Chapter 35

35

A few of my advisors entered with Frond and a few of his die-hard supporters in tow.

Wild stood across the training mats from me. Calm, I sent him as fury flashed across his face.

The advisors approached, and I whipped a hand up, feeling and seeing Wild’s hand raise in unison. A gold beam sliced between us, erecting a barrier of magic. The advisors and Frond shied back.

Yeah, I knew where today was heading. And no, I wasn’t above reminding the coven—including the advisors, Frond, and all the other training battle magus in here—of my power.

“How can I help?” I asked Delta, whose hand rested on the hilt of her dagger. Not in response to me. I had a feeling she was contemplating sinking the blade into Frond’s thigh.

Varden replied, “High Esteemed, we are embarrassed to bring you the news that one of our own has sought to usurp your authority. Frond has invoked a trial against you and says that he has evidence of your practice of dark magic.”

I struggled not to grin. “I see. Is it to be a witch trial then?”

The advisors appeared confused.

“A human thing,” I explained.

“Over 50 percent of the coven agree with me,” Frond said, a wide smile upon his face.

Varden was white-lipped with anger but managed to say in a mild enough tone, “Frond’s push for a trial would be disregarded if he hadn’t managed to coerce signatures from over half the coven to support such a challenge, yes.”

Over half.

I’d felt the coven’s suspicion against me building since the demons first attacked. I’d known and dreaded this moment for what felt like an age.

Now, I wanted it done.

“We will hold the trial with chosen representatives from the coven along with an equal number chosen by yourself,” Winona told me.

I’d do this trial on my terms. “This trial won’t occur behind closed doors.”

“It’s in your best interest,” Frond sneered.

“Or yours, Frond? I don’t fear the truth being known.” I walked to stand in front of him. “Do you?”

He searched my expression, and I could perceive his sudden worry that as many of his secrets would be revealed as mine in the coming hours.

“The meeting will be held in the eating chamber,” I announced. “Varden, please summon the coven to gather aside from our forces at the gates. Barrow, please contact the other covens and let them know that the late morning training here has been canceled, and training will resume this afternoon if they wish to join us then.” The other supernaturals weren’t due here until tomorrow.

“Would you like a chance to bathe?” Opal came close to whisper the words.

I glanced down at my training attire. I returned to my fighting clothes of old now there was no reason to hide my runes. I was dressed in a black training bra with matching shorts. Sweat covered me. “This is fine.”

Her expression hinted that she disagreed.

I walked forward, and Frond instinctively moved out of my way. Ha! Loved a petty win like that.

Wild fell into step beside me, and my advisors behind him. I cared not where Frond ended up. Varden’s voice boomed through the tunnels, and soon they were filled with some confused—and some knowing—magus on their way to the eating chamber.

Once inside, I summoned my authority to the stage and climbed up to sit on it, then summoned chairs for the other advisors.

Huxley broke away from Rooke and Sven to join us. “What’s up?”

“Frond is bringing me to trial,” I replied, sensing that Wild was using all his focus on remaining on his chair and not wrapping his hands around Frond’s neck.

Huxley nodded and sat on Varden’s other side.

Winona, Opal, and Delta were pushing tables back and summoning long benches as one would expect to see in a courtroom.

“At least I’m not tied to a post in the middle of a heap of tinder,” I murmured.

“Humans do this in their witch trials?” Varden asked.

“At points in their history, yes. Like any race, they fear what they do not understand. Their trials usually were a lose-lose situation for the charged, however. Death often proved their innocence.”

“A hefty price to pay,” Varden said.

The old esteemed was angry. Very much so.

I patted his hand. “It’s okay, sir. This will work out. But thank you for being offended on my behalf.”

The old magus released a weary sigh. “I hope we deserve you before this is through, High Esteemed. At the moment, we don’t.”

“I choose to be here,” I told him. “I choose the consequences of that. Truth is a small one to pay.”

The last coven members entered, and the remaining advisors took their seats either side of me. Winona rose and gestured for quiet, but as soon as the coven’s chatter had died down, Frond was the one to speak.

“We, the coven of the Buried Knolls, accuse High Esteemed Tempest Corentine of practicing dark magic.”

Sven shouted from the back, “Speak for yourself, asshole.”

There was some laughter, but his comment was met with just as much annoyance. Varden had mentioned coercion when it came to Frond collecting his signatures from the coven, but it didn’t look that way to me.

Winona hadn’t visibly reacted to his rudeness. “And have you collected evidence of reasonable doubt to invoke this trial?”

“I have.” Frond glanced back and Josie, Bedwyr, and Gentri,of all people, stepped forward.

Gentri appeared as though he’d rather be standing naked as the groom in his union than be here right now.

Frond gestured to Josie. “We have one coven member who witnessed black smoke pouring from the high esteemed in a battle against Corentin. She also witnessed the demon tongue pouring from the high esteemed’s mouth as though she were born to the language.”

I almost laughed. I was wired wrong. This wasn’t a situation to laugh at. I blamed my mother and my grandmother for that.

A growl vibrated out of Wild, and the coven glanced around before realizing where the sound originated from.

“We all witness the unusual behavior of Esteemed Advisor Astar since he entered a relationship with the high esteemed,” Frond said louder.

Winona’s reply was dry. “Which we are aware is due to the first mating ritual ever seen in maguskind. I imagine Mr. Astar’s response is very much due to how you are treating his mate.”

Wild was becoming a more deadly promise by the second.

Frond recovered, then waved an arm toward Bedwyr. “We have a coven member who had an encounter with our high esteemed where she begged for sexual relief from magic invoked.”

I did laugh then. I’d forgotten about that. Bedwyr had happened upon me while I was in the throes of a heat. Wild appeared not long after, but the situation had been an unusual one.

Bedwyr’s face reddened, but he jutted out his chin. “I also witnessed Esteemed Advisor Astar cleaning soot from the roof of the training center again recently and heard the high esteemed speak in demon tongue.”

“Gentri?” Frond prompted.

The magus had been exchanging a look with Berry, who appeared furious with him. Yikes. “I…,” he started.

Frond stared pointedly. “Say it.”

Varden spoke, “A reminder to you, Frond, that you will not coerce any magus here to speak against their will. Gentri, do you wish to speak today?”

Sweat appeared on Gentri’s forehead. He glanced between Frond and Berry. “N-No?—”

“You saw black blood drawn out of the high esteemed’s body by her cousin, Rooke,” Frond snarled.

Gentri backed up. “Well, yes. But I also saw the red vial of blood too. And?—”

“You have a duty to this coven.” Frond whirled on him.

Varden surged to his feet and boomed, “You will not coerce our magus. Back down or see the end of this trial with immediate effect.”

Gentri backed away, then squared his shoulders, avoiding Berry’s accusing eyes. “I did see black blood drawn from the high esteemed in the tunnel. But Rooke showed me the vial of blood later, and it was red. The light was dim. Thinking back, I can’t be sure what I saw, and that should be considered when weighing my words. But with all that said, why does Rooke have the high esteemed’s blood in the first place? We all know that blood is used in dark magic.”

He walked past Frond and sat in the back.

Frond said in the wake, “I have witnessed the high esteemed possess impossible knowledge of demons. I have seen her use blood magic against the leader of the demon army. I saw her gain an affinity, which she says is part of the mating ritual. I don’t believe we should take her word for this. She has concealed much from this coven in the last few weeks. It is only through questioning and pressure that High Esteemed Tempest has seen fit to give us any answers.”

That struck a chord with the coven.

“I, along with over half the coven, believe there is reasonable doubt surrounding her use of dark magic,” he finished.

The coven was at odds. I could appreciate that I still had some supporters in their midst. The nature of a coven didn’t like division in their community, and while they’d been divided for a long time, they’d hidden that behind a game. The division was out in the open and had been for three weeks.

I could see many here just wanted to close the trial and walk out the doors.

“A vote,” Winona stated. “Who in the coven believe a trial should take place?”

Magic glowed from the fingertips of magus in the chamber. Far more blue magic than red.

They wanted a trial.

“A trial will take place,” Winona said. “High Esteemed, we have heard from those who accuse you. What have you to say in response?”

I stood. “I have never, and will never, practice dark magic.”

Frond scoffed. “Are we to take your word for it?”

“The high esteemed listened to you,” Huxley snarled at him. “Perhaps you should pay her the same respect.”

Silence fell.

“Other than that, I have only one point to explain, and I choose to explain it knowing that more magus will go through a mating ritual. Most of you are unfamiliar with the mating processes of other supernaturals. It is common for the female to go through a heat at intervals in the process. This was true for the earlier stages of the ritual I have recently completed with Wild. Heats are very painful. And only one thing fixes them. Unfortunately for a very confused Bedwyr, he happened upon me when I’d just entered a heat. Wild appeared to help me with the situation, though Bedwyr never received an explanation after the fact.”

Bedwyr’s color had deepened, and Wild’s growling had escalated at my mention of the past.

I gestured to Wild, seeing that coven members were torn between listening to me and watching my mate. “In our mating, and from other matings I have seen in other supernaturals, Wild’s role is that of a protector. Every part of him is tuned to ensure I remain out of harm’s way. This is to keep both of us safe, as our lives and fates are now linked permanently. If one of us dies, as does the other.”

Gasps filled the chamber.

I’d revealed a weakness, perhaps, but it wasn’t one they couldn’t find in books on other supernatural mating rituals. “His response may come across as alarming and different to what we’ve known. I ask you to have patience as he is the first of his kind among us, and this situation is very hard for him. Frond, in line with that, I suggest you make sure to act with the respect my esteemed advisor just mentioned, and to keep your tone level and your posture unthreatening.”

“If he attacks me, then I will bring a trial against him.”

I smiled. “You have never been the first of anything, Frond. I doubt you ever will be. But I have been. Wild has too. Take it from us that some understanding is greatly appreciated during the upheaval, and as new policies or processes are put into effect to protect the growing diversity of our coven and great magus community. As said, there could well be more mated couples in the future. Room will need to be made in order to care and provide for those in that process.”

“The same rules apply to everyone,” Frond retorted. Josie nodded emphatically by his side.

“I agree that most rules should apply to everyone. Yourself included.” Time to finish this thing. “I could stand here all day and repeat that I have not and will not use dark magic, but I see that you are past the point of considering other explanations for what you have witnessed.”

I ran my eyes over the coven. The things I wanted were so simple. I wanted harmony. I wanted us to survive.

Those things were so far away. The coven had to be convinced absolutely of my innocence in this regard.

I smiled at Frond. “I propose a truth serum.”

That stunned the cruel fucker. “A truth serum?”

“There’s no way to trick that. You believe that I’m practicing dark magic, and you’re understandably worried about how that would affect the coven. A truth serum is an easy means to put this issue to rest.” I paused. “Unless using the coven’s uncertainty serves you in some other way? Unless you wish them to continue believing I wield dark magic?”

I let the accusation hang in the air.

“Of course it doesn’t,” Bedwyr said in outrage.

Oh Bedwyr, you sweet summer child. Wild did this coven a solid the day he turned you to stone. Instead of voicing all my juicy thoughts aloud, I arched a brow at Frond.

“Of course not,” he replied, crossing his arms. “I act with the best interests of this coven in my heart and mind.”

Uh-huh. Weirdly, he likely believed that too. “Your recent actions give me some concern. I wish I could believe you.” I tilted my chin, addressing the coven. “In the last few weeks, I have witnessed Frond gathering magus to him in a tight-knit circle. We know such circles are a favorite method for practitioners of dark magic.”

Frond spluttered.

I spoke over him. “In a time of uncertainty and imminent attack, Frond has appeared to thrive and grow in strength. To me, he appears to delight in augmenting the division in our ranks despite the obvious dangers this holds for us. We just watched him openly coercing a younger coven member. To me, these are signs that Frond could be using dark magic himself.”

My reasons were tenuous. I didn’t even believe what I was saying. But I’d seen an opportunity, a trap. I’d just set the bait, and now it was time to lure him in.

Frond stepped forward. “That’s preposterous.”

“I am happy and willing to take truth serum to discern whether I am or have practiced dark magic,” I said to him. “Are you willing to take truth serum also?”

His face warred. I mean, no one wanted to take truth serum. It was a vulnerable feeling to know that you’d be spilling your guts to the world no matter how hard you tried to keep the truth inside.

Opal spoke, “Considering the matter of this trial is clear, enough truth serum would be given to each of you for one question only.”

I tilted my head. “You seem reluctant, Frond. What should the coven make of that? Shall we put this to a vote also?”

Frond’s gaze shifted, and I could feel him tallying up whether a vote would work against him or not. The verdict would be a close one.

A sneer left him. “I will take truth serum enough to prove my innocence, though the coven is aware of my innocence already and must surely recognize this for the ploy it is.”

How delightful that he’d phrased his answer in such a way.

I smiled, and Wild’s growling stopped. He’d glimpsed my plan in my mind or could at least feel my glee. “Bring forth the truth serum.”