“Come here, babe,” Declan said, patting the seat next to him. “Sit down and chill out.”
Sighing, I slumped onto the chair. During those weeks of research and hiding out, he’d dressed like a professional, and I still thought he looked a little weird in casual clothes. I was soused to him wearing a jacket, slacks, and dress shirt that seeing him in a T-shirt and jeans made it difficult to imagine him as the gun-toting badass paranormal private detective who’d helped keep me alive.
Declan put an arm around my shoulders, and I sank into him, resting my head on his shoulder. Over the weeks since Virgil’s defeat, he and I had grown even closer. With everything going on, he’d become the one solid thing I could depend upon, and he’d taken that role without complaint. I loved him for it, because I wasn’t sure Wendy would have been enough.
The door to the chamber opened slowly, and a young witch stepped out and nodded to us.
“The council has reached a verdict. Ms. Paolo, please step inside,” he said.
I stood, and Declan rose along with me. The young man held a hand up.
“I’m sorry, but we only need Ms. Paolo,” he said with an apologetic smile.
Declan took a heavy step toward him. “Are you going to stop me?”
Of course, the man could have used magic to try, but knowing Declan, he probably had some enchanted charm or totem that would nullify it and allow him to beat the man to a pulp if he tried.
The man swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing on his throat. “You know what? I think a visitor would be permissible in this instance.”
“Well, if one’s good, then two is better,” Wendy said, rushing forward and taking my other hand.
A look of horror and worry crossed the young man’s face, and color rose to his cheeks, but he nodded.
“Okay. Fine,” he muttered, stepping aside.
The chamber was filled with nearly a hundred men and women of various ages, though most were over thirty, with a heavy portion in their fifties, sixties, and seventies from the looks of them. Every eye watched us as we made our way to the center of the room. A murmur of muttering erupted at the sight of Declan and Wendy, but no one spoke out against their presence.
The young adherent left us at the center of the room on a raised dais and hurried off. I faced the group of coven leaders with my shoulders back and head high, ready for the verdict, no matter what it might be.
An older man I’d seen briefly at a coven gathering the year before stood and approached a lectern before us. The only thing I recalled of him was that his name was Jamisson Boyd, a coven leader from Milwaukee. As he walked, he stroked his short, white beard, the hair standing out in bright relief against his dark brown skin.
He looked up at us as he came to the lectern, gripping the sides with his hands.
“Veronica Paolo,” he said, staring directly at me. “You have been accused of the murder of your coven leader, Balthazar Freedman. Also, you were accused of assault upon multiple members of the coven. Finally, you were accused of the kidnapping of Ms. Gwendolyn Freedman, known colloquially to her coven as Wendy. You plead not guilty. Is that correct?”
“It is,” I said with a nod.
He bowed his head. “We, the Council of Covens, have heard the testimonies of several members of the Freedman Coven, as well as from yourself and Ms. Freedman. We’ve also heard from Mr. Declan McClintoc, the well-known and well-respected private investigator. All of them sing your praises and gave evidence that you didnotcommit any of these crimes, and did in fact help bring the true perpetrator of the crimes, Mr. Virgil Tacitus, to an ignoble end.”
“If that means we killed his ass, that was actually an ancient Celtic god, but you’ve pretty much got it right,” Declan said.
I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing. Jamisson shot Declan a warning glance.
“After deliberation, we have come to a unanimous verdict. Veronica Paolo, the Council of Covens declare you innocent of all charges, and have retroactively declared Virgil Tacitus as sole perpetrator of all offenses.”
I let out a heaving sob, and nearly fell to my knees in relief. I actuallywouldhave if Declan hadn’t caught me.
“You, my dear, are free to go,” Jamisson said with a sly grin. “I think your coven will be happy to see you back.”
“Yeah, we will,” Wendy shrieked, jumping in the air.
“Let’s get out of here,” Declan said, putting his arm around me.
I couldn’t help it. I was so excited, relieved, and happy, I grabbed him and pulled him close. In front of all the coven leaders, I kissed him. There were a few chuckles around the room, but all I was focused on was Declan. His heat, his hands, and his mouth.
When we finally pulled apart, Wendy was giving us a bit of a disgusted look.
“Are you done now?” she said.
