Time to act like the professional I was. Magically restrained or not, the three witches in front of me were dangerous criminals. None of us could afford to be distracted.
I heard footsteps approach the back of the van, Dathal’s scent reaching me as the back doors opened. It wasn’t the only scent I picked up.
“You have company?” I asked, gesturing for Wyn to get out and join Dathal.
“He insisted.” Dathal shrugged. “I like his bossy side.”
I could’ve pointed out that this was police business, but having another strong level-two witch on hand for this transfer wasn’t something I was stupid enough to complain about. “Fair enough.”
Nick came into view then, as though he’d been waiting for permission. “What do you want me to do?”
I glanced at Wyn, letting him take the lead on this. Magical prisoners were his forte, after all, not mine.
“Help me create a containment shield around them as Max unchains them from the van. The cuffs cut off all their access to magic, but I don’t wholly trust them.”
Nick moved to stand beside Wyn. “Ready when you are.”
“Now.” Wyn’s hands moved in an intricate way, as though manipulating something only he could see. Nick copied his movements, and a moment later I felt it: a disturbance in the air around us. Magic crept over my skin, raising the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck.
It wasn’t uncomfortable, not for me anyway. The three in front of me seemed less than thrilled at this new development, but I didn’t give a shit about that. I unlocked the chains securing them to the van walls and pointed to the back of the van. “Out.”
No one moved.
The scent of fear flooded the interior, almost to the point of stifling.
“You can’t do this,” one of them hissed. “This is ourhome. You can’t ship us off to some fucking fae shithole just because—”
“Because what?” I cut in, my stare hard as I looked at each of them in turn. “Because you helped in the refinement of a banned fae substance, resulting in numerous deaths? Or that you produced and supplied prohibited witch magic on demand to those in the Fae Realm? Also resulting in the death of others.”
I set my elbows on my knees and leant forward. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been sent through the gateway for crimes against the Fae Realm. You knew what the consequences of your actions would be if you got caught.” I shrugged as I straightened. “And we caught you.” Pointing at the open doors again, I growled, low and menacing. “Out.”
Shoulders slumped and heads bowed, one after the other they shuffled out of the van to stand in the containment shield Wyn and Nick had erected.
I climbed out after them, and Mase joined me at the back of the van. The overcast sky loomed above, dark clouds threatening rain any second. Combined with the autumn chill in the air, it gave the forest a dark, foreboding atmosphere. Apt really considering the reason we were there. “Are they here, yet?” I asked Dathal, letting my senses extend beyond the front of Axel’s house. I picked up Lady Sarhin’s familiar scent as Dathal nodded.
“They’re waiting around back near the gateway.”
Dathal and Mase led the way. I walked alongside the prisoners while Wyn and Nick brought up the rear.
Lady Sarhin and seven fae guards stood in the middle of the grass behind Axel’s house. I couldn’t see the gateway, but I felt its magic.
“Detective Knowles,” Lady Sarhin greeted me. Her expression a lot warmer these days than when I’d first had cause to interact with her. Not that I’d call our relationship friendly by any means, but definitely improved.
Certainly nothing like the smile that appeared when her gaze swept over the prisoners, then landed on Nick. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here, Mr Parker.”
“It was a last-minute decision.” Nick smiled back, looking a touch uncomfortable at her interest in him, which delighted me, not gonna lie. Dathal too, judging by his grin.
“He wanted to make sure I was safe,” Dathal offered. His fingers traced the dark ink on his wrist, whether consciously or not, I couldn’t tell. “You know how it is.”
“I do.” Her expression softened for a split second as she glanced between them. I’d be inclined to say she almost lookedfond, but then it was gone just as quickly when her gaze returned to the three prisoners. The iciness in her eyes was unsettling even for me, and she was on my side.
It had nothing on the coldness in her voice when she spoke. “You have been found guilty of crimes against the Fae Realm. Severe enough that your punishment will be served in a fae prison of our choosing. Your magic will be bound for the entirety of your stay. It will remain bound when we release you back to the witches’ council after your sentence is complete. It will be up to them whether to remove it or decide that further restrictions are necessary.”
The witches paled further.
I caught Mase rubbing his chest out of the corner of my eye.
“Whenever you’re ready, Detective Knowles.” Lady Sarhin took a step back and six of her guard stepped forward, two either side of each prisoner.
