by Amelia Shaw
I glanced at the book, then raised my gaze back to his eyes, nervous shivers making me bite my lip. “You... are you going to show the Fae that book?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know yet. But I can certainly threaten to. Unless you can think of another way to resolve this, I say we go in with our best hand. Threaten to expose the hypocrisy of the Council to the other Witches and Warlocks, and declare a national vote for all shifters, Fae, and Witches, to make up a new Council.”
I hissed in a gasp.
“Do you think they will go for that?” I murmured, not wanting to let myself hope.
He shook his head. “No. They will probably try and kill me on the spot for suggesting it, but... they’re no match for my magic, nor your fathers.”
My hand strayed to my belly where my protective tattoo lay.
“And I can handle myself.” I took a deep breath. This was really happening. “So, we’re doing it? We’re really going up against the Council and we’re going to threaten to uncover this secret if they don’t do as we ask and appoint me the High Warlock heir, with no arranged marriage.”
Tavlor nodded and my father grinned.
“Why not?” He shrugged. “What have we got to lose?”
My mouth dropped open. “Ah, everything? Our lives, your roles. Tavlor, I...”
A part of me wanted to run away, to hide, and take my lover with me. Back to my sisters, back to my mother’s realm. To a place no one could hurt us.
I closed my eyes, a wave of fear passing over me.
Was the risk worth the possible outcome?
Could we possibly win against such odds?
I forced my eyes open again and looked at the two men before me.
“I can’t lose either of you, and if that means I have to step down...” No job was worth losing these men. Nor sacrificing my love, my happiness.
Was that selfish to even think?
My father grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Ava, I am with you. No matter what. You have my full support. This is your birth right, and I will fight by your side. No matter the outcome.”
Tavlor nodded, his face flashing with fierceness. “Ava. You are meant for this role. It is in your blood. Do not let fear of the unknown deter you from your true path.”
I fought to calm my heart rate and swallowed hard. “You’re right. Do what you can, Tavlor. Dad and I will hold them off until you get back.”
I squeezed my father’s hand, feeling my magic grow and twist and turn in my veins. It was time to step up, to face my fears, to become the woman, and the witch, I was meant to be.
“We have some work to do,” I said.
Chapter 19.
I WATCHED TAVLOR LEAVE, trying to ignore the disappointment rooted in my stomach. I knew he was trying to help. Regardless, I didn’t want to do this trial without him. I wasn’t sure if I could.
In order to pass the time, I began to talk to my father about my mother. I was sure he would want to have a conversation about her, and maybe I could see her in a different light. Unfortunately, he was pretty cryptic about the whole thing.
Instead, we spent the time talking of my sisters. He desperately wanted to get to know them, and I hoped that would happen.
I glanced at the clock on the wall, trying to distract myself from the feeling that Tavlor might not be coming back.
“How much longer do we have?” I asked.
My father looked down at the pocket watch on the table. “About an hour.”
I groaned. “Where is he?”
Tavlor had been gone too long. I didn’t want to go to the trial without him.
My father looked up at me from the book he was studying and laughed. “Ava. He isn’t popping around to a café to pick you up some lunch. Tavlor is travelling to multiple realms, hoping to convince warriors to fight on our side. That is not an easy task.”
I inhaled sharply, resting my hands on my knees. My father was right.
“Maybe I should have gone with him,” I said.
I could have helped him convince them that I was on their side. That I would fight for them.
“And risk missing the deadline? Ah... no.” My father inclined his head over the book and I picked up the note pad next to him.
I glanced over the notes he’d made about the Council history, memorizing each line. “Do you think it’ll be enough?”
He sighed, then shrugged. “What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen?”
“Um. That we all die.”
My father looked up and rolled his eyes at me. “Seriously, Ava.”
I was being serious, deadly serious. But obviously that was lost on the High Warlock.
“Um, okay, I suppose if you take mortal danger off the table,” I said, shifting in my seat. My grip on my knees only tightened. “Then... we tell them what I want, put forward our case... Well, I suppose they could lock us up, take away your title. We might never be free again.”
He shook his head, not even glancing up at me this time, interrupting my train of thought.
I took a breath, calming myself as his point became clearer in my head.
“They could say no,” I stated simply.
He looked up, meeting my gaze with an intensity that took my breath away.
“Exactly!” he said, leaning forward. He set the book aside so he could give me his completely focus. “If all else fails, and they say no, then you make your choice. You walk away. You live your life, with Tavlor. And me. Nothing lost, Ava. So, don’t be scared. Not for me, nor Tavlor, nor yourself. This is the right path. It’s just a matter of patience and standing up for yourself.”
He put his head back down, turning his attention back to his book.
I didn’t know how he could be so confident when I wasn’t. I didn’t know how he could trust that the Council was just going to let me walk away from this, let my father and Tavlor walk away. But I decided to feed off that energy and read the notes we made. It was the only thing I could do to distract me since my father had stopped talking and decided to put his head in a book instead.
So much like Bella...
The minutes ticked by and when I couldn’t cope with sitting anymore, I got up and jumped up and down. My stomach was twisted with knots and adrenaline zinged along every arm and leg. It was impossible to relax. Where was Tavlor? I was sure I would be easier to calm down if he was here.
“Ava. It’s time to go,” my father said, standing up and grabbing his cloak.
I twisted around to face him, my mouth dropping open. No! Not yet. That was the last thing I wanted to hear.
“We can’t! Tavlor isn’t back yet.”
And without him, I was convinced, I had no hope of winning. Plus, I felt stronger with him next to me. He was my reminder that no matter what, I could accomplish anything.
My father shrugged, “Well, he’ll have to meet us there. We can’t be late, or they’ll make a decision for you.”
That got me moving. “They wouldn’t.”
How could they?
He chuckled. “Oh, they would. Please tell me you don’t underestimate their desire to find any excuse to be in control.”
I grabbed the ancient book from the table and followed my father out the door, through the portals, and within minutes we were back.
Back inside the dreaded trial room.
I shuddered and clung tight to the tomb I held against my chest. There were so many people here. More than last time. I wasn’t sure if these people were part of the Council or if they were part of the realm. I supposed it didn’t necessarily matter who they were. What I wanted to know was why they were here in the first place. Was this a good sign or a bad one? What should I expect?
I stepped closer to my father and whispered, “Why are there so many people here?”
He turned to whisper the answer into my ear.
“It looks like the Council has brought their spouses, and the family of the man they wish you to be betrothed to,” he said, his eyes narrowing on a particular coupl
e in the front.
I gulped, a cold sweat tickling my neck. I shifted my weight and tried not to think about what that could mean. We were here for me and my decision, nothing else. It would help if Tavlor showed up, though.
Damn. What an uncomfortable situation.
“Why would they do that?” I asked. Why bring their wives and husbands to such an event? It didn’t really make sense.
He smiled and I lifted my gaze to look directly into his eyes. “For the exact reason that has caused this reaction in you,” he said. “They want you on the defensive, worried, and feeling powerless.”
I straightened my spine. They were trying to intimidate me? Again?
“Seriously?”
He chuckled. “Of course. This trial will be the turning point for a lot of their lives. You’re a lot more important than you realize, Ava.”
My father walked away, going over to speak to two warlocks I’d seen before, but hadn’t spoken to. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, so I tried not to let myself think about it.
I conjured a chair and sat down into it.
Me. Important.
Such a sobering thought.
There was a loud clap and the once buzzing room began to quieten.
“The time has come to begin,” a male voice boomed.
I barely contained my wince. That wasn’t Thomas; he must still be in the dungeon somewhere. It looked like one of his offsiders.
People began to settle and sit down but a strange awareness tugged at me. I couldn’t exactly explain what I was feeling. It was an unsettling feeling that I couldn’t prepare for.
I glanced up and saw a large man, with graying hair and piercing blue eyes standing on his own and staring at me.
Something inside of me jumped and I bounced out of the chair to go to the man.
My father turned around to look at me, but I couldn’t stop myself from being dragged forward, towards the older man. It was as though I was tied to a string and the man was pulling me, out of my chair, away from everything just so I could get to him.
He had presence, and size, but that wasn’t the reason I couldn’t stop myself from going near him. There was something strangely familiar about him. Who was this person? How did I know him?
The closer I got, the more I realized that I wasn’t exactly unsettled. I wasn’t scared. This man didn’t seem bad, but I was still drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain since I didn’t know him at all.
As I got closer, his eyes became more purple.
My mother’s eyes.
I stopped in my tracks, straightening my spine.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper as my throat closed over. I didn’t want anyone to overhear my question. I didn’t want them to know I had found someone I might consider a friend in this trial.
I recognized this man, although I’d never seen him before. Something inside me knew him.
He lifted his chin and looked at me, his gaze roaming over me from head to toe, but not in a lascivious way.
“I’m your grandfather,” he said simply.
My whole body hummed with surprise.
“You’re my... mother’s father, aren’t you?” I asked. I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or upset at this news. My mother hadn’t mentioned him, at least, as far as I could recall.
He nodded.
What could I say? That I’d missed him my whole life? That I wanted a grandfather desperately? That I hoped he’d be proud of me and what I was about to do?
I didn’t understand why I suddenly cared about what a stranger thought about me, but I did. But instead of dwelling on this new layer of nerves it produced in me, I tried to push it away.
No. Today I had to be stoic, and strong. Not the emotional mess I truly wished I could be at this point. If the Council had brought him in specifically to rattle me, they’d done a good job.
I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the pounding of my heart ringing in my ears.
“It is very nice to meet you,” I managed to get out, wincing when my voice shook slightly.
He smiled gently. “Your grandmother was hoping to join me, but she is not well, and portal travel isn’t good for her.”
I had a grandmother too! And it sounded like they wanted to be here, to see me.
I cleared my throat, emotions clogging my eyes and making my nose tingle. “Well, perhaps after the trial I could accompany you back to your realm and meet her in person.”
He nodded, his eyes softening. “She would like that very much.”
My father walked over, holding out his hand to my grandfather. “Aaron, it’s nice to see you again.”
My grandfather shook my father’s hand, but his face grew cloudy with anger. “Matlock. If I’d known about this, you know you would never have gotten away with marrying Charity.”
My father nodded. “If I’d known about your daughter’s pregnancy, I would never have married Charity either. But...”
My grandfather sighed. “But Genevieve was stubborn,” he finished. “I can imagine she decided that running away was best for both of you.”
“Well, it wasn’t best for me,” I piped up, not liking the feeling of being the ‘this’ in the conversation and being ignored at the same time. “I wanted a family, a big, loud, proper family. And my mother denied me that.”
I cleared my throat. I wasn’t sure if it was the proper thing to say, but I couldn’t help it. I encouraged the feelings of outrage that had begun to build inside me so I could use them to move forward with my argument. Didn’t these people realize that I’d had no choice on how my life had turned out? If my mother had stayed, fought for the man she loved, then we all could have been happy.
She would probably be alive.
Granted, I wasn’t positive she would be, and I wasn’t positive about the outcome. But at the very least, I would have known my family.
“I think it’s time to right that wrong, don’t you?” I quirked one eyebrow at both men and stormed back to my chair. My emotions were getting the better of me. I had to leave or else I wouldn’t be able to focus on now, on the trial.
I sat down, though my chest rose and fell at a rapid rate. Who did all these people think they were? To judge me. To tell me how I could live my life. Who to marry, who to love?
Not fucking likely!
Not today. Not ever again.
“I’m ready,” I said as loudly as possible and everyone settled into their seats.
The trial was set out very much like it had been the last time I was here. There were several seats at the front of the room, that faced the rest of the ‘congregation.’ Six pews lined up in front of me, all containing powerful witches and warlocks.
The man who had given us the three days to think about the new conditions stepped forward, and my father sunk back behind me, standing next to my chair. The room was so quiet, I could hear people breathe with their noses. All eyes were on me, like I was naked or had some kind of target on my back. My stomach tingled, as though the tattoo there felt my nerves and wanted to protect me from this feeling of unease.
“Ave Melfi. Have you come to your decision?” he asked, his tone official
I nodded. “Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I have.”
He waited, then finally asked, “And what is it?”
I lifted my chin, and forced myself to be brave, clinging to the anger that still pulsed in my system. Maybe if I could use that anger, I could appear much more confident than I really was.
“I would like to take on the role of my father’s official heir and be the next High Warlock when my time comes.”
There was a strange titter around the room. No applause. No happiness. Had they expected me to refuse?
The man before me practically stumbled forward. “Oh, well, then, you will need to sign the contract we have drawn up for the—”
“No,” I said, cutting him off.
His brows raised. “No?”
If it were any other circumst
ance, I would have laughed at his befuddlement. As though they never thought I could get what I want, how I wanted it.
“I want some amendments made before I can sign it. After a lifetime of being trapped in a single house, in a single realm, with no choice on how I lived my life, I will not have the same conditions forced on me for the rest of my days.”
The man glanced towards my father. “Matlock... she simply can’t...”
“I wasn’t finished,” I said, standing up so that I was now at least the same height as the men around me. “And I can speak for myself. You do not need to involve my father in this.” My chest hurt as my heart pounded against my ribs, but I pushed on. “No. I will not sign the contract as it stands. I will not have an arranged marriage, nor be forced into one the way my father was.”
The man before me stared at me like I was crazy.
“But... but... you have to!” he sputtered.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “I do not!” I said. I sounded like a child but I didn’t care. “I am the legal, and blood, heir to the High Warlock and if you think I’m going to let you bully me into accepting a man that you picked to be your next High Warlock, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Charity and two other Council members rushed forward, huffing and puffing with outrage.
“You can’t do that!” a red headed woman cried.
“No. She can’t be the heir if she won’t sign the contract,” said the man. “This is not a negotiation. This is a simple yes or no. You agree to our terms or you don’t. It’s as simple as that.”
The Councilors were firing off at the man before me, and I could feel his stress levels start to increase.
He’d obviously expected me to graciously accept, or more than likely, abdicate. Which was why Mister The-Chosen-One and his family were here.
To sign the contract that I would not.
I glanced across at my father, who had been calmly standing and waiting for me to do my thing. There was no hint of disturbance on his face. If he was troubled, he hid it well.
At my look, he stepped forward. “Perhaps I can be of some assistance?”
Charity groaned. “Yes! Finally, Matlock. Talk some sense into the girl.”
My father picked up the book I’d carried into the realm and held it up in front of him. “When the first High Warlock’s were chosen, they had every right to pick a mate they wanted. And have as many children as they so chose. I don’t see why Ava, someone who did not grow up in our realm, nor understand our laws, should destroy her future happiness because of a law that was only written into our rules a few hundred years ago.”