The Blood Spell (Ravenspire, #4)(93)
“You didn’t hurt me.” She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. “I kissed you, remember? I know I can’t have you, but I didn’t want to regret not having that one moment with you.” She pulled back, and before she lost her courage said, “I’ll always be your friend, Kellan. And you’ll know you always have someone who loves you, even if you don’t see much of me from now on.”
She fished the vials out of her pocket and pressed them into his hands. “These are protection spells for you and Nessa. They can’t save you if the wraith itself gets loose, but they will help keep you safe from any person who means you harm. Please wear them at all times until the threat is gone.”
“You made one for yourself too, didn’t you?” he asked as he glanced at her neck where no cord hung. When she took too long to answer, he frowned and began handing his back to her.
She made herself smile as she backed away. “I’m protected, Kellan. You don’t really think I’d go to the trouble of creating such a powerful spell and not leave enough for me, do you?”
Before he could reply, before the queen could lecture them again, and before the warmth that still lingered on her skin from his kiss could fade, she turned and left the garden.
THIRTY-EIGHT
KELLAN SWALLOWED HARD and met his mother’s eyes as Blue left the garden. “I can explain—”
The queen raised her hand in a command for silence. “We can discuss your poor choices with Blue later. I came to find you because the magistrate’s guards caught the person who killed Marisol and Genevieve.”
All thoughts of finding a defense for his actions fled, and Kellan moved toward the castle, his mother walking briskly by his side. “We need to call a special council meeting.”
“I’ve already sent messengers out. All representatives who are available will be present.”
“We need six for a quorum,” he said, though of course, she knew that. Still, it helped to think through what was coming. He couldn’t make a single mistake as he presided over the council meeting. He owed it to Gen and Marisol to deliver on his promise to get justice for them.
“Six shouldn’t be a problem,” his mother said as they left the grounds and entered the castle. “But we’ll want to discuss the proceedings with the magistrate before the representatives arrive.”
“Especially if one of the representatives is guilty of murder.” His voice was hard. Which one of them had given the order to slit the throats of innocent girls in their quest for power? Who had sat across from him at teas and meetings and balls, smiling while they plotted the murder of someone else’s daughter?
And would the person responsible show for a meeting if they thought they would be sentenced to death by the end of it?
Turning, he placed a hand on his mother’s arm and said softly, “What reason did you give for calling the meeting?”
“An urgent update on the situation with the rogue witch,” the queen said grimly. “I’m not willing to tip our hand and let someone flee the kingdom rather than face justice.”
He nodded. “Then let’s hear what the magistrate has to say and prepare for the meeting.”
An hour late, Kellan and his mother stood side by side in front of the council table. Seven members were in attendance. Dinah Chauveau hadn’t been at the farmhouse to receive the royal messenger, and Senet Aubert was two cities away dealing with a business issue.
That didn’t matter. The person who needed to be in attendance was seated two chairs down from Kellan, patting Lord Gaillard’s arm as he offered condolences on the terrible loss of his daughter.
Anger, bright and burning, filled Kellan as he said, “I’ll come straight to the point. We have no update on the rogue witch.”
The room fell silent, and seven pairs of eyes turned toward him.
Martin Roche frowned. “Then why—?”
“You’ll speak when you are given permission to speak,” Kellan snapped.
Martin’s cheeks flooded with color, but Kellan didn’t give him a chance to respond. “You’ve been called here because the royal magistrate has caught the woman who was hired to kill Marisol Evrard and Genevieve Gaillard.”
Conversation erupted across the room, and Pieder Evrard lunged to his feet. “Where is she? I’ll kill her in this very room.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Kellan’s voice was stern. “She was the weapon, not the mind behind the crime. She will be sentenced to death by hanging, according to the law, but she is not the one who owes you a blood debt. That person is seated here among us.”
Kellan motioned sharply, and a trio of guards marched into the room and stood behind him. Looking out at the council members’ faces, he said quietly, “I’ll give you one chance to confess your crime and ask those you’ve wronged for mercy. You will still hang for your crimes, but you may yet spare your family the pain of paying off your blood debt.”
The room was absolutely silent. Slowly, Kellan’s gaze moved from face to face until he came to Martin, who was subtly trying to edge away from Louis Gaillard.
“So be it,” Kellan said, nodded toward the guards. They moved rapidly to flank Martin’s chair as Kellan said, “Martin Roche, you are hereby accused of paying an assassin to have Marisol Evrard and Genevieve Gaillard murdered. The magistrate has collected sworn testimony and evidence of payment. Proof will be offered to this council for review, but I will tell you now that I have already reviewed the proof, and there is no doubt in my mind that you are guilty.”