Page 4 of The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Spite & Spellwork

It was the right thing to say, but Justice Norton was the wrong person to say it to. He became punctilious in his pronunciation. “Are you suggesting those crimes were justified, Detective?”

Her testimony thus far had already offended him; there was no use trying to tread softly now. “I am stating that in order for justice to be served, we must first understand how we made a murderer before we condemn him.”

“I will not abide a treasonous half-breed explaining justice to me.”

“Justice Norton,” a deep voice warned from the magistrate’s seat before Avery could escalate the situation further.

“Forgive me, Lord Blackthorn, I misspoke and will remain within the case at hand.” The cockatrice spoke quickly, but his expression was entirely without contrition.

It was the first time Avery dared to look toward the Archfey sitting to her right. The role of magistrate was employed by a member of the Winter Council, which would have been frustrating on its own. That this case was presided over by Gideon Blackthorn was insufferable. An unnerving facsimile of their father, his too-long limbs were adorned in a fine black silk suit and spiderlike in the way they settled around his chair.

It was Avery’s habit as an investigator to mentally catalog people as she did evidence, keeping a number of facts about each at the top of her mind for easy reference. These were the facts she felt were most imperative about her half brother:

Gideon BlackthornElf (Archfey), Age: 500+

6’10”, approximately 235 pounds. Pale skin, silver hair. Handsome, if you find cruel, calculating bastards handsome. Fine clothing worn for status without appreciation. Fangs, but his tongue is sharper.

Innate ability to manipulate Shadow and Winter at whim.

Winter Court Council Member; Renounced Winter Prince.

Colleagues:

Fiore Castello (Dragon).

Three other council members I’ve yet to meet.

Pompous blowhards (likely).

Only child of the Erlking and the Snow Queen.

Half brother.

Is consistently annoyed by having any moment of his immortal life “wasted.”

Exploit this whenever possible.

“Detective Hemlock”5—Justice Norton’s tone suggested it was intended as an insult rather than as her name—“what is the First Law of Magic?”

“Magic shall not end or create life,” grumbled Avery.

“Correct,” Norton praised like a teacher to his struggling pupil. “And did Osian Goff use magic to end life?”

“The deaths of Valentina LaRosa and Saoirse O’Donnell were accidenta—”

“Are they any less dead by that distinction?”

“Justice Norton, to ignore Osian Goff’s intent would be rash—”

“The intent!” Justice Norton scoffed. “Tell me, Hemlock, what intent would that be?”

“He lost everything—”

“His intent to create fetches?”

“No, I—”

“His intent to resurrect his daughter, then, perhaps that is what you meant? Both magical practices also strictly forbidden by what?”