Chapter 218

Charles and Elara settled into the chairs across from me, their contrasting auras filling the cramped office. Charles, radiating regal authority, and Elara, cloaked in an air of quiet power. Her gaze swept over me. The distaste was still there at the corner of her eyes, but it didn't feel blatant.

I felt almost dismissed and defensive.

"Alpha Wolfe," Charles began, his voice deep and formal. A pang of pain went through me. Longing and irritation. They couldn't have been that close for him to be so formal with me in private like that. Charles wasn't hiding me from the rest of his family, was he? "I brought Lady Fireborn here to talk about your information infrastructure."

My heart prickled with unease. "Why... now?"

"As I stated, I have no interest in humoring working with you with such a case hanging over you," she said. "And there was the matter of certain treaties."

I frowned and looked at Esme. She smiled. "He's still bitter about that, hm?"

Elara's eyebrows jumped. "I assure you, I wouldn't have even bothered coming if it hadn't been a formal request."

I looked between Charles and Elara, feeling uncertain but a little relieved. Maybe Charles had been listening to my feelings toward the Noir Coven.

"And you should know that this conversation does not guarantee anything," Elara said. "I am simply fulfilling the favor."

I clenched my jaw. Charles looked at Elara with an expression I couldn't parse out, but it was Esme who spoke.

"It's unlike you, Lady Fireborn, to be blatantly unwilling."

She pursed her lips. "As I understand it, the record infrastructure has already been corrupted through... poor choices. Attempting to facilitate an expansion without first knowing what is there is... irritating, as you can imagine."

Esme chuckled. "I didn't say you were unjustified."

"Lady Fireborn," Charles started slowly. "Please."

She turned her gaze on me. "Have an idea of what you need done? Aside from repairing the infrastructure as it is."

I swallowed, glancing at Charles, hoping for some hint about how I could and should answer this, but he wasn't looking at me. Instead, he was pouring a cup of tea.

"I...wasn't aware that it was in need of repair."

"You are missing records, yes?"

"Yes."

"Not simply deleted and held in a separate archive, or even accidentally archived, but missing, yes?"

"I... think so?" I paused. "I'm not entirely sure. I'm having my assistant look into it."

Charles handed Elara a cup of tea before making another. She glanced at him with a cocked eyebrow. He flashed her an almost boyish grin. She raised the cup to her lips and returned her gaze to me.

"And beyond that? Your needs? You have an idea of that?"

"I haven't made one way or another... I'm not entirely sure that I need anything."

"Splendid," Elara said. "Seems that I will be back home before supper."

"Lady Fireborn," Charles said. "I believe I told you that Alpha Wolfe is unaware of how magical information structures work and would tie into some of the other projects we spoke about?"

Elara hummed and continued sipping. "I can see that."

He stared at her, and she let out a put-upon sigh. "Very well. You have an interest in gaining access to information networks outside of the States?"

"Yes, and making it accessible."

"How accessible?"

"Libraries..." I winced, realizing that Mooncrest didn't really have a library. "When they're built, but also at the schools. In general, if I can manage it."

"You'd need to establish a large enough information core in your city to support general access across Mooncrest." She smiled pleasantly, though it felt vicious and mean. "Fortunately, there is a coven who can handle such work, and I would be happy to put them in touch with you."

I set my jaw. "You're speaking about the Noir Coven."

"It seems you know more than he said."

"Lady Fireborn," Charles cut in. "Please, try to practice a bit of neutrality."

"I say the same to you."

Their gazes met. A silent conversation passed through them.

"Her, I could excuse your lack of knowledge, but you know better."

"I was not attempting to circumvent the Coven Agreements," Charles said. "That would be impossible and completely useless. I only hoped to... get a different perspective."

She blinked at him and turned to me.

"I'm sure Charles told me about my reservations against the Noir Coven."

"He made it clear, and I am still unsure why I am here other than to tell you, as a complete stranger with nothing to gain or lose from it: get over it or leave your system as it is."

I flinched. "That's not an option for what I want to do."

Elara's smile remained unchanged, yet a flicker of something sharp glinted in her eyes. "Then you can spend whatever time you'd like attempting to learn everything that would be required to do it and cultivating the magical power required to fix, expand, and improve your current system. Those are really your options."

I set my jaw. "I can't believe that every witch bows down to the Noir Coven. There has to be other covens that will do the work."

"Oh, I'm sure you could find someone who could do it," she said. "If you knew them, they were willing, and if you didn't already have a Noir Coven-based system in place. If you want to get rid of your entire system, simply say so. I have a contact for that, but as I understand, you're not exactly in the financial state to do so."

I met her gaze. "The current state of the network leaves Mooncrest vulnerable and keeps us... in the dark, at the mercy of the States' limitations. I thought witches were all about spreading knowledge."

"Grace," Esme started. "You're barking up the wrong tree."

"You needn't bother, Lady Brighthollow," Elara said. "She's a werewolf."

Esme flinched, and I bristled at her tone. "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said. You may be half lycan, but at heart, in your mind, you are a werewolf: insulated against the rest of the world as much as it suits you and staunchly against playing by the rules of the world at large, and that is your prerogative."

She finished her cup of tea and set it on the table.

"The Ciel Coven is a founding coven of the Witch's Counsel. We have a place on the Zaibatsu and the Inter-Species government. We do, as you say, wish to spread knowledge, but only to those who want it."

"I do want it."

"Then, I'll leave you with Lady Blackheart's card and be on my way."

I set my jaw. "I'm not working with the Noir Coven."

I wasn't doing it. There had to be another way, and if there wasn't, then I would just have to content myself with the way things were right now until there was.

Elara tilted her head. " Are you prepared to take such a hard stance well into your future?"

"Yes."

"Political and not?"

"Yes."

Her eyes twinkled. "Best of luck."

What the hell did that mean? Was she mocking me? I glanced at Charles, but he finished his tea and set his cup down.

"Lady Fireborn and I have a few things to discuss."

Elara rose to her feet, a sly smile on her lips. "Lady Brighthollow, always a pleasure to see you. Do keep in touch?"

Esme sighed. "You can expect around for a drink sooner than you think."

Her eyes narrowed. "About the matter we discussed some time ago?"

She nodded.

"I will await you... And have something stronger than tea available." She looked at me. "Alpha Wolfe."

She walked toward the door. Charles stood and escorted her out. I stood to go after him, but before I could call out, he spoke.

"We'll talk later," he said, his tone flat and tense.

He walked out after Elara, leaving me fuming in their wake. Her thinly veiled hostility was unsettling, and Charles' relative silence set me on edge. It was obvious that she didn't like me. I bit my lip. Would she sway Charles against me?

I'll rip her fucking hair out.

"Well, Grace," Esme said, her tone amused. "You're two for two now."

I looked back at her. "What do you mean?"

"That," she gestured to the door. "Could not have gone any worse, my dear."

I crossed my arms. "Who is she to Charles?"

"Someone he holds in high regard, a leader, and someone who could have been a hell of an ally."

"I meant what I said. Working with Noir...." I shuddered. "I'd rather us still be in the dark than work with people who would try and kill us, and until I know, I can't make that decision. Mooncrest doesn't deserve that."

Esme tilted her head. "A grudge I understand, a personal one, but you do understand that if you get access to the witch's information network, you'd be doing business with Noir? Every time you use Eason's computer to search for something, every time he uses it or his phone to help you, you're putting a bit of money in Noir's accounts."

I clenched my fists.

"And every time you pay taxes, or anyone else pays taxes in Mooncrest, you're paying Sean a bit too."

I went still at the thought. She lifted her tea cup.

"It would be nice if we could only pay the good guys all the time, but the truth is there are a lot of people we rely on who we wouldn't want to have dinner with."

She nodded at the couch.

"Sit. Drink some tea, and try not to work yourself up again before recess is over."