The manor looks ten times more foreboding than it ever has before, almost radiating pain as I walk inside.
I’ve always noticed the bad vibes here, but now it feels like the place is actually screaming.
My pack members walk behind me, blocking my retreat even though I have no intention of running. When I arrive in the council chamber, the room is barely lit, as usual. Shadows leap along the walls like tortured souls trapped in the old stone.
The six elders turn towards me as I walk to the end of the table with heavy steps. All of them look somber, but Darla watches me with open hostility.
“Alpha Jameson,” she hisses. “Finally, you’ve come to answer for your crimes. By going against our orders and bringing Trina into the pack, you have caused the deaths of over fifty pack members. Do you deny this?”
“No,” I answer simply. “It was my fault.”
She narrows her eyes, and at the edge of her mouth, I see the hint of a smile.
She is a nasty piece of work.
“Owen,” Sylvie says. “We are the elders of your own pack. Please, help us understand. We don’t want you to be executed, but the law is clear. Explain yourself.”
I shake my head, looking across the table to address them directly. “I kidnapped Trina,” I say, accepting the truth of these words and judging myself for it more harshly than anyone else ever could. “I went against orders and made a terrible mistake. I also ordered Trina to perform magic when she was nowhere near ready. Everything that happened is entirely my fault.”
The elders look at each other in disbelief, and I know that none of them want to punish me—aside from Darla—but I am giving them absolutely no choice.
Lay it on me. I have to pay. It’s the only thing that will soothe my soul.
“Actually, that isn’t true,” a confident voice echoes through the room.
I turn around so fast, I almost fall right over my own feet. Trina walks through the door, and my skin prickles with shock as reality cracks all around me.
“Trina, what are you doing here?” I choke out. “None of this is your fault—you don’t deserve to be punished!”
“That’s a lie,” she states. “Owen is covering for me. I did the spell while he was asleep. He had absolutely no say in it.”
The council reacts to this with shock, and Darla sits back in her chair with a catty smile.
“Just kill them both,” she says with finality.
“And sink Diamond Springs into anarchy?” Neville asks. “You’re out of your goddamn mind.”
“I’m saner than you,” she spits at him. “All your romantic ideas about witches and humans—you’ve had your head turned by those old books you read. It’s disgusting.”
“Not as disgusting as your attitude,” he almost spits at her.
“Trina is lying!” I yell, making myself heard over the voices of the others. “She’s just trying to protect me. Let her go, and punish me. Do whatever you want—just let her go.”
“No, he’s lying,” Trina says, coming to stand beside me. “I’m the one who doesn’t belong here. Owen is completely innocent, and I’m ready to accept any punishment you name.”
“How long do we have to listen to this?” Darla mutters. “Just end this, already.”
Faye shoots Darla a truly nasty look and gestures to Sylvie. “Sylvie, what about the solution we discussed before?”
“Yes!” Neville shouts. “Let’s try that.”
“Oh, for the love of the great luna,” Darla moans, putting her hand over her face. “We’re all going to end up dead.”
“I don’t see that we have any other choice,” Rafe says.
“And that’s majority vote,” Thorne agrees. “Trina, you must attempt to reverse this. If you are able to undo what you’ve done, the council can pardon you both.”
Darla mutters under her breath, but everyone ignores her.
