Page 26 of The Death Dealer (Sentinels of Magic Book 2)

Councilwoman Vector entered through the double doors as if she owned the place. The smug look she shot Trevor’s way didn’t bode well. Behind her was a contingent of four Red Guards, but they didn’t appear to be worried about her escape. Indeed, they seemed to be her escort, as if she were their leader.

A slight frown caused Trevor’s brows to dip, and he leaned in to murmur to Damian. Soleil couldn’t determine what he’d said, but her brother-in-law stilled, becoming watchful. Or aswatchfulas a man accustomed to hiding his expression could be.

As Agnes approached the head councils’ bench, she waved a hand tomufflewhat she had to say for the witnesses and viewers, then gestured madly toward Trevor asshespoke, passionate in whatever point she was trying to make. Whispered conversations exploded throughout the chamber as Mattie and Agnes exchanged indiscernible heated words. Those left in the dark were speculating on the outcome.

“Trevor?”

“I don’t know, Dalli. It’s muted for me, too.”

Unable to suffer the suspense a second longer, Soleil rose and inched her way by those seated in the main aisleway. All conversation stopped as she swept open the fence gate.

“I’d like to speak.”

Trevor swore savagely. “Stop her, Dethridge.”

“I’d like to hear what she has to say,” Damian replied. “You should, too.”

“She’ll make it worse. She doesn’t know the Authority like we do.”

Hiding her hurt as best she could, Soleil continued until she reached the bench.

Mattie showed concern as her gaze swept along the Council andthensettled on her. “This is highly irregular, Ms. Stephens.”

“I imagine it is. But so is having a Death Dealer assigned to stalk you, as was done to me.”

“Ouch,” Trev muttered.

She ignored him. “So is having multiple assassination attempts, as was done to me. And so was being used to manipulate Trevor Blane to do Agnes Vector’s bidding.” Soleil crossed her arms and glared at the Councilwoman next to her. “Your veiled conversation is objectionable when an innocent man is on trial.”

“If you believe Trevor Blane is innocent, girl, you’ve been brainwashed,” Agnes retorted with a derisive snort. “He’s annihilated people for money and is far from pure.”

“People you sent him to kill!” Soleil dropped her arms and balled her hands into fists. The urge to strike the blackhearted Beelzebub was strong.

“They were assignments.” The woman shook her head as if Soleil were a dimwit. “Sit down, girl. You’re wasting everyone’s time.”

“Then, if they were assignments, any payment was blood money from the Authority, wasn’t it?” she pointed out. When everyone seemed unconcerned, Soleil said, “I’d like to make it known that Councilwoman Vector abducted me.” Standing firm, Soleil tipped her head sideways to indicate Agnes. “She aborted my intended teleport and tied me to a chairto?—”

“We know, Ms. Stephens. Itwas sanctioned.”

Her jaw dropped as she stared at the man who had spoken. Shifting her gaze to his name, she added Councilman Melvin Glen to her shit list.

“Sanctioned?” Damian cut in. He must’ve sensed she was ready to take up the Death Dealer mantle for herself and wipe the floor with these asshats. “Are you saying that you sanctionedabductionand attempted murder of witches trying to restore the earth’s resources? Would you care to explain why, Councilman Glen?”

“No one said anything about attempted murder,” he protested with a wary glance toward the Aether. “Only the abduction.”

The temperature of the room dropped ten degrees as Damian approached. “Abduction. Of my wife’s sister.”

Melvin paled. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly as he searched for a legitimate excuse to appease them, and his guilty gaze locked with Agnes’s.

“Perhaps abduction is a strong word, Aether,” Soleil said, reasserting herself yetmaking mention ofhis goddess-gifted power. He compressed his lips, and her impression wasoneof him fighting a grin. Weaving her arm through his and leaning into him to show the strength of their familial relationship, she sent a sweeping smile to those along the curved table. “Wouldn’t you say?” As they began to nod frantically, she shot Damian a frowning pout. “What has me salty is Councilwoman Vector’s collusion with her daughter and the threat to my life. Not to mention the mind games they played with Trevor over the last—how many years, Mr. Blane?”

“It’s Trevor.”Rising from his seat, he continued aloud, “And?—”

“Not you. Your father.” She turned and gestured to Benjamin, having felt him walk into the room. Exactly how she was unsure, but she’d picked up a vibration unique to him. Later, whenall this crap was settled, she’d ask them about it.

“His entire life,” Benjamin growled. “Just like the Authority does with all the power players.”

Melvin had the gall to protest, earning himself a severe look from Damian.

“You’d be a fool to deny it, Glen.” Ben scoffed and shook his head. “But it wouldn’t be the first time you were.”

Anger clouded the Councilman’s ruddy face, and his dark eyes snapped with frustration at being unable to defend his actions in front of a roomful of observers. This mockery of a trial wasn’t going his way.

“Thanks to you, Dalli,” Trev said through their link.

“They’ve taken enough from you,” she returned coolly, still smarting because he’d believed she would fuck this up for him.

Damian squeezed her hand, then detangled her arm from his. Crossing to Benjamin, he offered a handshake. “Glad you could make it, Ben.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it.” His pointed stare was for Trevor. “My son needed me.”

Trevor’s deeper emotions were a mixed bag, and Soleil felt every single one, from his doubt to his gratitude for his father’s timely arrival to his worry for her.

“I had to make a stop first,” Ben said, half turning toward the door.

Alastair Thorne entered.As always, he wasimpeccably dressed and spoiling for a confrontation with authority. Spring, Knox, Evelyn, and Simon followed. No one in their group looked thrilled to be there. Next, the Sentinels under Damian’s care lined up along the walls at the back of the observation area. The only one missing was Draven, who was likely guarding the Aether’s family.

She smiled as she recalled the tanzanite ring she wore. “Thanks, gang.”

Their nods of respect were gratifying.

Trevor was humbledby those filtering through the door. There were quite a few he recognized as the victims from Loman O’Connor’s reign of terror, and he was happy to see they weren’t as gaunt as they’d been when he’d helped rescue them last year.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Councilman Glen blustered.

“These are character witnesses for my son. Having been subjected to your rigged trial in the past, I thought I’d give him a fighting chance.”

A few members of the head table exchanged nervous glances.

“Your son violated Authority code and conduct, Blane, as have you on multiple occasions,” Councilwoman Cynthia Doyle said with an arch look. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I see.”

“Resorting to age-old clichés, Cynthia?” Ben taunted. “Are you upset I never called you back after our last night?—”

“Enough.” Councilman Louis Garcia banged a gavel. “I move that we accept the witnesses and continue. Objections?”

Three raised their hands, but the majority were for allowing character witnesses for Trevor.

He sighed in relief.

“I’m not finished,” Soleil stated, head held high. “I want to press charges against those who agreed with my abduction and attempted murder at the hands of Agnes Vector and her daughter, Denillia. And I want answers as to why.”

Trevor had never seen her so fierce. The sight stole his breath, and he wanted to jump up and clap on her behalf. She hadn’t looked his way since he’d ordered Damian to stop her, and the realization Trevor had hurt her deeply was difficult to bear. At his hands, she’d suffered. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. It gutted him, and the first chance he got, he intended to set the record straight with a profound apology. He only hoped she had it in her heart to forgive him.

“Denied. Take a seat, Ms. Stephens, oryou’ll be escortedfrom this chamber.”Melvin Glen avoided looking at the Aether, but when the room temperature dropped again, he quickly added, “Respectfully, of course, and under Authority protection.”

Soleil huffed out a breath. “You’re saying it’s okay for your council members to take unconscionable action against those of us not special or skilled enough to sit on this bench?” Her hands rested on her hips, and she glared her fury. “We’re all at the whim of your games? Our lives are forfeit if you decide to bang your little mallet and declare it so?”

A collective murmur flew through the crowd behind him.

“Go, Dalli!”

Again, she ignored him, refusing to respond or glance in his direction.

“Captain Ellis, escort Ms. Stephens from the room,” Glen ordered.

Although the head of the Red Guard approached, she made no move to touch Soleil. She seemed to hover protectively, prepared to defend her should the need arise.

“Councilman Glen, I’m positive that’s not the best course of action for anyone involved,” Damian said, and the unmistakable threat was in his tone. “But, in an effort of fairness and good faith, Soleil will shelve her rightful complaint until after Mr. Blane’s trial.”

“I don’t wish tobe handled, Damian,” she said coolly.

Trevor grinned. Here was the woman he’d come to love. When it mattered, she wouldn’t let a slight stand.

“Not handled, Soleil,” Damian replied with a warm smile. “You’ll have your day in court, my dear. Those who wished you harm will be held accountable.” He looked at Agnes, then Melvin. “Count on it.”

Somewhat appeased, Soleil nodded and marched back to her seat. The entire time, she refused to glance Trevor’s way.

“Dalli?”

“Not now.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“Not now.”

“But—”

“You insulted my intelligence, Trevor. You said I’d make it worse.”

“I also said it was because you don’t know the Authority like we do. It was never an insult to your intelligence, Dalli. I didn’t want you to interfere and put yourself front and center.”

“Because you’re ashamed of me.”

“No!”

“You think I’m a backwoods witch with no worldly experience.”

“Not backwoods, but perhaps a little innocent to the ways of the world.”

She glared at him, and his heart sank. Forgiveness would be a long time coming.