I’m so much more than the magic I wield.

Chapter 17

Darcinda had never been so happy to escape the crowd, the queen, and…McHenry. Even if it was only for a short while. As soon as Godfrey finished explaining to everyone how the Tribunal would work, she was able to back away from the paranormal leaders and make a run for it.

After all, she was at this Tribunal under somewhat false pretenses—to be the healer in case something went wrong.

But how could she do that when she didn’t have her healing powers anymore? Even something as simple as bespelling the bag of white and red chits had fallen to Maeve. The young wolf-witch certainly was coming into her own with respect to her powers.

Darcinda had left McHenry’s and the forest for a night alone. She’d hoped to calm down, but being back in her small cottage didn’t alleviate her nerves, especially since both Godfrey and Julia told her they might be calling her as a witness during the trial.

The last thing she wanted to do was testify, especially if they questioned her about what happened when the demon king appeared and tried to take Selina with him.

She would be under oath on that witness stand. If she was asked what happened, she didn’t know how she could avoid telling them he had cast a spell on her and she lost her powers.

She circled her kitchen table, making a beeline for her refrigerator and the leftover Mexican food from last night. As she heated it, she thought about what to wear tomorrow. Belinda had given her the stink eye when she saw her today, which Darcinda took as a good sign.

Maybe it was her outfit, or her black hair with red and purple highlights. That had been Maeve’s idea when Darcinda couldn’t make up her mind at the drugstore last night. Who knew there were so many hair dyes to choose from? But she was happy with her new look.

She’d never been one to go along with what was expected of her. She discovered firsthand that expectations could be harsh in the faerie world. Which was why she struck out on her own after her mother died, even though she was still quite young. But her calling was already solidified in her own heart and mind. The Fates made her a healer.

Although the irony was not lost on her that she hadn’t been able to heal her own mother.

She sat at her table, set the nerves aside, and started eating, mostly because she needed some nourishment before settling in bed.

The actual Tribunal began tomorrow, and it promised to be another long day. And, as much as she was not looking forward to it, she couldn’t begin to imagine what McHenry was feeling. He would surely be called as a witness by Godfrey and then cross-examined by Julia.

And wasn’t that a messed-up situation? Julia defending the demon king. In the past, Darcinda would have agreed that he deserved a fair trial, but when she thought back on the damage inflicted to McHenry, she didn’t feel as magnanimous anymore.

She forced down the rest of her meal before cleaning the dishes. Her phone rang as she made her way to her bedroom. She groaned when she saw the name.

“Hello, Belinda.”

“I’m surprised you answered your phone, Darcinda.”

She really didn’t want to play games, but apparently the faerie queen had other things in mind. “Why’s that?”

“You left so quickly today that I thought you might be avoiding me.”

Avoiding the whole situation, but she wasn’t going to say that. “I was tired and wanted to get home. Tomorrow will be another long day.”

“Yes, it will. The last thing we need to be doing is cleaning up the demons’ petty squabbles.”

Petty squabbles? Darcinda didn’t respond. It wasn’t like Belinda wanted to hear her opinion. In fact, she wasn’t quite sure why exactly the faerie queen had called.

“I saw both attorneys speak to you as you were leaving.”

“Yes.”

Belinda huffed. “What did they want?”

“To tell me I might be called as a witness.”

“As I suspected.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Darcinda asked.

“I think you should be a little more forthcoming with what you know about Roderick.”

Enough . “Actually, as magistrate for this Tribunal, I don’t think you should be talking to me about this right now. We wouldn’t want to be accused of impropriety, would we? Then we would have to do this all over again, and it would take you away from your important duties.”

Darcinda tried to keep the snark out of her voice.

“You have always been disrespectful, Darcinda.”

Apparently she’d failed.

“It’s a good thing your mother isn’t alive to see how you turned out.”

The phone went dead.

Darcinda dropped the phone on the bed before collapsing on it herself.

Belinda wielded words like a finely honed blade. And she just drew blood.

Darcinda rubbed her hand over her heart as if she could calm the ache there. Her mom had been gone for years now. While she was alive, Darcinda remained part of the faerie nation. She would have done anything for her mother, but after she passed, there was nothing holding Darcinda there, especially the faerie queen and her minions, who all drank the mean faerie Kool-Aid.

It was silly, really. Faeries were among the strongest of the supernaturals. That wasn’t ego; it was fact. And yet power corrupted most of them, making them close-minded and territorial.

It was exhausting, and not what Darcinda wanted to deal with in her life. If not for the caring faerie healers she knew, she would have lost faith in her entire species.

Belinda was nasty on a good day. If she found out Darcinda had lost her powers, she would be downright brutal. Hopefully no one would need her healing powers until they returned. If they return , a little voice whispered in the recesses of her mind.

Maybe tomorrow the demon king would plead guilty and all this would be resolved. Then things could go back to normal, and she could get that stubborn demon out of her head.

A girl can dream, right?