Page 61 of Alpha Charmed

“Very well.” Cordelia rises, smoothing her conservative robes with practiced grace. “I’ve called this emergency session to address a matter of grave concern to our coven’s future.”

Here we go.

“Over the past weeks, disturbing patterns have emerged regarding our coven leader’s judgment and priorities.” Cordelia’s voice carries the weight of rehearsed sincerity. “Patterns that suggest she may no longer be capable of serving our community’s best interests.”

“What patterns specifically?” Vera asks, her tone deceptively mild.

“Her… entanglement with Alpha Sternwolf, for one.” Cordelia’s gaze sweeps the room. “An entanglement that has compromised her objectivity in the investigation of Elder Mathilda’s death.”

“That’s a serious accusation.” My voice is ice. “Do you have evidence?”

“The claiming mark on your shoulder is evidence enough.” Cordelia’s smile is pitying. “A coven leader bound to a shifter alpha cannot serve witches impartially. Her loyalties are divided. Her judgment is compromised.”

“The law is silent on this.” Vera’s voice cuts through the murmur before it can build. “The archives are quite clear on what they do and do not prohibit.”

“My judgment led me to uncover a Preserver agent who had infiltrated our council for forty years.” I set a stack of documents on the table. “Would you like to discuss that instead?”

The silence that follows is delicious.

“I don’t know what you’re⁠—”

“Elder Mathilda was researching pre-Severing history. She was remembering things she shouldn’t have been able to remember. And someone on this council wanted her silenced.” I flip open the first folder. “Someone who visited her the night before she died.”

Cordelia’s mask flickers. “Many council members visited Mathilda in her final days⁠—”

“Not according to the visitor logs I obtained from her neighbor. Mrs. Broomfield keeps meticulous records. Apparently she doesn’t trust anyone who visits after dark.” I produce the document. “You were her only visitor that evening. Tea, according to her calendar. ‘Urgent,’ according to her notes.”

“I visited many elders in their final⁠—”

“The meeting isn’t in any official record. You didn’t report it to the council. And the next morning, Mathilda was dead.”

“Coincidence.”

“Like it’s coincidence that you requisitioned aconite extract from the coven dispensary the week before? A poison that, in the right concentration, mimics magical exhaustion perfectly?”

More murmurs. Even Jasper has stopped fidgeting, watching with dawning horror.

“I use aconite in my ward work⁠—”

“You haven’t done ward work in fifteen years. I checked the records.” I set down another document. “Every time an investigation got close to answers, you’ve been there to redirect it. To suggest we ‘focus on more productive matters.’ To remind us all that tradition is more important than uncomfortable questions.”

“This is circumstantial⁠—”

“Elio’s intelligence network tracked three individuals entering Mistvale in the past week. All with magical signatures consistent with Preserver training. All making contact with you.”

Cordelia’s practiced calm is starting to crack. I see it in the rigid set of her shoulders, the tightness around her mouth.

“I have contacts throughout the magical world. That proves nothing.”

“Then perhaps we should ask them directly.” I turn toward the doors. “Rhodes has documentation of their movements. Photographs. Records of their previous activities in other communities where ‘incidents’ occurred. Would you like to see?”

“I don’t need to⁠—”

“Because I think the council would be very interested in learning about Edgebrook. And Silverdale. And the three other towns where elders who ‘remembered too much’ died of ‘natural causes’ under remarkably similar circumstances.”

The silence that follows is different. Heavier. The murmurs have stopped. Even Cordelia’s allies are looking at her with expressions that have shifted from supportive to uncertain.

“You’re exposed, Cordelia.” I meet her eyes, letting my magic rise just enough to be felt—not threatening, just present. “The Preservers can’t protect you anymore. The only question is whether you face justice here, or run and face it later.”