Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(79)

Chapter 30


The skies opened up and poured furious rain the morning of the trial. Nick had slept in a hotel near the Nine headquarters, while Simone had been sequestered somewhere else. As his escort delivered him to the innocuous building at the edge of Dublin, he tried to rein in his temper. Clear and cool thinking would win the day. Should he choose to mind attack everyone, there would be no coming back from that.

The silent guard took him through the labyrinth of hallways that turned to secret tunnels and finally led deep into the earth to the chambers surrounded by rock.

Simone was waiting for him at what he considered the defense table, while the prosecutor was busily laying out manila folders in perfect order on his table. Several guards had been stationed at points around the perimeter, fully armed. Nick leaned down and brushed Simone’s head for a kiss before dropping his tablets and manila files onto their table. “Are you all right?” he asked.

She turned and lifted an eyebrow. “Of course.”

He smiled. The woman was all grit and class. For the trial, she’d worn a deep blue skirt and bodice-style dress that made her eyes sparkle. Her thick hair was piled atop her head in a fancy chignon, her lips were red, and her skin flawless. A Celtic knot pendant settled between her breasts and matched her earrings. “Nice necklace.”

She fingered the silver design and smiled. “Kellach bought a bunch of them one year and gave them to all the female cousins for their birthdays. It’s my good luck charm.”

Sweet. Here she was wearing her beauty as a shield, and she’d thought to bring family with her. “We’ll win this.”

“Of course we will.” Determination hardened her chin. There was the woman he adored.

The wall slid open behind the raised dais, and Peter Gallagher, Nessa Lansa, and Sal Donny walked in, all taking the same seats as before. Apparently Peter was sitting in for Viv as the head of the Council until she returned. The door closed.

Peter banged a gavel, deep lines cutting into the sides of his mouth. “Council members Louise Fronts and Frances Murphy have both succumbed to planekite attacks.”

Simone gasped, and her body shuddered as if a physical blow had been delivered. “They died?”

“Aye.” Stress fanned out from his bloodshot eyes. “Vivienne Northcutt and Dr. Dunne are expected to reach a slow but complete recovery.” He cleared his throat. “With the death penalty on the table, Brenna Dunne has been excused from serving, as well.”

“So my future is up to the three of you,” Simone said clearly.

Nick’s mouth twitched. Coming out fighting, was she? Good.

“Yes,” Peter said. “Let’s get started. Colman Foley, is the prosecution ready to present its case for treason, murder, and attempted murder against Simone Brightston?”

“I am,” Colman said.

“Good. Let me remind everyone that the defendant is a member of the Council of the Coven Nine and has given service to this institution for over a century. She will be accorded all respect due to her. The Council can detect falsehoods, so the witnesses are forewarned.” Peter set down the gavel and leaned back in his leather chair. “And, Mr. Veis?”

“Yes?” Nick asked.

“We’ve deployed certain aspects of the veil here, so your powers, as well as the defendant’s, have been minimized.”

Nick instantly shot a mind attack toward Peter, who didn’t so much as blink. “Understood,” Nick said. Well, shit.

“Good. There’s no need for opening arguments, as the sitting Council is more than up to speed here. In addition, we do not require character witnesses since so many have sent in letters supporting Ms. Brightston. Mr. Coleman, please call your first witness,” Peter said, gesturing to a witness stand to the right of the dais made of smooth, round stones.

Colman nodded and called a forensic accountant named Berry Pine, who was a thousand-year-old witch with wild gray hair, even wilder gray eyes, and terrible taste in clothing. His plaid suit had seen better days, and his paisley tie held more mustard stains than design. He droned on about all the money, the location of the mines, and the banking transfers bearing Simone’s signature.

Finally, Nick had had enough. He stood. “Begging the Council’s pardon, but we’re happy to stipulate about the money transfers, land transfers, and the transfer and usage of the mineral rights that may or may not have mined planekite.”

Peter’s mouth gaped open. “You’re stipulating to these facts?”

Nick shrugged. “Sure. We’re not arguing any of the transfers, or whether or not planekite was mined. Even if we’re not sure, we’re fine stipulating that planekite was mined, it was used to create Apollo, and it was then weaponized against witches and humans.”

Peter cleared his throat. “You’re on Simone’s side, right?”

“Yes,” Nick said.

Peter looked at Simone. “You’re on board with the stipulations?”

“Aye,” she said without hesitation.

Nick’s chest warmed. The woman trusted him.

“Very well,” Peter said, turning his focus to Colman. “In light of the stipulations, do you have any further questions for this witness?”

Colman coughed and shuffled papers, obviously caught off guard. “Ah, no. I tender the witness.”