A dangerous, dark light shone in Tremon’s eyes. “Is that so?” He rounded back on the Councilors. “Well, you heard it, did you not? You heard with your own ears how taken this Alpha has become due to magic. I demand we take action now and concur with the vamp. Let us remove those last cuffs to the omega’s spellbinding and see for ourselves his true nature. If the bond remains, then we will know it is true.”
The Councilor who had been a spokesperson for the group looked to each of them. “It does appear that we must get to the bottom of this now that the accusations have been made.”
Tension hummed off of Seath, and he pulled Lycan even closer, rubbing gently over Lycan’s mating mark. Seath was trying to find the words to say, the thing that would turn the tide from this group harming Lycan in any way.
“If I may?” Mirelle who had been conveniently on the sidelines of the group, stepped forward. “We are in the Seelie realm. We can see here what cannot otherwise be seen. Especially the knots that may bind.”
“This is knot magic?” Caine asked, pale face shining in the strange light of the Seelie world. “Are you sure?”
Mirelle turned to him, face serious for a Fae, something that chilled Seath to the bone. “I glimpsed it at the last coven, vampire. Nine knots. Each bound with various magic. Not the same as the weaves your covens have already undone. Those nine are the anchors to the rest.”
“Caine.” Seath’s voice came as a warning, and he pulled Lycan against him. “Explain, please.”
“Knotting magic is ancient, Seath. Akin to hearth magic. When the knots are made, magic is woven in, enchantments from various gods spoken over the binding. That is what has spellbound Lycan, at the root. What holds his memories.”
Mirelle nodded. “Your witches know this, do you not, Serepta?”
The witch strode forward. “It is true. We have been researching a Girgordian knot solution. The coven could undo the tight weaves, but the knots are another situation entirely.”
Seath clutched Lycan tighter to him. “Girgordian? As in, which thread can you cut? We are talking about his mind, Serepta.”
“And thus, why we have been stalled, Legate.”
Tremon had the dignity not to shrug, but still the action was implied in his stance. “A worthy sacrifice to understand the magic binding him. Can you not think of others? Of the greater good, Seath? I would have thought that was within your scope of becoming a Pack Alpha.”
Seath felt his teeth attempt to elongate further, as well as his claws, his wolf having a very clear idea of how to handle Tremon.
“If you don’t think he is up to it,” Tremon grabbed Donovan and gave what was an elegant shove forward. “Let’s begin with Donovan.”
“Donovan?” Seath asked, looking at the young man it was easy to pass over.
Tremon nodded. “In a gesture of compromise, I agree to have Donovan subjected to the same. Let’s check his mind for any spellbinding, first, if that is more acceptable to you. I’m perfectly fine with it.”
Donovan stood before them, and Lycan tensed as Seath focused his gaze on the young man. He was beautiful, of that there was no doubt. But he was also hard to focus on. Every time Seath tried, he couldn’t. Seath’s mind spun at the odd sensation.
“This is no simple thing you ask the Prince to undertake. He’s human.” Serepta hissed at Tremon, appalled by his casualness. “To put a human through the coven for no reason is callous at best.”
Tremon’s eyes were blazing with anger. “He’s an omega, is he not? Are we not constantly told of their ability to withstand pain? A tolerance for handling such things well beyond mere Alphas? Let us be done with this. Delve his mind to prove there is nothing there and let’s move on to the one with something to hide. I will not have it be said that I did not attempt to be fair this day. The Prince can also be subject to the same as the omega.”
Mirelle stepped next to Serepta, and Seath could see the tension leave the witch. “As you wish, Tremon.”
Mirelle snapped her fingers and in the clearing a wooden table appeared. It was oblong in shape, reminding Seath and Lycan of the altar of stone the coven had used. It was smooth on the top, worn that way by years of use, as a butcher’s block would be, or the counter in the Pack House kitchens where Min tended her dough.
Lycan tried not to think of such things as butcher’s blocks right then.
“Our coven will be of the Fae. The vampire and the witch can join,” her eyes danced across the group. “And the Elf,” she added, gesturing at Teller. The Elf’s face was impassive, but he made no move from his protective stance around Greene. Only his eyes slid to Evan and they shared a long look.
Mirelle addressed The Council members. “You will be able to see what we see.”
Lycan’s hand was cold in Seath’s, but Seath used his larger one to put circulation back into it by rubbing circles into Lycan’s skin. Greene noticed the small comforts they continued to give each other as the Council continued, and gave Seath’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
For their part, the Council looked on with fascination as Donovan was placed on the altar, still impassive.
With as little ceremony as had been used for Lycan’s coven, Fae appeared from the forest and merged around the altar. Caine moved to join, as did Serepta.
In Lycan’s mind, a vision appeared, and a small gasp of the onlookers told him they saw it too.
The pulsing magic, the knots and weaves, Lycan could see them, but only fleetingly, as if covered in a gossamer cloud, the pattern obfuscated by some sort of mental slime. He saw the strain on Serepta’s face, and knew she was likely working hard to make sure even the non-magic users could see.
