by Jones, AE
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?
Let the trial begin.
Chapter 18
McHenry had been holding his breath for hours now. Or at least it felt like it. Hells, he’d even woke up from a restless sleep holding his breath. He was almost light-headed now he was sitting in the tent that would serve as the Tribunal chamber. A table with three chairs had been positioned at the front of the tent for the magistrates.
Two more tables were up front, and he imagined they were for the prosecution and defense. And then there were several rows of chairs. McHenry sat in the third row, watching as the leaders came into the room. Godfrey gave him a quick nod as he strode to the front, to the table to the right. Moments later, Julia bustled in with her business face on. McHenry had never seen her in the courtroom before, but he had seen that face when she was on a mission, and with Julia that was often the case.
What was it about strong women that was so attractive? As if in answer to his thoughts, Darcinda walked into the tent. Was she wearing a kilt with purple army boots? He couldn’t keep the grin off his face when he caught sight of her T-shirt slogan today—Stay Calm and Faerie On .
She sat down one row behind him. He nodded in her direction and she winked at him—winked! Fates, she was trouble, but since trouble followed him around, at least he was in familiar territory.
The rest of the tent packed with the supernatural leaders. The elf king, faerie queen, and wolf pack leader took their seats at the head table.
Once everyone was seated, the team brought in Roderick, who took the seat next to Julia.
The elf king brought the proceeding to order. “I will be serving as head magistrate for this trial.”
Interesting. Given the sour look on the faerie queen’s face, she wasn’t too happy about it.
“This Tribunal has been called in to review and determine the verdict for the charge of attempted murder lodged against Roderick Jenkins, the Demon King. Attorney Godfrey, please make your opening remarks.”
Attempted murder? Assault, definitely, but murder charges? McHenry looked around at the rest of the onlookers to determine if they were surprised.
No one else seemed shocked.
Godfrey stood. “Thank you, magistrates. Today begins the prosecution’s case against Roderick Jenkins. I will present testimony from several witnesses, including the victim, explaining the viciousness of the crime, as well as the arguments explaining why Roderick Jenkins is indeed guilty. What makes this crime even more heinous is that the leader of the demon nation struck out against one of his clan. If found guilty, in addition to being punished for his crime, his leadership role would be stripped from him as well.
“I would like to call my first witness to the stand.”
McHenry shifted in his seat to stand.
“Andrew Donahue, will you please come forward.”
Hells. McHenry turned to find Andrew striding to the front of the room. When did he arrive, and why was Godfrey calling him to the stand?
Andrew sat in the chair next to the head table. He was a little pale, but otherwise he looked okay.
“Andrew, I would like to ask you some questions. Please describe what happened when your uncle was injured.”
“I was in the workshop with Uncle Mac. While we were standing there, the air felt like it was charged with electricity. Then all at once, the loose shards and hunks of metal started to vibrate; they rose into the air, and flew at both of us.”
“What did you do?”
“Uncle Mac told me to run, and he pushed me out the door first.” Andrew looked at him and McHenry’s throat tightened. “He used himself as a shield to protect me.”
“What happened next?”
Andrew swallowed. “Mac took the brunt of the metal. Jamie and I helped him to the house, and I tried to remove the metal from his back, but it was too deep for me to do it alone. Jamie called for help, and the team and Darcinda came here to save Uncle Mac.”
Godfrey nodded. “Will you please tell me how you know Roderick’s daughter, Selina Jenkins?”
Julia stood. “I question relevance, magistrates.”
Godfrey took a step closer to the table. “His answers will provide motive for the accused.”
The elf king nodded. “Proceed.”
Godfrey motioned for Andrew to continue.
“Selina and I were seeing each other. Dating.”
“You would classify her as your girlfriend?”
“I asked her to marry me.”
“So she is your fiancée?”
“I don’t know.”
“How could you not know?” Godfrey asked.
“I asked her to marry me and she said yes. But then I remembered that she broke up with me.”
Godfrey crossed his arms. “You remembered? Can you explain what you mean?”
“After Mac was hurt, I had a memory of Selina breaking up with me. I also remember going back to the house and starting to work with Mac in the workshop when a spell went wrong. I blamed myself for what happened to my uncle because I was upset.”
“When you say you remember, is that because it didn’t really happen?”
Julia stood up. “Prosecution is leading the witness.”
“Apologies. Andrew, please explain why you keep saying ‘remembered’ and ‘memories.’”
“Someone changed my memory. Selina didn’t break up with me, and I didn’t cause the accident in the shop. The metal attacked us.”
A murmur went through the crowd.
“And you know this, how?”
“Darcinda cast a spell in the workshop to see if magic was involved with the accident. She found out that mine and Mac’s memories were changed.”
Godfrey stepped closer to Andrew. “When did your real memories return?”
“Selina came to the house. When I saw her, my real memories came back to me. I had actually gone to the workshop to break it to Mac about Selina and our engagement. She had gone home to tell her father.”
“The same day as your attack?”
“Objection. We haven’t established this was an attack.”
The elf king nodded. “Watch your wording, counselor.”
“Why didn’t you go with Selina to talk to her father about the engagement?” Godfrey asked.
“She said it would be better for her to speak with her father alone first before he met me.”
“So you had never met the demon king before?”
“No. Not until he came to the house looking for Selina.”
“Why did Selina come to your house?” Godfrey asked.
“She said she wanted to check on me. She had heard that someone was hurt. Even though she said I had broken up with her, she still wanted to make sure I was all right.”
“So Selina also remembered you breaking up? Her memory was altered as well?”
Andrew shook his head. “No. Her memory wasn
’t altered.”
“Then why did she believe you had broken up with her?”
Andrew looked at Roderick. “Because that’s what her father told her.”
Another murmur rippled through the leaders.
McHenry clenched his fists on his thighs.
Godfrey looked down at his notepad. “That is all I have for Andrew at this time.”
“Attorney Cole, would you like to question the witness?” the elf king asked.
Julia stood. “Andrew, you said you wanted to ‘break it to your Uncle Mac’ about your engagement. What did you mean by that?”
Andrew hesitated for a moment. “I had just found out that Selina was the demon king’s daughter, and I was afraid Mac would be angry with me. He always told Jamie and me to steer clear of the demon king and the castle.”
“Do you know why?”
Andrew shook his head.
“I have no other questions at this time but request the right to recall this witness at a later time.”
The magistrates nodded, and Andrew stood and moved to a chair in the back row of the tent.
Godfrey turned to the crowd.
“I would like to call Darcinda to the stand.”
Darcinda walked to the front of the room and sat in the witness chair.
“According to Andrew’s testimony, you were called in to help with McHenry’s injuries.”
“That is correct.”
“Will you please describe the extent of his injuries?”
“He had dozens of pieces of metal of varying sizes lodged in his back with quite a bit of blood loss. He was unconscious when the team and I arrived.”
Godfrey paused for a moment. “In your professional opinion as a healer, how serious were his injuries?”
“Very serious. Even though demons are hardy and can normally heal from a simple puncture wound on their own, the sheer number of wounds was dangerous. Exacerbating the injury was the fact that the metals were bespelled, and several different magical spells were burrowing into his system. Once I removed the metal, I had to detoxify his body from the spells as well.”
“Andrew also testified that you cast a spell in the workshop. Can you explain what the spell was for?”
“The damage in the workshop did not look like an accident. So I cast a spell to see if I could determine whether magic was involved.”
“Explain what you mean about the damage?”
“If the flying metal had been the result of an explosion, it would have blown outward in all directions and embedded into all the surfaces and walls. Instead, the metal was embedded only in the wall surrounding the doorway where McHenry and Andrew escaped. I would suggest that the magistrates view the scene for themselves so they can see what I mean.”
Ah, the lass was a smart one. Seeing the metal would drive home the violence. Hells, if his demon metabolism hadn’t healed his back, he would have pulled his shirt off to show them the damage.
“And what did the spell tell you?”
“That magic was used with the metal shards that hit McHenry. At the same time, we realized that both McHenry’s and Andrew’s memories had been tampered with as well.”
“I have no other questions at this time.”
The elf king turned to Julia. “Counselor?”
Julia stood.
“Darcinda. Were you able to determine who cast the spell that injured McHenry?”
“Not specifically, no.”
“And were you able to determine who cast the memory spell?”
“No.”
“No other questions at this time,” Julia said before sitting down.
McHenry watched Darcinda go back to her seat before Godfrey called Devin, who answered a series of questions regarding the overall investigation.
Finally Godfrey called McHenry’s name, and he made his way to the front of the room. Was it his imagination, or was the faerie queen scowling at him? Hard to tell, since she’d been perpetually frowning.
Godfrey asked him questions similar to what he’d asked Andrew about the events leading up to his injuries. Godfrey then questioned him about his memories and how they were altered. McHenry’s answers were, of course, similar to what Andrew already said. McHenry wasn’t an expert in law, but he assumed Godfrey wanted the two of them to…what was the word?…corroborate each other.
“What happened when the demon king arrived here?”
Ah, now they were heading into new territory.
“He heard there had been an accident and asked if everyone was okay. Then he asked if we had seen his daughter.”
“What did you say?”
“I didn’t answer him at first.”
“Because?”
“Because we had just gotten our memories back and realized someone changed them just before Selina told us her father lied to her about Andrew breaking up with her.”
“How did the demon king react?”
“He was upset and threatened us, but Selina came out of the house and he calmed down.”
“What happened then?” Godfrey asked.
“His daughter told him to explain what happened. To tell us he didn’t cause the explosion.”
Godfrey looked over at Roderick before asking his next question. “And what did he say?”
“That he would do anything to protect her. Then he disappeared.”
The crowd murmured, and the elf king called for silence.
“I have no more questions at this time.”
Julia stood and walked around the table. That must mean she had more than one question to ask.
“So, the demon king said he would do anything to protect his daughter?”
“Yes.”
“And as an uncle who helped raise his nephews, you can relate to that statement?”
Where was she going with this? “Yes.”
“Other than saying he wanted to protect his daughter, did the demon king actually confess to attacking you, or to changing your memories?”
He looked over at Roderick, who sat at the table with a blank look on his face. “No.”
Julia crossed her arms. “There appears to be some animosity between you and the demon king.”
McHenry held in a laugh at her statement. “He tried to turn me into a demon shish kabob. That would make anyone cranky.”
“Except that, even before you were injured, you told Andrew to stay away from him. Why?”
McHenry’s gut twisted. He couldn’t tell her the real reason why. Literally could not tell her, or he would face repercussions.
“He is the head of the Demon Nation. We’re blacksmiths. I know my station in life.”
Julia’s eyes tightened on him. Damnation. She knew he was lying.
“So you’re saying that this animosity is because you don’t think you’re worthy to spend time with the demon king?”
Hells. When she put it that way, he sounded like a wimpy arse.
“I want to stay on my land and work with my metals. I don’t want to deal with his world and his politics.”
There, that should reinforce his hermit mentality, which he was already well known for.
“And you think your nephews should do the same?”
Fates, no. He wanted his nephews to do whatever they wanted to. Not live his life. They could do and be anything. He shook his head.
The elf king held up his hand. “Attorney Cole. It’s late. I think we should call it a day. You can begin with questioning this witness again in the morning.” He turned to McHenry. “Please be prepared to answer the rest of Attorney Cole’s questions tomorrow.”
The magistrates stood, and the gallery stood as well. McHenry looked over at Roderick, whose face was no longer blank. If he wasn’t mistaken, he saw fear in his eyes. Roderick knew what would happen if he told them why they didn’t get along.
For once in his life, he was in agreement with the demon king.
They couldn’t tell them the truth.
Sneakin’ around is never a good idea.
; Chapter 19
McHenry had to talk some sense into Roderick, but since he was under lock and key, it was impossible…or was it?
He was a powerful demon, after all. He should be able to figure out a way to get into his own damn workshop and talk to Roderick without the others finding out.
They would be having dinner soon, and normally that meant one member of the team standing guard while the rest of them ate. Right now McHenry was sitting on the porch watching his workshop.
The front door opened, and Connor stepped outside. “Could you use some company?”
Not really, but he couldn’t say it without coming across as an arse. So he nodded instead.
Connor settled in the chair next to him. “I bet you’re ready for this to be over with.”
“More than you know.”
“It would be good to actually visit you when there isn’t a crisis.”
McHenry smiled. “Agreed. Things seem to be goin’ well with you and Olivia.”
Connor grinned. “Yes. I’m still not sure how I was lucky enough to end up with Liv.”
“I’m not either.”
Connor laughed. “You ass.”
“Why do you act so surprised, Connor? You know my personality by now.”
“I do.”
They sat for a moment in silence. “Are you thinkin’ about takin’ the next step?”
Connor’s grin slipped, and he glanced back at the door before continuing. “I have been. I’ve been carrying around a ring for a while now.”
McHenry turned to fully face him. “What’s stoppin’ you?”
“I wonder if this really is the kind of life she wants to be a part of.”
“I haven’t seen her complainin’. Olivia strikes me as a woman who knows what she wants, and she wants you.”
Connor didn’t respond.
“I’m goin’ to be blunt with you.”
Connor shook his head. “Oh, Fates. You’ve been blunt with me since I met you. If you feel like you have to warn me now, I’m in trouble.”
McHenry nodded. “I don’t know much about your childhood, Connor. But I do know that the man who raised you and Jack was a piss-poor father. And that can leave marks on a person, make them feel not worthy to be happy.”