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Taking a deep breath, I wipe away my tears and lift my head. A nudge at my side has me turning to run my hand through Star’s long fur, using her presence to give me strength. Standing, I brush my hands over my clothes, removing the dust and grit from the ground.
“Laelia, what is your decision?” Councilman Ruby calls out with barely disguised glee. My little breakdown was exactly what they wanted, and now they wait for the final act.
Well, I’m not about to give them what they want.
Calling my magic, I throw it towards the guards who hold knives to the throats of my loved ones. Gasps and shouts fill the air, but I’m so focused on the glowing globe that now surrounds the guards that I hardly notice it. Everyone within the ball of stars is frozen in place. Unfortunately, that includes Syn, my father, and Luna, as I don’t have the finesse to separate them yet. It does mean that, for the moment, they are safe from injury. It takes my full attention to form it, but now that it’s complete, I just have to make sure I send a constant stream of power into it.
Knowing they are safe for the moment, I stare up at the council and queen on the platform, glaring at them defiantly. I shift my attention to the stands and take in the anger, confusion, and fear on the crowd’s faces. This is my moment. Summoning all my courage, I clear my throat and jab an accusing finger towards the council.
“Can’t you see what they are doing here?” I walk in a slow circle, making sure I address everyone. “All I want is peace between our two people, andtheyare the ones inciting war.They arethe ones who are forcing me to kill. I belong to both races, and I want to see them flourish.” Whether everyone believes me, I don’t know, but I hope they can hear the sincerity in my voice. There have been cracks showing in the leadership of both the werewolves and witches for a while, so it might not take much convincing. “I know you can see this is wrong, and I won’t be a part of it any longer.”
I’m surprised that the council isn’t stopping me. After all, I’m trying to turn their people against them, yet they stoically watch on. Perhaps they are surprised by the fact that I’m somehow managing to use my magic and are trying to piece it together. Either way, I’m going to make the most of this time.
“The council has magic.” Although my voice isn’t amplified by magic like Ruby’s, it seems to carry its own weight, catching everyone’s attention. My declaration seems to break some sort of spell over them, their blinking eyes looking around as though a veil has been lifted from their sight. “Look around you. How is it possible for all of these huge arenas to exist without humans discovering you? They have been hiding it from you this whole time, yet they persecuted me for having it. You’ve got to ask yourself why. Why are they so afraid of me having magic?”
“Enough.”
Councillor Ruby’s voice rings out, sharp and full of authority. If they are only stepping in now, then I hit on something they don’t want to share. If they really think that I’d stop simply because they ordered it, then they don’t know me at all.
“They have also produced a virus that only affects werewolves. They created it as a way to control us. I know this because they killed my mate, and it’s only through the blessing of the goddess that I have him with me today.” Voice cracking, I clear my throat but don’t try to hide my distress. I turn to address the witches and point towards the woman in question. “The queen is not innocent either, and I know you’ve begun to see it. She’s been working with the werewolves while inciting fear to keep you all under her control.”
The queen steps up to the wall of the platform, raising her hands as though to calm everyone, her face the picture of innocence. “These accusations are outrageous. Laelia is a traitor and a liar, do not listen to her—” She never gets to finish, because those watching begin to shout over her. More and more voices join in until the noise is almost deafening, but I manage to make out several of the calls.
“Let her speak!”
“You’re the liars!”
“You’ve been going behind our backs for years!”
If I thought the atmosphere was tense before, then this is unbelievable. There’s going to be a riot, and I need to seize the opportunity. Fights are already breaking out in the stands where differing views collide, but I need them to focus.
“Don’t fight each other. They are not your enemy. The council and queen are the ones who need to be removed from power. Fight with me and help me stop their tyranny!” I shout. I can feel the goddess’s approval as a roar of agreement rises up from the crowd. Taking a deep breath, I turn to face the raised stage once more.
“Yes, Councillor Ruby, I have made my decision.” The commotion dims to hear my words. “I choose not to kill any of them.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Pandemonium ensues. My final words seem to have acted as a rallying cry, and witches and werewolves alike leap from their seats.
“Get them under control!” one of the councilmen shouts. Guard after guard files out of hidden doorways and into the stands to subdue their own people. I notice several witches also appear, but they seem disturbed to be here and uncomfortable with the idea of fighting other witches. This has probably bought me a little time, but I don’t have long.
Help is coming, little moon, the goddess whispers into my mind, reassuring me with a wave of her strength and love.
Running forward, I reach into my dome of stars and remove the knife at Syn’s neck, throwing it away before repeating the action with my father and Luna. No one moves, my magic holding them firmly. Untying them is difficult due to my fumbling hands and the reinforced ropes, but I move as quickly as I can until they are all undone. It won’t be long until the council sends someone in to restrain me, so I have to be fast. Finally, after what feels like forever, they are untied, and I drop the dome around them.
Syn instantly shifts and turns on his captor, tearing the male apart one limb at a time. I needn’t have worried about my father, as he’s already fighting his guard and has the upper hand. As second-in-command of his pack, he’s the pack enforcer. Sending Star to his aid, I run to help Luna, my hands already glowing with magic. Her power is still being blocked, but that doesn’t mean she’s helpless. She’s holding her own against the guard, but I send a high kick towards his ribs, taking him by surprise. My blow knocks the air from him and gives Luna the advantage as she jumps forward and smacks him in the temple. That’s all it takes to knock him out, his body crumpling to the ground.
I check his pulse to make sure he really is unconscious, then I get to my feet and throw my arms around Luna, my heart aching as I see her awake and relatively unharmed. “Are you okay? I’m so—”
“If you say you’re sorry, I’ll kick your ass,” she murmurs against my shoulder, squeezing me back just as tightly.
Choking back my emotions with a laugh, I change my words. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Pulling back, I look into her face and run my eyes over her once more to be sure. Movement from the platform quickly dulls my mood as I realise the mammoth task that awaits me. “I have to get up there. This won’t end until they are dealt with.”
A sober expression replaces her smile, and she nods. We both know what I mean by that, and I’m not going to put the weight of that responsibility on anyone other than myself. The queen and council will never step down willingly, and I doubt we could contain them for the rest of their lives. They are too good at manipulating others, and it’s too dangerous to allow them to live.
“We’ll get you up there, Laelia, my love.”
At the sound of my father’s voice, I spin around with my heart in my throat, not quite believing that this is actually happening. Barrelling into me, my father crushes me with his embrace and kisses the top of my head. We really don’t have time for this, but I don’t have the heart to push him away. We’ve been separated for so long that it feels like a lifetime, and I don’t know when I’ll have another chance to hug him. At one point, I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to.
