“Perhaps,” Felicienne said stiffly. “But you don’t have war magic as yourcore.”
“This is the trouble that happens when one breaks the laws of nature,” Tristisimgrowled.
“War mages are not against the law of nature—they’re respected members of the Conclave,” Clovicussnapped.
“Yes, asmages, not enchantresses,” Tristisimsaid.
Angelique stared at the railing of the dais and wondered if Lazare’s blundering admittance was kinder than these false pretenses they tried to feed her abouttraditionand what wasnatural.
It wasn’t a nice feeling, knowing she was beheld in terror like a wild animal. In fact, it was soul-crushing. But at least she now knew straight out it was her power they feared. She could understandthat.
Their insistence on pretending otherwise, however, was a blade between the shoulders and a wound that wouldn’t heal because it gave her false hope that if she said the right thing, looked the right way, did all they asked, she would eventually beaccepted.
But they won’t. Angelique finally knew this.In the end, all I can do is embrace my purpose as an enchantress and find my worth in that—in helping those who need it and protecting the continent from harmful magic. Because I will never win themover.
Notever.
“Your conduct is unacceptable,” Tristisim continued. “You’ve made it clear you will act out as you seefit.”
Clovicus snorted and scratched his jaw. “Angelique has acted to avert crises; you can hardly punish her for that. And if someone was dense enough to punish her for such a thing, it would be Evariste’s responsibility to doso.”
“She should be reprimanded,” Galendrasqueaked.
“And you’ve done so again and again,” Clovicus said. “And you’ll continue hauling her here to yell at her every few months when you should bethankingher for her actions—when you would laud anyone else who has done what shehas.”
“We would do no such thing,” Primroseprotested.
Angelique shut her eyes as she listened to theargument.
Clovicus was right. The Council would forever be summoning her for everything she did. They would never leave herbe.
Peace. All I want is just a littlepeace.
“I said it before—our rules and laws have kept us safe for centuries,” Tristisim rumbled. “We must continue to observethem.”
“The rules and laws you love so dearly didn’t save Evariste, and they haven’t found him either.” The words were out of Angelique’s mouth before she realized she was speaking, but she didn’t regretthem.
“You are young, Apprentice. You know little of the world. It’s understandable that you cannot see the wisdom in them,” Primrosesaid.
Her placating smile was Angelique’sundoing.
She was sick of having to face judgement with a bowed head and listen as they spoke down to her, failing to recognize that the peace the continent enjoyed was going up inflames.
I’m done. I will not apologize for what I do. I will cower no more about the magic I have used to saveothers.
Angelique’s power churned around her, but she impatiently pushed it off. “The folly is not with me, but the laws,” she hotly said. “I have broken the rules and laws you so venerate because we are living in a time they were not meant for. The continent isnotat peace! Royals are getting attacked; black mages are trying to get holds in each country; catastrophes abound. I will do whatever it takes to save lives and spare innocent people, even if it means crossing lines we previously stayed out of. Because if we don’t, whatever chaos boiling right now is only going to getworse!”
The Council wassilent.
Primrose covered her mouth with a hand and glanced at her fellow members. Tristisim scowled, making deep, ugly wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. Felicienne held a hand to her heart—as if Angelique’s hot response frightened her, and it likely did—but Lazare merely scratched his beard and jutted out his lowerlip.
Crest tapped his pointer finger on his desk. “Apprentice,” he saidsoothingly.
He’s going to pacify me. He thinks he can, after all the questions they’ve shouted at me and the vague threats they’ve made. He thinks he can cow me because every time, I do bow to them and apologize for doing what’sright.
Angelique raised her chin.But not today—and not everagain.
“Don’t bother to send for me again—for I won’t come,” shesaid.
