“How do we know if they’re even bonded?” Gabby accused. She was throwing out whatever she could to regain control.
“Ethan and I took a vow during our Choosing ceremony. We are bonded for life,” Emma replied.
“Taking a vow doesn’t mean you share a magical connection,” Gabby accused. “Where’s the proof?”
Magdalina gave a curt sigh. “Lady Korva. If you please.”
Lady Korva stood. With a distasteful expression, she raised her hand. Both Emma and I gasped at the same time her magic hit us. A gold thread, one as thick around as my arm, hovered in the air. It sprung out of my chest and connected to Emma’s heart, linking us as one.
Such an intimate moment was tough to endure in public. This should only be for Emma and I. It nearly brought tears to my eyes to see our bond in the flesh. Emma’s lip trembled.
“There. Bold as brass,” Magdalina said. “Proof that Emmaline and Ethan are indeed fated mates.”
Lady Korva sat down, and the threads of the bond faded away. Elijah was hardly disillusioned. He towered overhead and said, “Good. So we can get somerealanswers. Miss Sosna, can you tell the court if your mate was possessed by a demon last semester?”
“I had no knowledge if he was or wasn’t possessed at the time of—”
“Answer the question with a simple yes or no,” Elijah growled.
Emma was caught. Under the influence of the truth-telling spell, she spoke. “Yes. Ethan was possessed by a leshane. The same one that killed his father.”
The court erupted. Several people screamed aloud, and the Circle broke into exclamations of betrayal. Elijah grinned, like he’d won.
That was it. I was certainly fucked.
Yet with a look around the room, I saw Magdalina hadn’t lost her head. It was as if this was part of the plan. Emma looked similarly undisturbed.
If she wasn’t panicking, neither would I.
Hold on, Emma echoed inside my head, and I did. I grasped onto her like she was my lifeline, because I was sinking fast.
“Order!” Steward Solomon cried. It took a few more shouts from him to calm the room down. “Yes, order!”
Everyone fell quiet, and he brushed off his coat. “Well, I think we’re done here. If the defendant was possessed by a demon, I don’t see any reason as to drag this on. The sentencing should proceed at once.”
“Not quite,” Magdalina replied. “As you all can bear witness, Ethan is not possessed currently. He’s fine now. Why do you think that is?”
Solomon froze. Lady Magdalina turned to Emma. “Miss Sosna, can you tell the court the details of your mate’s possession?”
Emma took a breath, preparing to take a risk. “Ethan came to me after we broke up. He revealed to me that he was possessed, and that he needed help exorcising the leshane. It took some time, but we worked together to find a method that would work. Eventually, we performed an exorcism together. Ethan summoned his god, Luka, and cast the demon out. It was destroyed.”
Emma had carefully left out the part about Hattie and the witches, implying that she herself performed the exorcism and killed the demon. It was hardly believable, but as it was, there was no other explanation for the court to go to. No one would believe a fae would consult the help of the Miriamic Coven, no matter how desperate.
Lord Radcliffe’s voice was skeptical as he glanced at Magdalina. “You can’t seriously be saying aSecond Yearsorceress was able to exorcise a leshane, a demon that no one in our community has previously had the power to banish?” he barked.
“That is correct,” Magdalina replied. “Emmaline Sosna is the most proficient sorceress of our time. She will prove to be extraordinary, if only given the space to grow.”
“How do we know she didn’t use a magical artifact to exorcise the leshane, like she used the dark necklace during the King’s Contest to cheat?” Lady Korva bit.
“With what object?” Emma tossed her hands in the air. “What on earth do the fae possess that is able to exorcise powerful demons?”
It was clear the answer was nothing. Lord Tremaine leaned over to Elijah. “Forgive me, your highness, but magic such as Miss Sosna has exhibited cannot be ignored. If shedidexorcise the leshane, she is extremely powerful. And that power is going to be an asset once we move on the Miriamic Coven. To execute her mate would dramatically inhibit the power of her magic. We can’t afford to give that up.”
“I won’t be forced to fight a war I don’t believe in,” Emma snarled.
“You will do what the crown demands,” Gabby snapped.
“Not without my mate,” Emma responded. “You kill Ethan, you hurt me. I won’t be half as powerful if he’s not by my side. And youneedme, if you really want to start this war.”
