Page 81 of Rites of Passage

“What kind of absolution could an Archduke of Hell offer other demons?” April said, puzzled.

Crimson flared briefly in Alicia’s pupils. “That’s the thing. I can’t think of anything. And as far as what kind of sacrifice Barquiel meant, he didn’t know the details.”

Frustration gnawed at Mae. Linus hadn’t been able to reveal more than they already knew before he’d left to join his coven in Phoenix. Oscar and Barquiel had never confided in the sorcerer. His only task had been to act as their spy in the High Council and help them infiltrate the hotel.

We’re nowhere closer to figuring out their end game.She knitted her brow.It evidently wasn’t about trapping my soul in that book, or they would have done their damnedest to take me with them.

“What was that skeleton key?” Derrick asked. “The one Oscar stole?”

Bryony filled in those in the room still not in the know on the recent incidents in New York and what they had learned from Agnes. Abraham reported on the entity Mae had discovered inside the dead sorcerer possessed by a ghoul and what they had done with it.

Regina’s eyes gleamed shrewdly as she observed Nikolai and Vlad. “So, you two stud muffins are the only ones who can see the ghouls’ auras besides Mae?”

“Mother!” Erik wailed.

Mae couldn’t help but note the surreptitious looks the sorcerer kept stealing at Violet. The Chicago witch was doing her best to pretend she hadn’t noticed and kept up a frosty mien. Mae masked a wry smile.

Ten bucks says those two end up locking lips before we leave Philadelphia.

Vlad slipped his arm lazily atop the back rest of their couch, distracting her. The smile that curved his mouth quickened Mae’s pulse. “According to the fox, our energies are starting to sync. We’re soon to be lovers after all.”

Mae sucked in air before elbowing the incubus sharply in the side.

“Ouch.” Vlad chuckled and rubbed his flank. “I didn’t know pain was your kink, Princess.” He arched an eyebrow, smile widening. “Seeing as you healed my injuries, I’d be more than happy to oblige if you want to get rough in the bedroom.”

Mae blushed to the roots of her hair and spluttered incoherently.

“How about we take this outside?” Nikolai growled.

The spare rib he was holding snapped in two, his fingers clenching in a way that suggested he wished they were wrapped around the incubus’s neck.

The three of them became aware of a battery of leaden stares.

Violet wrinkled her nose. “Is it me or is their flirting getting worse?”

“You obviously haven’t spent enough time in Chicago lately,” Mila muttered.

The Immortal had sat in on the meeting and had kept her silence so far.

Alicia’s jaw set in a hard line. “You guys should just get it over with and have sex.”

Mae groaned. Nikolai’s brows met in the middle of his forehead.

Vlad shrugged nonchalantly. “Like I said. I don’t mind a threesome if that’s what Mae wants.”

“It is not!” Mae barked.

“I will cut you,” Nikolai grated out.

Ephra drummed her fingers impatiently on the armrest of her chair. “Can we get back on topic?”

Mae sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “We were aware the key had something to do with this covenstead from what Agnes revealed to Nikolai last night. But we didn’t know what Barquiel and the Dark Council might intend to do with it.” She made a face. “A fact that hasn’t changed.”

“Maybe we’re overcomplicating this,” Raven said pensively.

“What do you mean?”

Raven met her puzzled gaze. “Oscar mentioned the key in the same breath as theBook of Light. Could it have to do with the grimoire itself?”

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