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Judgement comprised elected representatives from every species that resolved to coexist. As of last count 356 representatives sat on the Judgement Panel and while not perfect, it allowed every species to have a voice.

With Antoni’s actions having spanned to more than one continent, he fell into their purview.

It was only half surprising the dragons weren’t just burning the man out of existence. They had a tendency to make aggressive responses to aggressive actions taken against them. It was what had kept them at the top for so long.

However, because the actions against them had highlighted their strength as a negative aspect, they had to approach it more conciliatory than normal.

Something the Thunder was so obviously at a loss with how to do.

Rowan herself, who normally took a softer approach, such as making herself smaller to avoid attention, found it difficult to picture doing anything other than running the man through with her blade so she could relate.

Dew’s dwindling heartbeat still rang through her head.

With emotion heavy in her throat, she asked, “How is Dew’s family?”

Axel shrugged. “You know faeries. They don’t see death the way most of us do. Louisa said they didn’t seem to take it too hard, and the funeral was more of a celebration.”

Dew would’ve adored that. She had always done everything in her power to keep things cheery. It was a contagious desire that had made the office seem more like a family than a business.

She would visit Dew’s mother when everything settled. She wanted to show Dew’s entire family how much she adored the fairy.

“And since the Coven is in turmoil, I’m guessing that means Cherry hasn’t recovered either?” She asked Miasma who looked startled to be addressed.

“No. Not really, there seems to be a block on her inheritance of the old Elder’s magic.”

“Tell her why you think that might be, Miasma.” Axel encouraged.

Rowan couldn’t wait to get her sister alone to tease her.

Miasma’s eyes widened in obvious discomfort and her thumbs twirled around one another.

“Well, umm, I believe a portion of the magic trying to get into you is the Elder’s.”

“Witch magic in an elf?” Terra looked both horrified and impressed.

“Elven-succubus.” Stone motioned to Rowan’s wings.

“Fair point. Could there also be witch magic in your bloodline?” Terra asked, unsure.

“No.” Rowan’s eye lit up as a thought occurred to her. “But I think I might know why it would be trying.”

She’d kept the Elder’s Grimoire for over two weeks already. She hadn’t gotten to use it as much as she’d like, losing two weeks just from falling into her feeding frenzy and recovering from her fight with Barros. Could the time limit have something to do with the Elder’s magic? Did it come as a package deal?

Or, and Rowan suspected, this was most likely the case: Had Henrietta known Barros would take Cherry? Had Barros taken the expected Elder to steal the magic that she was supposed to have with her? To take it as his own? Is that why Cherry had asked about it as soon as she saw who dropped into that second cage?

The idea of that kind of power existing in someone as deranged as Antoni Barros was terrifying.

“Is that the only magic trying to kill me?” Could the solution to her problem be so simple? Why were there so many questions and so few answers?

“I don’t think it’s trying to kill you,” Miasma spoke softly. “I think it just senses something in you that makes it feel like it belongs there. Like you’re its proper home.”

No way. Witch magic belonged to witches only. Though she could now pull magic through all of her chakra gates. Could that have something to do with it?

But maybe something in her blood or genealogy was of witch descent? She would have to look into that after she got the Dragon King back home.

As her priorities stood, the first was to get him back to his rightful place. After all, it was her fault he had to resort to locking himself away. Second was to check up on Kin and Louisa, who had been as close to the fallen fairy as she had been. Third was to check out what the hell was going on with her magic and fourth was to find the bastard who had taken her eye and bring him to proper justice and restore some of the peace he had sledgehammered out of existence with his actions.

When they stepped up to her porch, she turned and watched as the chaos died down.