side of Gage that I'd never seen before. Niggling at the edges of my mind was the thought that should Gage win, there would be no question of "us." That decision was preordained pretty much.
"There you are," said Astra, sliding through a gap between two razor-clawed werewolves before sidling next to me. "We have seats over here."
"Who's we?" I asked.
"A dozen witches, including Étoile, Seren, David, and Kitty. With you and me, that's six, and the others are all from Étoile's inner circle. You might even know them."
I recognised Clare immediately and all but two of the other witches when we joined them, after wending our way through the crowd that pressed close together in the small room. I sat in the rear row next to Kitty, who still looked ashen from realising how close she came to abetting the traitor. When I followed her gaze, I knew why. On his knees in the center, flanked by two other wolves, all in their human forms, was Joel. He stared at the floor, his head bowed. Several other werewolves knelt in the same position behind them. One of them was Tobias Grigg, which didn't surprise me.
"What's happening?" I asked her.
"I'm not sure," Kitty replied, barely looking my way. "I think they’re going to have some kind of trial before the ceremony."
"What does that involve?"
Kitty simply shrugged and stared at her knees. I reached out and placed my hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. A single tear trickled down her cheek. "Don't blame yourself," I told her. "You didn't know."
"I should have seen it coming. He was too eager, but I liked him, and I was lonely here. I should have seen..."
"No, you shouldn't have." Outside, thunder cracked and a flash of lightning lit up the room for a couple of seconds, causing everyone to jump. I wondered if the weather was a reflection of Kitty's turmoil.
"It won't happen again. I told Étoile that already."
"You spoke to her?"
Kitty nodded, her lip wobbling. "She chewed me out over it."
"After this is over, why don't you come home with me for a while? Get some space?" I suggested. "Plus, I'm a little lonely without you guys."
This time, Kitty squeezed my hand back. "Thanks."
With Kitty lost in thought, I leaned towards Astra. "Have you seen Gage?"
"No, not yet. I think the contenders and Noah are elsewhere. They will come out in a moment."
"Who determines what happens to them?"
"Usually, their pack would decide, but the whole pack is in trouble, so I'm not sure."
"What's the usual fate?" I asked, lowering my voice and hoping Kitty didn't hear.
"Treasonous acts are punished by death," Astra replied, "It depends how the pack sees it. These guys set a bomb to kill Étoile; but more importantly, they worked against the aims of their own kind. Maybe they'll just get banished."
"Banished?"
"That's not so bad. The pack exiles them and they have to fend for themselves. It was a terrible punishment hundreds of years ago, but now they just live amongst humans instead, and lose their rights to turn ever again or hunt on pack land. The isolation is the worst bit. No one from the pack is allowed to talk or receive them, including their families."
"That's sad."
"It's a good deterrent from becoming a murderer or flouting pack law," said Étoile, twisting in her seat and leaning towards us. "Don't feel too sorry for him."
I was about to apologise to Étoile for showing sympathy toward her would-be murderer when the door at the far end of the room across from us opened, and Noah Wilde was brought out. His hands were cuffed behind his back, but he didn't struggle, not even when his guards forced him into a kneeling position next to the others. Following them were Gage and Hal Hoag. Both were stripped to their waists and wearing loose shorts. They were barefoot. Seeing their impressive physiques, I briefly wondered if I underestimated Hoag. He looked like a human tank: indestructible and unstoppable.
I half expected them to circle the room, maybe even growling; but instead, they simply moved to opposite corners, standing with their mutual supporters as the excitement amongst the crowd grew louder. I watched Gage, but he studiously stared at anything except me.
On the other side of the crowd, standing with a small party, I spotted Matthias. He caught my eye and gave me a half smile, his mysterious eyes revealing nothing, and his master glanced over at me before saying something to Matthias, after which he inclined his head towards me. I thought the little exchange seemed odd, but I nodded my head in return, since manners cost nothing, before turning away as the crowd's noise began to diminish.
"We are here for two occasions," began a thickly set woman, emerging from the crowd and holding her hands up to shush the remaining whispers.
"That's Constance Fielding," whispered Seren when I leaned forwards and enquired who she was. I remembered her as the werewolf who told Étoile they could settle their leadership disputes before midnight.
"Who?"
"She's another cousin of Noah's, but I don't think they like each other much."
"How come?"
"He killed her first husband."
"Oh."
Constance's voice rose above ours, and I leaned backwards, waiting to hear what she had to say. "First, we w
ill determine the fate of these men, and hear how they plead to the accusation of treason. Second, our leadership fight will commence, ending with the inauguration of our new packmaster." She paused, waiting for the smattering of whispers to die down again before continuing. "We have evidence against each wolf, proving his part in the plot to murder our ally, Étoile Winterstorm, and derail the High Council. How do you plead?"
"Guilty," came the replies of the four kneeling men.
"Noah Wilde, by unanimous vote, your status as packmaster has been brought into question. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty," came his snarl.
"Your pleas have been noted and your fate will be decided by the packmaster."
"I'm the damn packmaster!"
"Step forward, Gage Garoul and Hal Hoag. Do you petition to become packmaster?"
"We do," they replied simultaneously.
"Have you noted Noah Wilde's plea?"
"Yes," they answered.
"The victor will decide his fate and those of the other men on trial." She turned to the guards. "Take them to the opposite sides of the room."
"Is that the whole trial?" I whispered to Astra as the guards pulled the men roughly to the two sides of the room, forcing them to kneel again at the perimeter.
"Yes, bar their fates. They aren't into trials like us."
"So I see."
"Compere," she nodded to the man standing with the guards as he stepped forward, holding one hand aloft and beckoning the competitors with the other.
"Three rounds. Two wins for victory. Let the fight commence," shouted Constance, darting out of the ring as a unanimous roar sounded from the crowd. As one, we all seemed to lean forward a little more.
Gage and Hal circled each other, jogging on their toes. Gage was lighter on his feet, nimbly moving this way and that, but careful not to telegraph his actions with any wide movements. Hal was slower, but when he flexed his biceps, I could only imagine the power that his punch could have. They circled each other for a few moments more until Hal darted forwards, swinging his arm backwards, readying his strike. Gage feinted to his right, ducking around him and landing a blow to his jaw. Hal staggered backwards, shaking his head and blinking with surprise.
Arcane Magic (Stella Mayweather Series) Page 24
