“You cannot kill me,” I declared to the room of Witches and Warlocks staring at me. I should be dead, but they’d have to try harder. “And if you don’t choose to make me your ally, I guarantee you will make me your very worst enemy.”
There were several gasps around the room, and then the doors to the back of the room burst open.
Tavlor strode in, parting the crowd like Moses and the Red Sea.
Better late than never.
Behind him walked four tall, strong men. Two Fae and two shifters. All of which I recognized.
My heart sung with happiness. He hadn’t abandoned me. He’d brought the re-enforcements he’d said he would. Strong re-enforcements.
I couldn’t believe I had ever doubted him. Guilt pooled in my stomach. I tried to ignore it. I tried to refocus on what we had rather than dwell on my momentary lapse in judgment.
“We are here to speak on behalf of Ava,” Horlow declared, my Fae teacher from Abigail’s realm. It was so good to see him, tears sprang into my eyes. This had to be the effect of nearly dying. I didn’t want to admit that I could be this emotional.
“This is not an open court,” the older man who was running this trial all but spat at the Fae elder. “And we will not indulge your speeches. Anything you say will fall on deaf ears, Fae.”
“Well, maybe it ought to be an open court,” one of the wolf-shifters said with a growl. Robert’s beta was here in all his wiry fine-ness. He still looked malnourished, but the look on his face said he was still just as powerful, regardless.
Tavlor brought his four witnesses up to the stage where I stood and turned to face off against the Council and all their family.
I was still holding my belly and panting, and my father eased me up so I could lean against a chair. The death sentence that witch had served me had been a strong one, and I wasn’t sure that there would be much of a tattoo left after that. Which meant I had to be careful, and not let myself get attacked again.
Tavlor glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.
“Are you all right?” he asked, trying to mask his concern.
I shook my head. “Not really, but I’ll explain later.”
I didn’t want him seeking retribution for the attack now. Not when there were bigger things to do.
I waved my hand for him to continue and concentrated on breathing. Tavlor could take it from here. Thanks to Bella, I’d managed to survive up until this point. Only just, though.
Tavlor held up a copy of the ancient book he’d made from the original that lay behind me with my father.
“I have shown my friends here the original laws and rules of the Council,” he announced.
I grinned. That would show these cocky assholes.
There was a hiss and gasp of outrage around the room. Those that knew what Tavlor meant narrowed their gazes, and those that didn’t nudged their partner and whispered questions.
“Tavlor, look out!” my father yelled.
Multiple explosions erupted in front of us.
Tavlor grabbed me and dragged me into his side while I watched white and red lights go off like fireworks before me.
“What’s going on?” I yelled over the noise, my gaze darting around to see my father and Horlow standing side by side as they threw magic up to protect us all.
“They Council are attacking,” Tavlor said, gripping me, and the book. His gaze was furious.
The wolf shifters who stood beside us half shifted in their rage, their hands becoming claws. Their heads became those of the wolf.
Woah. This just got real.
I glanced back at my father and the Fae mage. “Horlow and my dad are protecting us.”
Tavlor nodded. “Stay back, okay?”