“Why?”
“Because Teivel would rule,” Alina said, lifting her chin. “And Ciar never could.”
Mikayla shook her head. “So you gave Ciar up as soon as a better offer came around.”
Alina smiled. “Such a simple witch you are. Power, wealth, prestige, you’d sacrifice it all for the one you love, wouldn’t you?”
“Money doesn’t keep you warm at night.”
“Well, I wanted to test the theory. I broke it off with Ciar and he left for the human world.”
“Did you marry Teivel?”
Alina nodded. “I was a good wife to him. Right up until the day he died.”
“Died?” Mikayla breathed. Ciar had lost his brother?
“A few months ago in battle,” Alina said. The words were said in an even tone but Mikayla heard the regret in them. “I cared for Teivel,” she continued. “I truly did. We had a good marriage and together we made our clan strong.”
“But?”
Alina glanced in her direction. “But I never forgot about Ciar or how much I loved him. Teivel and I were partners, Ciar and I were so much more. When your sisters found me, I thought it was a sign. It was my chance to change the past.”
“But who’s the Clan Lord now?” Mikayla asked. “Why can’t Ciar rule?”
“Ask Ciar,” she replied. “I have told you too much already. He is not a man who appreciates others prying into his life without permission.”
“I know how private he is.”
“I’m sure.” Alina turned to face her fully. “Your spell may be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“Not exactly what I was going for,” she replied, unable to keep the frost from her voice.
Alina inclined her head. “I am grateful you sent your sisters to find me. Truly I am. But I need to be clear. Ciar is my future and I won’t let anything get between us again. Do you understand?”
Mikayla stiffened.
“I see the way you look at him and I’m not an idiot. Any woman would want Ciar as her own. But he’s mine.”
“You gave him up.”
“We were always destined to end up together,” Alina replied. “You can’t stop fate no matter how strong your desire. Ciar is a demon. He will choose me.”
Mikayla jerked back, stung. She knew that was the plan. She had to give Ciar up to this woman but that didn’t stop the anger simmering within her. “You’re pretty confident for a woman who threw him away like a broken toy.”
“I was his first love,” she replied. “He will never care about you the way he did me. I owe you, Mikayla, so I will give you this piece of advice. Don’t fight a battle you will never win.”
She pushed away from the rail before Mikayla could protest. As Mikayla watched the demon go, she knew Alina’s request was not unreasonable. But that didn’t stop her desire to fight the beautiful woman. Or prove her wrong.
Long minutes ticked by as she stood alone in the dark. From the kitchen she could hear Alina’s trilling laughter and the low voices of her sisters. But there were no growls or woofs to indicate the presence of the poodle on everyone’s mind. Which meant for a few rare moments, Ciar was alone. She shook her head at the foolish thought. Alone, perhaps, but not eager to see her.
Mikayla tapped her fingers on the wooden rail. There had to be a way out of this. Something they hadn’t thought of yet. Alina wasn’t right for Ciar. Maybe she had been once but not now. She was too…power hungry. Too calculating. Ciar needed someone…
Like me.
She shook her head. Even if that was true, she’d never get him to see it. Her tapping fingers increased their pace. If love wasn’t the answer she needed, then maybe magic would be. There were some old spell books in the attic. They hadn’t seen the light of day in years but maybe they weren’t as useless as everyone had thought. At the very least, going through them would give her something to do. Away from prying eyes and grasping demons.
She pushed away from the rail, intent on a few hours of study. No one hindered her as she strode through the kitchen. She tried to ignore the knowing glances Alina threw her way before she could reach the safety of the stairs.
Mikayla was careful to avoid the guestroom Ciar and Alina had taken over, not in the mood for another fight. Instead she glided down the hall and pushed open the attic door, barely registering that it already stood ajar. A flight of stairs appeared before her, leading up into the dark.
Hitting the switch at the bottom of the stairs brought a single light bulb to life. It flickered valiantly as it tried to hold back the encroaching gloom. Silently she climbed the stairs. The attic was rarely used. Odds and ends accumulated over years littered the floor.