And a beast would be the only thing that could convince the Charmers now.
Moving down the path toward Yazmin, I channeled my power and opened the beast realm door. Onyx barreled through the opening and landed before me, his hackles already standing on end. He hadn’t forgotten what he’d seen in Yazmin’s mind. A ferocious yowl ripped through his throat, and he targeted her with a fierce glare.
“Attacking me only proves what I’ve been saying.” Yazmin shook her head, as if she were sorry I’d gone down such a terrible path. She might have been able to convince our people of her innocence with that act, but I knew better.
“No. I’m going to show everyone the truth.” I nodded to Onyx, and he ignited his power. Blue wisps streamed from his eyes, and he let out a menacing hiss. Without Gaige’s Zavalluna, his flames remained invisible, but his power was still palpable. Just as with Raven, his magic could be felt. It rushed over the room, angry and prickling, and a collective gasp sounded from the Charmers. We didn’t have to wait as long this time to know Yazmin was guilty. Onyx had already deemed her unworthy, and now he was sharing that with everyone.
“You are responsible for this. Not us.” I reached out and smoothed the hairs along Onyx’s neck. He cut off his power, but didn’t abandon his rigid stance. “Just tell us why.”
For a moment, Yazmin didn’t speak. She glanced from Charmer to Charmer, taking in their suspicious glares and whispered words. No one would challenge Onyx’s ruling. And she knew it. Yazmin finally cracked. “Because they’re killing us!” Hands shaking, she stormed forward a few feet before abruptly coming to a stop.
“Why do you think so many of us have been disappearing on beast hunts lately? We have been for decades, and no one is concerned.” She whirled to the audience and pointed an accusatory finger at the crowd. “Your loved ones have gone missing, and you’d rather sit back and avoid conflict than confront the people responsible!”
My brows drew together. “What do you mean?”
“The royal family of Wilheim and their damned Sentinels have been capturing Charmers on beast hunts. Wynn unearthed their secret and told me. I’m sure you remember the trip that changed him.”
A dull ringing started in my ears. She couldn’t be telling the truth. Shecouldn’t. “No.”
Gaige echoed my disbelief from the side of the room. “If that’s true, then why didn’t you tell the Council?”
“We did.” Yazmin bared her teeth. “You, all of you, denied our petition for an outright assault. You wanted proof, physical proof, before you would stir. You were always one for politics. Your lack of action sickens me.”
“I don’t remember any of this,” he said.
“Don’t believe me?” Yazmin laughed. “Check the logs in the library. It happened. And still you didnothing.”
Gaige’s spine straightened. “That can’t be true.”
“I will not let our people die out because you refused to act.” She turned her sweeping gaze back to the Charmers standing in frozen shock. “Now we must band together to fight against those who would see us crumble. They must pay.”
“You’re lying.” She had to be. I couldn’t believe that the people of Wilheim would do such a thing. And yet, I remembered that trip. The one that had changed Wynn. He’d started his taming attempts on humans after that. Was that why? Did he think he could control them? Stop them? Bile soured my tongue. No, Yazminwaslying. It was just another ploy for her to gain support from the Charmers.
Yazmin shook her head. “I’m not. It must break your heart to know that Noc and his family are behind the death of your parents. I’ll bet he never told you that.”
Noc.Myanam-cara. Capturing people, tormenting them, experimenting on them… It went against everything he stood for. “I don’t believe you. Noc wouldneverdo that.”
“We’ll see. He’s capable of terrible things, this frozen prince of yours.”
I made a move to send Onyx after her when a blood-red blade crashed into the invisible shield protecting me and my beasts. Right between my eyes. Mouth open, I stared at it. It gleamed with unnatural power, and the dome around it cracked, splintering outward like fractured glass. Beside me, Quilla let out a strangled grunt. One eye closed. Then another. And another. I whipped my head back to the blade. It was inching closer, slipping through my beast’s shield. She crouched low and pressed her hands flat against the floor, trying to pull more power from the earth.
My heart slammed into my throat.Noc.Where was he? My gaze roved over the room, scanning face after face, but I couldn’t find him. A dark laugh carried through the air, and a chill swept up my spine.
“Noc!”
The laugh sharpened.
I looked over my shoulder and spied my assassins. Kost, Oz, and Calem had crouched low, ready to pounce, but they hadn’t moved. If they couldn’t see where Noc was hiding, couldn’t tear apart his shadows, then maybe he was too far gone.
No.
I flexed my hand, contemplating what beast to call, when the blood dagger wormed further into Quilla’s shield. Another eye closed. I backed as far away as I could while still staying safely within her shield.
“Leena!” Oz screamed. Or maybe it was Calem. Kost. All three of them were shouting and rushing toward me.
And then Noc appeared by Yazmin’s side, and my heart stilled. He looked at me without seeing me, bloodshot eyes instead targeting the space where his blade met Quilla’s protective dome. His fingers twitched, and the knife burrowed deeper.
All of Quilla’s remaining eyes slammed shut. Her shield disappeared.
