Chapter 57

Chapter 57

FEY

T he blood drained from Fey’s face at Callum’s words.

No .

“We call it Persuasion, not Blood Magic,” Callum explained. “It’s rare, now. Our father always thought it was a genetic throwback to when Witches and Vampires still… bred with one another. Like they left a gift of their magic behind in our bloodline.”

“You’re wrong,” Fey said.

“I’m not,” Callum answered. “Alastair might have tried to hide it, tried to keep it from his family… but I know, Fey. I know what he can do. Father knew, too.”

No. She could see it in his eyes. She could hear it in his voice. He really thought Alastair could be a murderer.

“Callum… You can’t honestly believe your brother did this? Killed your father? Why?”

“He hated our Father, Fey. You know that.”

“Not enough to kill him,” Fey insisted.

Callum laughed, a hollow, unamused sound.

“Then you really don’t know him at all, do you?” he said softly.

“What are you saying, Callum?” Alice asked, voice sharp.

He shook his head .

“I’m not really sure what I’m saying,” he admitted. “I know that I believe Fey when she says she has no Blood Magic. But she doesn’t have to have it, don’t you see? Witches aren’t the only ones who can do this. We can. Just a few of us, but…”

“Are you accusing your brother of killing two members of this council?” Kallista asked, voice low.

Fey stared at him, pleading with him to meet her eyes.

“Callum, don’t do this. You’re wrong,” she hissed. “Alastair had nothing to do with this. He was with me the night your father died. With me and?—”

Fey swallowed the other name, keeping it close to her chest. She wouldn’t bring him into this.

“I don’t know if I am accusing him,” Callum admitted to Kallista. He stared at the table in front of him. “I wish I could tell you that he didn’t do this, but… I just don’t know.”

“Why?” Fey asked. “Why would he kill Kellos?”

“I think that’s a question we need to ask him,” Alice said, voice dark.

Fey’s eyes snapped to her sister.

No. She knew that voice. Alice believed him, believed what Callum was saying.

“You have to see how this looks, don’t you?” Alice continued. Her calm, rational voice. Alice didn’t believe her anymore. Fey’s heart raced.

“Alastair had nothing to do with this. With any of this,” she insisted. “He has nothing against the council.”

The members of the council exchanged heavy glances.

“Alice, look at me,” Fey said, desperately. She didn’t.

“Alice , look at me. ” This time, Alice did glance up. Those warm, soft eyes weren’t so soft anymore.

“You’re making a mistake,” Fey said. Fear gripped her throat, poisoning her words. When Alice had accused her, she’d been furious. But accusing Alastair? Her heart raced with panic. Something white hot and unstoppable rising inside of her.

Fey didn’t need blood magic to take this city to its knees. And she would. If they threatened him, if they made one move to hurt her Alastair?

Power crackled at her fingertips at the thought.

Fey took a breath, letting her rage burn through her, letting it build. “He didn’t do this,” she said in a voice full of violence. “And if any of you try to?—”

Fey stopped. The world stopped.

The air seemed to shift around the room. It crackled with energy for a single second, little more than the space of a heartbeat. They felt it, too, the members of the council. Everything stilled.

And just like that, the feeling was gone. Vanished.

A moment later, the world went black as night.