There was a time when Nick had hoped she would turn out to be his witch. He even got along well with Jonas who had expressed a similar sentiment, but now that he’d met Melody, he knew exactly what had been missing from his relationship with Augusta.
The door to Provost House was opened by Jonas before he’d even reached the stoop.
"Nick!" the lynx shifter greeted him. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"There's been a development. We need to up the time scale to before dawn."
"Well, you may just be in luck. Mistress Fulgur arrived an hour ago."
Nick felt his shoulders slump in relief. This was the first break they’d gotten since Dean had challenged her. "Thank fuck for that! Is it possible to see them?"
Jonas flinched, as though surprised to discover they were still in the doorway, then he stepped aside and ushered Nick in.
"They're in the dining room," Jonas told him, and Nick turned in that direction.
Nick knocked on the door before the older shifter could. Although Nick was centuries older than Jonas, he looked young enough to be Jonas's son. The magic binding the shifters to the academy also stopped their aging, allowing them to remain as long as it took for them to find a witch strong enough to help them control their shifts. Once bonded, the familiars took on attributes consistent with their witches age. The provost was no longer a young woman.
“Come,” called a voice from within.
The two women looked at him with wide eyes.
"Nicholas, what a pleasant surprise! Mistress Fulgur, this is one of our dragon shifters. Nicholas, Mistress Fulgur has arrived to take Melody's oath tomorrow."
Nick could feel himself flushing as the other witch looked him over, but it wasn't in self consciousness at her obvious ogling. It was the calculating gleam in her eyes. He felt like a prize bull measured and weighed. Melody had been right in her fears, this wasn’t a coven that respected shifters either, but at least they wouldn’t kill them.
“Nicholas, I hear that you are fond of Melody. I do hope that you will consider challenging her in the near future. We would love to have you in our home.”
Yeah, you and every other coven, thought Nick, snidely.
“Thank you Ma’am. I cannot answer for Melody, but I think there is a chance that I will challenge her soon.” Nick turned his attention to the provost. “We’ve had word that Melody’s aunt will be arriving at dawn. She’s heard that Melody is considering leaving her coven, and apparently is coming to bring Melody and her familiars home. She will also seek to persuade the rest of us.” He wasn’t sure how much to say in front of Mistress Fulgur.
“Well, that is awkward, but it changes nothing,” the woman in question said. “Melody has the right to choose her coven, and I will not be rushed into accepting a witch who I haven’t even met. I have offered her a position, yes, but I hold the right to withdraw the offer at any given moment. Now, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I do wish you would consider joining Melody if she comes to us, but I have several important matters to discuss with Augusta.”
Nick fumed, then looked at the provost helplessly. Surely she would see the need to say something now. Provost Aer-Canticum, however, looked thoughtful and then determination fixed her features into a strong mask.
“Well, Nick. You can tell Melody that I’ve changed my stance. I’ve spoken to my coven mistress and she is in agreement, if Fulgur Coven withdraw their offer, or if Melody refuses, then there will be a place for her and for all of you with us. She may come and make her oath tonight if she wishes.”
Nick’s jaw dropped. There would be significant political repercussions for the provost’s coven if she did this. Even the faintest hint of corruption could see her stripped of her position.
“You can’t do that! I’m poised to accept her into my coven,” blustered Mistress Fulgur.
“Andrea,” the provost’s voice was now ice cold. “I made it very clear to you that not only was Melody open to offers, but that she needed to escape her coven. Not leave, escape. You remember Adelaide, and you know Georgia. I can only imagine the hell that poor child has been through, and now that bitch is aware of what is happening, she’s coming here!”
Mistress Fulgur opened her mouth to protest, but again the provost spoke over the top of her.
“Nick was far too subtle. She’s not coming here to persuade those men, she’s coming here to take them, and she wouldn’t make that sort of idle comment unless she had the means to back it up!”
The provost sighed and stood. “I’m sorry, Andrea, but I need to go to the arena and start setting up for the ceremony. If I’m lucky we’ll be ready just in time for dawn. Now, either you are going to be standing in the rune ring with her, or I will by proxy for my coven mistress. The choice is yours.”
She turned to Nick. “You are my witness that I did all in my power to find another safe solution for Melody. This is not a case of corruption or nepotism, but a genuine act of mercy.”
Nick bowed to her, signalling his agreement. Mistress Fulgur, however, drew herself up to her full height.
“I will not be dictated to about who to accept into my coven. If you seek to force my hand on this, then I withdraw my offer. It seems like this child is far too much trouble. She only guarantees me two shifters, a wolf and a lion are not worth the enmity of Bestia.” The furious coven leader gathered her belongings together. “I will remember this, Augusta.”
The provost scowled at her. “So will I, Andrea.
