I glanced over at Tavlor, who stood up. “I have an article to hand around for the people to view,” he said after clearing his throat. Unlike Thomas’s caustic voice, Tavlor’s was slow and steady like a stream. It soothed my nerves and calmed my beating heart. Once again, I was grateful he was here. “Our only evidence that in fact, you are wrong.”
Thomas whirled around, his capes flying in a circle.
“What is it?” he demanded, as though he couldn’t be bothered to believe anything Tavlor said.
Tavlor smiled.
“It is proof that the Council has not always functioned as it does now, in relation to the members of the Council, and the way they treat the High Warlock,” he said, each word crisp and careful. Out of all of us, Tavlor was the one who had the most control over his emotions.
“In what way?” Thomas asked, flicking his head back and lifting his chin higher. It was obvious he could not believe he was speaking to a hybrid, that he even had to entertain such a thing.
Tavlor lifted the book so that the whole room could see. It was gorgeous and took my breath away every time I saw it. Obviously ancient, by the age of the leather coverings and the gold embossing on the cover and spine.
“The Council, in the beginning, was made up of a mix of Warlocks, Fae and Shifters...” Tavlor began, letting his voice trail off.
There was a general hiss of amazement around us and I watched as the ‘public’ tittered to themselves. From what I’d learnt from Mallory, there wasn’t a lot of love lost for the Fae or the shift
ers... but hopefully it was enough to unsettle the Council. And that was all we wanted. A fair shot at presenting our case, at proving the Council was not within its right to call me a traitor simply for being born – or that my father was a traitor for having an affair.
“The book also proves that the High Warlock was once an elected official that chose his own wife, or partner, and never had to adhere to the rules of the current Council,” Tavlor continued.
Thomas marched over and tried to grab the book out of Tavlor’s hands.
Tavlor moved it out of Thomas’s grasp with ease, the look on his face one of amusement that Thomas thought he could so easily swindle the book from him in the first place.
“Give me that!” Thomas demanded, trying to snatch it away again.
Tavlor inclined his head, keeping the book out of Thomas’s grasp.
“Of course, I will, after the people have seen it,” he said. “It is evidence that neither Ava, nor her father, have done anything wrong, especially given the history of his blood line. It is evidence the people should be aware about since they choose to live in this realm and follow the laws. They should be privy to see what came before the laws that are in place now, whether you think so or not.” Tavlor narrowed his eyes at Thomas. “You will not hide the truth from the people any longer.”
Thomas growled, a vicious sound, and flicked his wrist, the book disappearing from sight as though it had never been.
I blinked in surprise. When I realized what happened, I jumped to my feet.
“What the hell did you just do?” I asked, leaning forward. All pretense of respect and trying to keep myself from saying or doing something emotive went out the window, not when any semblance of fairness disappeared with my only defense. I thrust a finger at Thomas. “You have no right to sabotage my trial!”
Thomas rounded on me, his eyes blazing with anger. “We have every right to control what is released in this trial. You will not lie to the public.”
“Lie? Ha! That’s not what you’re worried about. We’re telling the truth! You just don’t want us to expose you as the liars and manipulators you are,” I practically screamed.
How dare he make evidence disappear!
Thomas snapped his fingers and all the Witches and Warlocks in the room disappeared.
Everyone except Tavlor, Thomas, my father, and myself.
I gasped, fear crawling over my skin like a nest of ants. Was he allowed to do that? Did it matter? The law only seemed to be there to control the people, not the Council itself.
Tavlor jumped over the pew that had separated him from me and raced to my side. To my surprise, he pulled his sword from the invisible sheath on his back and held it in front of him, putting a dangerous weapon between us and Thomas. I was surprised he still had access to it in a courtroom. They probably didn’t even take him seriously enough to consider he would actually use it, especially to threaten the Council.
My father stood up, staring at us as though the world had gone insane.
And it had.
Ancient magical words were whispered in the air and I twirled around to see Thomas gathering magic to him, his hands glowing with blackness.
“Don’t even think about it, Thomas,” Tavlor growled. “You touch Ava, and you will die. I swear to the Gods, I will kill you.”