Page 85 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

Beside me, Teddy drew in an alarmed breath, and I felt the tension that rose with my words.

“Treasonous words”—I laughed—“from a son who still loves and mourns the very people he called evil. Look around this room. For the first time in our history, our council is made up of various species. Not everyone here lives in our kingdom, but one of my hopes with this council is to build unity among all our people so that whoever wants to live in Niev may do so without fear. When Respandora is restored, my desire is that those who want to live there may also do so. The same goes for the human realm. The actions I have already taken against the humans I’ve killed have landed us here.

I believe the decision we make regarding the prisoners will either band us together or further the divide. ”

I leaned back against my chair, wrapping my arm over Teddy’s shoulders while I placed my other hand on her stomach. Amused, I shook my head when Brenton gave me a thumbs-up. Teddy pushed his hand down, and although she said it low, I heard her when she told him to behave.

I dug my hand in her hair and wound my fingers through the strands while each council member spoke. While the views and opinions varied, Donnie and Alastor were skilled in keeping everyone in order.

I watched with admiration when Javier spoke. His eyes were steady as he met each person’s attention, including mine and Teddy’s. His voice never quavered. His limbs never shook. He seemed sure of himself in a way I hadn’t witnessed before.

When Teddy squeezed my hand, I looked at her to find that same admiration and marvel on her face.

Although Brenton joked about only agreeing to join the council for the food he was promised, he spoke from his heart with empathy. It was harder to listen to Etienne’s accounts of what he’d suffered in the compound and all he’d lost after the second explosion at the castle.

“I understand we’re living in different times,” Etienne said. “I respect the changes King Elias has brought forth, but I also believe some things should remain the same. Enslaving, torturing, and murdering hundreds should still be punishable by death.”

Each word he spoke came out slow, some slurred. His posture stiffened with each struggled word, but no one rushed him. It was his time to speak, and everyone granted him that same opportunity with patience and compassion.

“We don’t know that the prisoners we’re holding had anything to do with the treatment of the fae who were abducted and tortured at the compounds,” Cierra said.

“No,” he growled. “The ones you knew were in fact responsible for our torture and deaths were allowed to surrender and ask for mercy. Now, we’re to allow them open access to Niev? How are any of us safe?”

“We wouldn’t allow anyone through the tear who hasn’t been thoroughly vetted,” Evander explained.

“We are slowly allowing humans we’ve interviewed to live in similar regions that were originally put in place by Commander Hudson, but those humans still won’t have access to the tear until we’re certain they don’t mean anyone any harm.

It could take years before we allow them access to the tear.

We’ve removed every weapon from their possession, regardless of the material it was made from, and have set certain laws in place they must follow.

If they do not wish to abide by these laws, then they stay within the compound walls. ”

Brenton sniffed, then sniffed again in Etienne’s direction, concern crossing his face as he gripped his shoulder. “Another one is coming. We need to lay you down quickly.”

Not knowing what was happening, I was surprised Etienne accepted Brenton’s help and rose to follow him. Before they left, Etienne stared back at each of us and let out a low snarl.

“My vote is to kill them all,” Etienne said, one side of his body slumping while Brenton tried to steady him. “Including the leaders at the compound. You’re fooling yourself into believing you can control them.”

“Thank you,” Donnie told him. “We appreciate your input.”

When Etienne growled, Brenton patted his chest. Teddy stood and went to Etienne’s other side. Etienne let her slip her hand through his arm while he leaned heavily onto Brenton. I stood to take Teddy’s place, but she shook her head.

With a heavy sigh, I sat back down, tracking Teddy as they slowly made their way to the other side of the tavern. While I hadn’t sensed Leah before, I heard her when she started to speak to Etienne.

“If you need to go with Teddy, you may do so,” Evander said. “We’ll wait until you both return.”

“Have you met my mate?” I asked in a teasing tone I didn’t feel.

Although I knew she didn’t want me to, I worried about her and our babes. I worried this meeting and now helping Etienne would put strain on her that she didn’t need.

Evander nodded in understanding. “I too like my balls exactly where they are.”

Cierra laughed. “As if Adira has permitted you to keep your pair. ”

Evander pointed at his sister but looked at Donnie. “I’ve warned you about Demon, but you don’t listen.”

Donnie grinned.

I couldn’t fault Etienne for his anger. It wasn’t long ago that I felt exactly as he felt.

Kill them all. Show no mercy. It was how we’d been trained.

How we’d lived as warriors. While I’d heard accounts of the torture the fae had suffered at the humans’ hands, Etienne had experienced it.

It seemed the ramifications of what he’d suffered would follow him through his life.

It wasn’t just that, though. Etienne, too, had fought many battles, killing to keep our people safe.

It was not natural to believe differently.

Yet, the council was formed to establish a unified front.

So, we’d wait until Etienne had the strength to meet with us again.

Then I felt it. Etienne was seizing while Teddy spoke softly to the male she barely knew. I wouldn’t be surprised if I went to them and found her holding his hand.

“This is something else to consider,” I told the now silent group.

“Etienne suffers from seizures. Whatever brings on the seizures is unknown to our healers, and they don’t know how to heal him.

He’s taking human medication that may not help him.

There are others whose lives have been permanently impacted because of the attacks.

So many children lost their parents that our orphanage is over capacity.

Parents lost children. Soul-bound mates lost their other halves.

Whatever our decision is, we must do something to not only punish those responsible but ensure this doesn’t happen again. ”

“I believe this is a good place to stop, if everyone agrees,” Alastor said. “I know you wanted us to come to an agreement today, but I would rather wait until Etienne can attend again.”

I nodded in agreement. “Speak with Leah, and once you and Donnie pick a date, make sure the military school gives Javier a day pass.”

While many of the council talked or left, I stayed in my seat to see if Javier would approach me. Or better, if he would approach Teddy.

He didn’t, but he left with that same quiet confidence that I couldn’t help but respect.

Only then did I go to the other side of the tavern. I found Teddy on her knees next to where Etienne lay on the floor. Although he was awake, he lay motionless. Simply blinking at the ceiling.

I approached Brenton who spoke to Leah a couple of steps beside them.

“I can stay with them,” Brenton offered. “That way, when I sense another seizure, I can summon you.”

Leah gave him a sad smile and patted his shoulder.

“Is the human medicine not helping him?” I asked her.

“They’ve helped,” Leah said. “He isn’t experiencing the seizures as frequently, and they’re easier to stop. I believe he needs a higher dosage, though, but I’m afraid to give him more in case we run out before our scholars can replicate it.”

“I can go back to the human realm and search for more medicine,” Brenton said.

“Will you be doing this while also staying at their house to monitor him?” Leah raised her brows in question.

“We can go,” Cierra said with Donnie and Evander on either side of her.

“Can you send someone else?” I asked. “I’d like you here when the council meets again.”

“Did the council come to a decision?” Etienne asked.

Teddy helped him sit up slowly, and when he groaned, leaning forward with his hands on his head, she rubbed his back.

“We didn’t reach a decision,” Alastor told him. “We’re to meet again at a future date.”

Brenton leaned down to help Etienne up and then ease him onto a chair. Someone from the bar held out a mug of tea for Etienne that he took.

“Leah, may I steal you for a second?” Teddy asked.

When Leah nodded, Teddy took my hand and ushered Alastor to follow her. When we were back at the table where the council had met, Teddy turned to Alastor.

“Can you open up a mental connection between us?” she asked.

When he did, she continued. “ I was thinking about Etienne while I was going through the living book. There’s a spell to help with convulsions, which I’m assuming is the same as seizures.

I don’t want to do anything that’ll harm the boys.

” She touched her stomach, with her thumb grazing up and down.

“But if you think we could try it without hurting them, maybe the spell can help him.”

“I don’t know mage magic,” Leah said. “ I don’t know what it would require of you.”

“Why don’t we go to your house so you can show me the spell?” Alastor said. “I can study it and let Leah know what you would need to do.”

“Did you see him?” Teddy asked from where she sat on the porch swing.

Inside, Alastor studied the living book and the spell it’d given Teddy. While it was a far more complicated spell than any she’d cast, he didn’t believe it would take any more from Teddy than a regular spell did. Still, he wanted to study it further and ask the book more questions to make sure.

“He looked so grown and confident,” Teddy went on.