I burst through the hotel’s entrance. Ronan is helping Saxon into the car, but the king is nowhere to be seen.
“Wait,” I say, breaking the final distance.
Ronan turns around. “What are you doing out here? Go back inside.”
“What happened to Saxon? He was about to go berserk.”
I try to peer over Ronan, who is blocking my way. I can only see Saxon’s feet sticking out of the car.
“Don’t worry about Saxon. He’ll be fine tomorrow.” Ronan closes the back door, then circles around the vehicle to get behind the steering wheel.
Damn it. He’s really not going to tell me anything. The car peels off with a loud screech of tires burning rubber, making me suspect that whatever happened to Saxon is not over yet.
A chilly wind comes out of nowhere, reminding me I’m not wearing a jacket. I knew this party was going to be a bust, but I didn’t imagine it would suck in such a monumental fashion. When I turn toward the building to go back inside, I find Elena Montenegro, the matriarch of the family, staring at me from the top of the stairs.
She must be nearing ninety years old, but she still has the energy to participate in council meetings and attend parties like this. She’s a freaky lady, intimidating as fuck, but if I’m to be the High Witch someday, I can’t show weakness in front of anyone, especially her.
“You should be more careful, child,” she warns when I reach the top of the stairs.
“I’m sorry?”
“You’ll catch a cold. Come inside and keep me company, will you?” She turns around, using her cane for support.
She doesn’t return to the party; instead, she veers in the opposite direction, toward the lobby. When she stops in front of the elevators, I ask her where she’s going.
“I can’t handle grand balls anymore. I get weary easily these days. But I’d like to get to know the future High Witch better. So we’re going back to my penthouse for tea.”
That’s a development I didn’t expect. I’ve never exchanged more than a few words with the woman, but on every occasion, she made me super uncomfortable. Her gaze is so penetrating that it feels like she can see into my soul. But I can’t refuse her invitation.
She doesn’t engage in small talk during the ride all the way to the top floor. Once we’re in her cozy apartment, she begins to prattle on about a myriad of things. Where some of her furniture and artwork came from, what kind of tea she likes best, who I think will win the next Bachelor. Maybe she’s lonely and really only wants company. I begin to relax.
It’s not until I’m comfortable sitting on her couch with a steaming cup of tea in my hand that the lady pounces.
“You need to end whatever it is you have going on with that blond Blueblood.”
I choke on my tea. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t waste your breath denying it. If anyone in that room had a brain, they’d have noticed too.”
“There’s nothing there. You don’t need to worry.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. But you should be. You can’t jeopardize this union, Aurora. Surely your mother explained to you how crucial this alliance is.”
“You don’t need to give me the spiel about honor and sacrifice. My mother covered that ad nauseum.”
Elena squints. “I’m sensing here she has not told you everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you know about the Belmont family?”
“They’re one of the oldest magical families in Salem. Uber powerful and rich.”
“There are other equally prestigious families with sons of age that would make a good match for you, maybe even one you could grow to love.”
“I haven’t thought about that. I suppose this is leading to your revelation why the council picked Calvin for me.”
“Oh, the council didn’t vote for Calvin. He wasn’t even a contender. I was the one who had the final say in it.”
Fuck. Now I’m getting pissed.
“You’re the reason I have to marry that asshole?” My voice rises to a shrill.
“That’s right. It was me. Do you want to know why?” She smiles in a wicked way.
My warmth toward her has vanished. So has my patience. “No. I don’t want to know why you decided to shackle me to that hateful man. What do you think?”
She chuckles. “I like your spunk. I was right about you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“The Belmont family is in possession of the oldest grimoire in history. It belonged to the first witch and it contains spells that you can’t even begin to imagine.”