Tavlor threw out his Fae powers so fast I was stunned to see the shimmer of a protective shield moving in front of us. I flew back against the couch with the sheer force of his magic but managed not to fall off anything. I didn’t want Charity to think I was weak.
Then again, I probably shouldn’t care what she thought of me, not when she and three other Council members were on the other side of the shield, scowls on their faces. They prowled like zoo animals before it, back and forth, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Charity’s face was red and pinched, brows furrowed low over her eyes, nostrils flaring like a bull about to charge. Her hands were on her hips and if it was possible, smoke would have billowed from ears.
“Charity,” Matlock said, his tone low and dismissive, as though we hadn’t been doing anything wrong before they interrupted us. “Leave. I am in the middle of a discussion.”
I glanced over at my father, surprised to hear him standing up to the Council already. He’d told me he’d stand by me, but to see it was a different thing all together. Relief tickled my shoulders, but the tension didn’t leave. Things weren’t going to be that easy.
Regardless, I couldn’t help but feel good about my father’s reaction to being at odds with the Council, and his wife. My heart sung at the sight of his support.
The locket at my neck burned, but I couldn’t afford to lose concentration for a single moment.
“A discussion?” Charity scoffed, wrinkling her nose. “With a known criminal? You should have turned her over the moment you found her in here with that… animal you have working for you.” She gestured at Tavlor, regarding him with a curled lip and a sneer.
I narrowed my eyes at the bitch, got to my feet and took a step forward. I was nearly pressed against the shield, but I didn’t care. No one insulted my man and got away with it.
“Green isn’t a good color on you, Stepmother,” I retorted. “Stop being jealous of Tavlor’s powers and back the hell up.”
Charity’s mouth dropped open and for a moment I thought she was going to be rendered speechless.
No such luck.
“Oh, look at this,” she said, her sneer only more pronounced as she turned her attention to me. “The daughter of a whore is in love with the son of a traitor. What a pair!”
The Council laughed. I didn’t think they realized how much danger they were in. The thought of Tavlor being with anyone was such a surprise.
Really?
A growl ripped through my throat and I twisted my fingers into a tight fist. “At least my mother could get pregnant to the High Warlock,” I spat out. “Proves the problem isn’t with him, doesn’t it!”
Normally, I didn’t like to insult a woman who didn’t have the ability to produce a child, even if they were a terrible person. Regardless of everything, there was a small part of me that did feel sorry for her. Even with all her magic, she still couldn’t have a child.
But insulting my mother? Who the hell did this woman think she was?
“And at least she wasn’t made to marry someone she didn’t love, like you were,” I added. “How does it feel to be matched to a man from birth who would never pick you to be his wife, except that he was forced to?”
Her magic shot out at us with a blast of force that rocked the room. It ricocheted off Tavlor’s shield and went flying into the walls., I couldn’t help but step back. I nearly stepped into Tavlor’s chest.
I looked at my father. “You gave her the ability to perform magic in the room too?”
He shrugged. “Thought it was a good idea at the time.”
I rolled my eyes and took a breath, trying to keep my patience. Now was not the time for me to turn on my father. I forced myself to address the group in front of us.
Tavlor’s magic was holding steady. The warlocks and witches in the room eyed him begrudgingly. I wanted to stand in front of him, protect him for their obvious hostility. But Tavlor could stand on his own. I wouldn’t baby him. I wouldn’t protect him. Not when he was strong enough without me.
“Alright,” I said slowly. “The reason I came back here with Tavlor is because I want another trial. A fair one. Where I can defend myself and impartial members of the community can judge me, not just the Council who want me buried for their own nefarious reasons.”
An older, tall, rotund man I recognized from my trial stepped forward.
“And what reasons are they, young lady?” He raised a brow, daring me to challenge him.
“You want me out because you can’t control me, and can’t count on my bloodlines to do what the High Warlock’s have always done, and that’s to go along with whatever you want,” I said, the words coming out in a rush.
“That’s not the reason,” he said flatly, though his gaze narrowed.
“Oh, then what is it?” I spread my arms out, trying to be innocent. “Because I’m a woman? Because you already have a new High Warlock chosen from your own children?”
The three Council members looked at one another with guilt written over their faces. They didn’t even bother to hide it.
I My body shook with fury. I clenched my teeth together to keep myself from yelling. I needed to be calm. I needed to not let my emotions get the better of me.
“Yep, thought so,” I said, only when I felt comfortable to speak at all. “So, let’s see what we can do to change this. You can either let me go to live my life where I am not in constant danger. Where bounty hunters aren’t after me. Where I don’t have to constantly look over my shoulder every second of every day. Or you can allow me to fight for the right to be my father’s heir.”
Charity scoffed, loudly. She placed her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side as though she couldn’t believe I would even suggest such a thing.
“You’ll never win a trial,” she said.
“I would if you made it fair,” I pointed out. I didn’t want to come across as defensive. It would only play into the fact that she still thought I was some sort of child. “If you gave me my own representative and made the ruling impartial, I’m sure I would have won.”
I glanced at my father for help. He only nodded. At first, I was upset that he wouldn’t come forward and speak for me until I realized what his silence meant. He trusted me to do this on my own. I was obviously doing well enough or else he would step in. For some reason, this gave me more confidence.
Charity stepped back. After one last withering glare, she turned around and stormed over to the other Council members. Though I couldn’t hear what they had to say, I realized they were discussing something.
I stepped closer to my father. “Is it even possible?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice low. “To find a jury that isn’t going to convict me on the spot?”
My father narrowed his gaze. “The only way to build a court of impartial members, is to include the Fae and Shifter elders,” he said. “We need representation from all realms, not just the magic realms. Unfortunately, our realm embraces its tradition, no matter what that tradition is. Sometimes, it helps to turn to other perspectives in order to realize why something we do, something we think is normal, is a mistake.”
“Charity turned from her group, crossing her arms over her chest. “That will never happen.”
Matlock clenched his teeth, his eyes narrowing. I didn’t think he liked someone ordering hm around, especially not someone he used to trust.
“Then we need a group of Witches and Warlocks outside the Council,” he spat out. Saliva hit the tile and I frowned, wrinkling my nose. “Regular people who will not be influenced by the sway of the Council’s will. I will not let Ava die because of corruption, not when she came to me for help. I will not leave my daughter wanting.”
Charity stalked forward, though she couldn’t get too close with the Fae shield in place. I didn’t want to flinch. I didn’t want to step back. I didn’t want her to know that I was, in fact, intimidated by her.
“How long have you known about her, Matlock?” Charity asked. She wasn’t even looking at me. Her gaze was focused solely on my father.
My lips curved up into a smirk. If this was going to turn personal, it meant there was a chance for her to slip up and make a mistake.
“Since her birth? Before?”
He lifted his chin. “If I had known of Ava’s existence, I would not have married you, Charity.”
Charity screamed as though that would have an impact on us. “You are the one that should be on trial for treason, Matlock! You knew! All along you knew, and you lied.”
I stepped closer to the shield, and she snapped her gaze at me, eyes narrowed. My father didn’t need me to defend him, but that didn’t mean he had to deal with this on his own. I wanted him to know that I was there for him the same way he was there for me.
“He didn’t know a thing, and you’ll never prove otherwise,” I snarled.
I put all my anger into my glare and didn’t let go of it. I wasn’t going to back down, not from her.
Charity hissed at me, and for a moment, I worried there was something she did know. After what felt like forever, though, she backed away.
Triumph filled me.
I lifted my chin. “So, what is your decision?” I asked. Inside, my knees shook. My stomach fluttered. My palms sweated. Outside, I needed to project a confidence I didn’t actually feel. I needed the Council to know I was serious about what was going on, that I came here with a purpose and I wasn’t going to go quietly if they rejected me. “Are you going to reverse the sentence and let me live in peace?”
“Never,” Charity hissed, eyes narrowed. She was a snake, ready to fill me with her venom.
“Then another, fair trial it is,” I declared, nodding once as though everyone agreed with me.
“You’ll never win,” Charity said, balling her hands into fists.
I shrugged. As much as I wanted to say otherwise, I held my tongue. She didn’t need to know that we had an ace up our sleeve. Two, once I knew what my sister had given me with that other journal.
But I wasn’t telling them any of that.
Let them think I wouldn’t win.
“We need to conference with the rest of the Council,” Charity said, her voice filled with cold confidence and authority.
I smiled at her and flicked my wrist in the direction of the door. “Off you go then.”
She snarled as she left and took her entourage with her. They seemed eager to leave this place.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Tavlor’s shields went down. My father strode into the middle of the room and began casting a spell. I hoped it was reversing all the powers he’d given his wife, though I wasn’t sure something like that was even possible.
Once he was done, he quirked an eyebrow at Tavlor.
“You never told me that your powers worked so well in this room,” he said. There was a hint of suspicion in his tone, as though he was suddenly seeing Tavlor clearly and not shrouded in a haze of bigotry.
“I told you that I could use my Fae powers if it came to protecting you,” Tavlor said, his voice firm. There was a sense of duty when he regarded my father that I hadn’t noticed before. Not just because of duty but because he respected my father. Because he was loyal.
A new respect for Tavlor spread over my father’s face. “Even so, you don’t need to play down the strength of your powers with me,” he said. “It’s one of the main reasons I elevated you to head of the Council guard. I trust you. I trust your power.”
Tavlor nodded stiffly but didn’t say anything. He rubbed his lips together, as though he wanted to hide his emotions but couldn’t. Not this time, not when he heard this from my father.
I smiled softly. Finally, he was being treated the way he deserved to be by someone else who wasn’t me.
“You okay?” I asked, reaching over to squeeze his arm.
He froze beneath my touch and that was when I realized what Charity had said about us had affected him somehow.
My father walked over to us with a wary smile. “Was Charity correct?” he asked, glancing at my hand on Tavlor’s forearm. “Are you two in love?”
My stomach twisted. It was probably a bit early to talk about love, out loud, but…
“Yes,” I answered, lifting my head high. I swallowed. If this was too much too fast for Tavlor, that was fine, but I wasn’t going to lie about my feelings for him.
Tavlor’s gaze swung to me as though he couldn’t believe I was admitting such a thing.
I didn’t look at him.
I didn’t want to see any rejection of the idea, if there was any.
I sucked in a breath, waiting for a response from my father.
My father looked between us. Truth be told, it shouldn’t matter what he thought of me and Tavlor. I was old enough to make my own choices and I didn’t care if he had something to say about it.
If my mother was here, she’d say something about it. I didn’t think she would judge Tavlor for who he was, but I do think she would worry about how his role in my life might impact me, and she would want to shield me from it.
All the same, I couldn’t help but hold my breath as I waited for him to say something.
Finally, the corners of his lips curled up and his eyes sparkled. “Well, you have my support, if that means anything,” he said. “I would never stand in the way of either of your happiness.”
Now I took a chance and glanced at Tavlor as warmth spread through my body, encircling my heart and giving it a hug.
Tavlor looked frozen with surprise. A bubble of laughter floated out of my mouth. I slapped my hand over my lips, not wanting him to think I was laughing at him.
He looked over at me and I smiled at him. I shook my head, telling him I had no idea that this was going to happen. His entire face softened.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, and I could hear the sincerity in his words.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better protector for my daughter, Tavlor,” My father said.
I pressed my lips together, trying to clear my throat without opening my mouth any further. I didn’t want to kill the moment by ugly sobbing, especially when this wasn’t about me. I looked up at the ceiling, sucking in a deep breath.
“So,” I said, once I trusted myself to speak. “Now we just have to win the trial, so we can live our lives how we want to.”
I said it like it was no big deal, like we could accomplish the task in our sleep. The truth was far worse, far more dangerous.
My father nodded, and then conjured up a tray with three glasses on it.
“I think we all need a drink,” he said, mirroring my thoughts.
I didn’t ask what the dark amber liquid was, but instead took the glass and held it in my hand. I trusted my father. I hadn’t expected to, but I did. And I was glad he was here.
“To a bright future,” he said, and the three of us clinked glasses before drinking.
I took a sip. I wanted to keep a steady head, but I did want the elixir to ease the tension in my body. It burned like the devil, but I swallowed it down and gasped. I assumed it was going to be sweet, like everything Bella made for me. I hadn’t realized it would taste like that.
“Damn,” I muttered, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “That’s strong.”
Tavlor only smiled and tipped his drink back.
A knock echoed on the newly replaced door.
Our drinks vanish. Tavlor threw his shield into place. He looked at my father and nodded. My father flicked his wrist towards the inner door, and it opened.
Two men strode inside. I recognized them from my trial, though I couldn’t remember their names. I tensed, I couldn’t be sure if their presence here was a good thing or a bad thing.
“We are here to agree to your terms,” one of the men announced. His tone was indifferent, hard to decipher. “There will be a new trial, with a congregation of our peers. No Council members will decide on Ava Melfi’s fate.”
A scroll appeared in his hands and he extended it out to me. My eyes widened. I wanted to know what the scroll said but I didn’t know if it was magicked to do something if I touched it.
I glanced at my father. Maybe he would be able to guide me on what to do.
He nodded encouragingly.
I inched forward and Tavlor altered the shield so that I could take the scroll, swallowing the polite need to say, ‘thank you.’
This was practically a death warrant if it went the wrong way.
The man inclined his head, then turned to leave.
“Take Rasslor with you,” my father called after him.
I startled. I’d all but forgotten about Rasslor crumpled unconscious on the floor beyond the couch.
The two men glanced at Rasslor, and then hesitated. With a glance at each other, they gathered up their fallen comrade and pulled him out through the door.
My father took the decree from my hands and scanned it. “We have two days to prepare and it says you are to stay in the Council buildings, under guard.” He glanced at Tavlor. “I suppose that means you both stay here, with me.”
Tavlor nodded and then pulled me into him, holding me tight and burying his nose in my hair. It was a strong show of emotion I hadn’t expected from him, especially not in front of my father.
We’d won the first round, but the war was far from over.
I burrowed into Tavlor’s strength and sighed, closing my eyes against the uncertainty of the rest of the world. I let myself relax. I gave myself this time to enjoy the fact that we were still alive and well.
For now.
“I will go and make arrangements for our accommodations,” my father said.
I murmured in acknowledgement, and without another word, he strode from the room.
I pulled back and looked up at Tavlor. “So, we fight,” I said. It wasn’t a question, and yet, I needed to hear him clarify it for my own sake.
He nodded once. “Yes, we fight,” he said. “No more running, no more hiding.”
I smiled up at him and burrowed back into his arms. I wasn’t sure what the future held, but it was a start.
Later that day, safe in the bedroom my father had created for me, I wrote another letter to my sisters.
Dearest girls,
The Council has agreed to give me a second trial and we are preparing for it now.
I miss you and love you and look forward to seeing you again.
Stay well, and safe.
Ava.