If Void Magic is powerful enough to change an entire continent, what would it need to sustain itself? The magic of all peoples seems like a damn good theory.
I can’t believe I haven’t punched Councilman Arav yet.
After leaving my workshop, I spend my walk home lost in thought. When I reach the palace, I pass a collection of guards stationed at its entrance. More fill the foyer, and it isn’t until I register the heavy silence in the air that I focus my attention on them.
And the way they arestaringat me.
“Princess Bahira,” one of them says, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword strapped at his waist. He steps forward, the others fanning out on either side.
“Yes?” I drawl out, taking a small step back.
“You’ve been summoned to the council room. Your parents are already there.” The guards on either side part, creating a gap for me to go through. A breath catches in my throat, my eyesdipping to the guard’s light hold on his weapon. Deep within me, anger stirs like kindling to a flame. I force my feet to move, my steps loud as I walk past him. I expect that to be it, but the guard turns and follows me, the others falling in behind him.Fucking gods. Clenching my jaw, I keep my chin parallel to the ground and my shoulders rolled back, intent on letting that fire loose on the ones waiting just past the council doors.
Cass stands guard there, his light blue eyes meeting mine as I near. He offers me one quick glance, enough to relay his concern, before his face returns to a stoic mask. I slip behind my own shields, not allowing room for fear as I enter. I see my mother’s face first, tight lines bracketing the corners of her mouth when she looks at me. Concern shines in her gray eyes, tired circles marking the skin beneath them. My gaze naturally goes to the head of the table, expecting to see my father ready to command the room. But my heart skips a beat when, instead, I meet the indignant gaze of Daje’s father.
Despite the glare he gives me, his posture is relaxed. His hands are in front of him, fingers interlaced as if this spot at the table is more comfortable than evenheanticipated. I narrow my eyes, jaw locked as I run my gaze over the rest of the council members. A few have the humility to at least look shocked, while others obtain that nearly smug intolerance that twists Kallin’s face. Hadrik, my father’s oldest friend, is the only one who looks outright horrified, his head resting in his hand and ruffling his salt and pepper hair.
“Bahira, thank you for joining us,” Councilman Kallin says, gesturing to the empty seat between my parents. My father sits one seat removed from Kallin’s right, Councilman Borris filling in the gap.
“Seems I did not have much of a choice, as you ensured our own guards escorted me here,” I say, no shortage of anger coloring my words.
“Well, seeing as one Daxel sibling has proven to be a flight risk, I figured it was smart to ensure the other isn’t given the opportunity to be one under the circumstances as well.”
My nails dig into the edge of the table, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of snapping.
“Cassius, close the door, please,” Kallin commands. “And make sure that no one enters until I declare this session ended.” My friend doesn’t respond, but I hear the creaking of the hinges as he follows Kallin’s command. Yet, just before the door shuts, a voice in the hall shouts Cass’s name. I turn in my chair as the door swings back open. It isn’t Nox that walks through, but who does still sends the air rushing from my mouth. “Son, what are you doing here?”
Daje’s chest heaves as he uses his sleeve to wipe sweat from his brow, his clothing stained from grass as if he sprinted from the training grounds. “You tried to have this meeting without me,” he says around an exaggerated inhale.
His father doesn’t deny it, instead leaning his elbows on the table as he looks at him. “Your presence is not necessary.”
“Saysyou,” Daje snarls as he rounds the table, taking the empty seat of the still sick Councilwoman Mora. The tension in the room takes a razor-sharp edge as Daje slams down into his chair, his gaze stuck firmly on his father’s.
“This is a council issue,” Councilman Osiris says, his face already taking on a red hue. “You have no right—”
“He does, actually,” Hadrik interrupts, his shrewd gaze on his fellow councilman. “The inquisition you intend to conduct upon our royal family permits anyone to attend as a character reference, as long as they have a close relationship with the accused.”
The words “inquisition” and “accused” scrape against my skin like a rusty blade, the rawness making a breath hiss through my teeth. But Daje seems to calm at Hadrik’s explanation, givingthe table a curt nod of his head. “That is why I am here. Much, it seems, to my father’s dismay.”
Kallin laughs, the sound rougher than if it were an outright growl. “Hardly. I have nothing but the utmost respect for our royal family. I just question if havingyouvolunteer as a character reference is a wise choice. Considering yourhistorywith the princess.”
A few snickers bounce around the table, igniting my fury as I snap my head towards Kallin. “Excuse me—”
“There is no history between us,” Daje interrupts. I don’t turn to look at him, especially not at the way his tone carries that statement. Something a little sharper than resignation. “We were friends and nothing beyond that. But I have been in the Daxel family’s life for the entirety of mine. I believe my opinion has weight and should be considered in whatever it is you’re about to accuse them of.”
“Fine,” Kallin finally concedes. He reaches for a stack of papers, orange magic glowing from his hands as he sends them to every seat. I pick it up, beginning to read as he continues. “The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the risks to the kingdom’s safety that the current ruling family has imposed. The most recent infractions include sharing secrets with another kingdom, an act of treason committed by Princess Bahira Daxel, and the willful defiance by Prince Nox, who has now left despite being ordered to remain within our borders while recovering.”
My hand tightens around the paper, crinkling it as my gaze flicks up to meet the councilman’s.
“Let us begin.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Bahira
“Councilman,accusingaroyalof treason based on the grounds of a letter sent by someonenotin power from another kingdom is quite the reach,” my father says, dropping the letter from Jahlee that Kallin passed out to everyone. My pulse beats at an accelerated rate as I watch the councilman mull his response over. At times, I almost forget that he is related to Daje. That he fathered a son who, for all his faults when it came tous, is still a genuinely good man. Daje cares, and I have to assume he got that trait from his mother, just like his sapphire eyes.
“It is. Which is why we don’t take the accusation lightly. Perhaps if there had been less evidence of this family’s willingness to not only hide things from our council but to outrightlieto us, then we might not have even considered the princess capable of such an act. But as it stands now, we have reason to believe that more than just the exchange in services as laid out by the deal inked in blood took place between the mage princess and the king of the shifters.”
“I did not share anything that would ever pose a risk to the safety of our people,” I say, my voice steady. “I have onlyeveracted in the best interest of our kingdom.”
