The knock on my door reminded me with a jolt that today I had other things to worry about.
Today I had a meeting with the witches’ council.
* * *
“You ready?”David put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
The witches’ council didn’t have a headquarters as such. They took it in turn to host meetings, since the members were based all over the country. Today, my hearing was being held in a very nice hotel function room in the middle of Nottingham.
I felt sick.
David had done his best to assure me he didn’t think they’d re-do my mark, but as my coven leader, he wasn’t privy to any of the council’s discussions. So he couldn’t know for sure.
“Come on,” he said, reaching for the door handle. “Might as well get it over with.”
I took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.
It did absolutely nothing to calm my racing heart, but I nodded at David anyway. No point putting it off any longer.
He opened the door and walked ahead of me into the room.
I assumed this place was normally used for parties or training. The council had managed to make it look like a courtroom with their tables all pushed together so David and I were facing all of them at once.
Lovely.
David greeted his fellow council members, his voice coolly polite as he explained why we were here and what had happened to my punishment mark. He didn’t go into detail, but I still blushed.
All this was a formality anyway. We’d already written a full statement detailing everything and submitted it to them. They’d made their decision. We just didn’t know what it was yet.
The witch leading the council today was Ella Roach. Hopefully that was a good omen. With Zack finally helping the paranormal police capture Yates and put an end to the refinement of Blue Alhuirn, they were currently working out a deal for a more lenient punishment for him.
Not that any of that was down to me, but hopefully it had put her in a good mood.
When David had finished, Ella crossed her arms and met my gaze.
My pulse raced.
“Nick Parker,” she said, her expression giving nothing away. “We weren’t expecting to be in this position for another three years.”
I swallowed, mouth suddenly as dry as the desert.
“Your punishment was chosen because of the gravity of your actions. We deemed a nine-year magical ban fitting at the time.”
Fuck.
“However. We realise the breaking of this punishment wasn’t deliberate.” She raised an eyebrow. “Even though you continued to indulge in behaviour you knew would keep affecting your mark.”
Heat washed over me at what she was implying.
She tapped her fingers on the table. “I won’t say we didn’t consider reinstating the three years you have left, because that option was on the table.”
I held my breath as she continued to speak.
“But when we took into consideration the letters of commendation from Detective Knowles, Chief Inspector Thornton, and in particular the one we received from Lady Sarhin of the Fae High Court, we decided the purpose of the ban itself had been met. You are no longer a danger to yourself or others, and the reckless regard you had for your magic appears to have grown into a healthy appreciation.” She sat back in her seat, lips curving up into a smile. “So, as far as the council is concerned, your punishment has been served and no further action will be taken.”
I couldn’t speak.
Not only was I stunned that they were actually letting me keep my magic, but that Lady Sarhin had written me a letter of recommendation. What the actual fuck?
