“And I still don't believe that compassion should be given carefully or with reserve; everyone can use some kindness. Especially those who don't seem to deserve it,” I leaned away, pulling my hand from his grasp, and he instantly flicked his fingers open so he wouldn't cut me. “Don't try to intimidate me into becoming my grandmother. It will never happen.”
“Well thank the blessed Goddess for that,” Raza smiled and it transformed his face into something gentle and sweet.
“How's Balloch?” I asked Raza as I sat back and took Tiernan's hand. I needed him to ground me and remind me what I had to lose if I continued to let Raza enchant me.
“You remember his name,” Raza's smile softened further. “My friend is well, completely recovered from his time in Seelie. Thank you for asking.”
“Lord Raza,” Councilman Teagan interrupted bravely. “I want to assure you that we are doing our utmost best to discover the truth of this situation. We have just tonight sent out Ambassador Seren, Count Tiernan, and two of my most trusted extinguishers, one of them my own daughter, to investigate a murder which we believe is connected to the case.”
“What did you discover?” Raza looked back to me and I saw Raye's intense gaze settle on me as well.
“We discovered the possibility that we have missed an evolutionary leap among humanity,” Tiernan answered for me and the entire table gave various sounds of surprise.
“Do go on,” Raza transferred his focus to Tiernan.
“Impossible!” Murdock burst out. “There's no way we could miss a new breed of human.”
“Be silent!” Raza rumbled out and the echoes of his shout vibrated through the table. “You have all missed quite a lot in my opinion. Count Tiernan, please continue.”
“This is pure theory at the moment,” Tiernan shook his head. “We went to investigate the corpse of a man who appeared to be killed by a shaman. The shaman had set a trap for raven mockers, believing that they were behind several attacks. The trap included sharpened poles set at each corner of the intended victim's home and when the murderer appeared, he was struck by one of these poles. The corpse we viewed was definitely killed with the same kind of weapon,” Tiernan placed the evidence bag with its sharpened stick in it, on the table. “We found this at the morgue. But the truly fascinating evidence was that the corpse was purely human but had remnants of magic lingering around it. A dark green aura.”
“A human with magic,” Raza mused.
“We both witnessed the aura,” Extinguisher Sloane waved to indicate him and Kate. They had been brought into the meeting to give their reports.
“I'm sorry,” Teagan frowned. “How does an aura prove magic use?”
“It doesn't entirely,” I took over. “It's possible that there is another explanation for the remnant but honestly, Councilman, I can't think of one. After death, a fairy's magic can linger, especially healing magic. Tiernan believes, judging from the color, that this was a type of healing magic.”
“An altered healing magic,” Tiernan added. “The darkness could be a strain of death magic. This combination could potentially be used to take life from one person and give it to another.”
“Is it possible that this was just a spell cast upon this man?” Teagan asked.
“No,” Raza waved a deadly hand. “Magic applied by another would flee a dying body. What Count Tiernan has described is evidence of an innate ability. This human must have been born with magic.”
“A witch,” Councilman Sullivan whispered. “A real witch, not just psychic talents but actual magic.”
“It's not so surprising,” Tiernan mused. “Fairies have been living among humans for thousands of years. Some of us have even bred with them,” Tiernan cast me a gentle look. “Some kind of transference was bound to take place.”
“And my people are deeply rooted within the Cherokee,” Raye added. “The magic doesn't surprise me as much as the fact that I didn't notice it.”
“You were focused on your own people,” Raza waved his hand, as if to negate any responsibility his son might feel. “This was not for you to find but for the Extinguishers or the Wild Hunt. Those are the ones who should have noticed magical humans.”
“Witches,” Sullivan said again. “They're witches. I'm not trying to be rude, it's just that we need to give them a distinctive title that separates them from us and our abilities.Magical humansjust doesn't have the same ring to it.”
“Witchesis more succinct,” I nodded. “Okay, so it looks like there may be real witches living among the humans. That is a possibility, but there was one other piece of evidence we discovered.”
“What's that, Ambassador?” Teagan prompted.
“The man wore a tattoo on his chest with this symbol,” I motioned Extinguisher Kate forward and she showed her father the picture of the tattoo that she'd taken on her phone. “A circle with two feathers inside it. It may be nothing but I think it's most likely some kind of signal, announcing this man's affiliation to others like him.”
“Like that Death Eater's snake tattoo,” Sullivan nodded and then looked around guiltily. “Sorry, I'm a Harry Potter fan.”
“Evidently not enough of one if you think the dark mark was a tattoo,” I gave him a wink. “But if it were a tattoo, then yes, it would be exactly like that. Let's be clear though, this is all theory, conjecture really at this point, as Tiernan said.”
“Then let's get somehardevidence, shall we?” Raza smiled at me and I had to swallow past the dry lump in my throat.
Chapter Seventeen
