My father snorted and I looked his way. “Sorry, it’s just that... I know that is one of the other things they hate about the situation.”
“What?” I asked. What else could I have possibly done to annoy them?
Tavlor’s lips quirked up. “You’re a female,” he said. At least Tavlor controlled his tone so it didn’t come out as obvious, even though I should have known this. “There hasn’t been a daughter born to a Warlock in almost a thousand years.”
I looked between them and shrugged. “Well... tough. Lucky, they don’t know there’s three.”
My father’s expression grew serious. “And they can’t know, Ava,” he said, his voice grave. “Not yet, perhaps not ever.”
“I know,” I said. “I would never endanger my sisters.”
Tavlor chuckled a little. “They are exceptional women, High Warlock. You will be very proud when you meet them.”
My mouth dropped open slightly. I was surprised by Tavlor saying something about them. He always seemed so wary of Bella and Courtney.
My father’s eyes shimmered for a moment before he blinked the moisture away. “I’m sure I will be.”
The door to my father’s office burst open. The solid wood of the once ornate door, scattered everywhere.
I threw my hands up, but Tavlor conjured a temporary shield over us all to protect us from the debris.
Then he dropped it again.
“Matlock!” Charity yelled as she barged into the room.
My father grimaced.
“How is she here?” I asked, eyeing Charity with hesitation. “Don’t you have protection wards?”
“Yes,” he said. “Except, as my wife, I gave her the power to get through my wards.”
Oh no... that woman was evil, I’d known it from the very first moment I’d seen her. I just knew that she’d stop at nothing to end me.
And i
f she ever found out about my sisters... then God help us all.
“What are you...” I began to ask her, but then her back up arrived.
Three other Council members, all men charged in after her.
Chapter 20.
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.