Page 27 of The Death Dealer (Sentinels of Magic Book 2)
Soleil was happy to see there were fair council members on the bench. Agnes Vector wasn’t allowed to resume her position with them andwas forcedto wait in the galley for her turn to speak. From the looks of it, she and her daughter were at odds, but everyone knew looks could be deceiving. Soleil didn’t trust them not to be cooking things up behind the scenes.
For every person who spoke against Trevor, three more testified on his behalf.Shewas gratifiedatthe amount of people whovalued him for his previously held gifts.It showed he had a kind heart, even if he was stupid on occasion.
“I heard that, Dalli.”
“You were meant to.”
He hid a smile behind his hand, but from her angle, she saw the gesture.
While the trial was in progress, she learned how the tanzanite’s telepathic connection worked. One had to be thinking of a person to communicate. Earlier, when she considered the Sentinels as a whole, they all heard her and responded in kind. Her link to Trevor was different and much more challenging to block, but in her anger, she’d been able to. The key was emotional distance. The less invested she was, the greater the block.
Councilwoman Florence Carter held up a hand. “I believe we’ve heard enough.”
Throughout the trial, those whose lives Trevor had saved spoke in glowing terms. Those whose family member or loved one he’d seen fit to destroy were harsh with their criticisms. They desired to witness his ultimate demise.
In his lifetime, Trevor Blane had made a multitude of enemies.
It gave Soleil pause. If he could no longer protect himself with his abilities, he was a sitting duck. Anyone seeking revenge would find it easy to achieve. Damian had done him irreparable harm by removing his magic.
“I agree.” Councilwoman Arwa Macari and Talutah Ishtasapa said in unison. They acknowledged each other with a nod, and Councilwoman Macari gestured for Councilwoman Ishtasapa to continue.
“With the list of witnesses in favor of Mr. Blane, this trial could go on indefinitely. Let us assume there are many positive attributes the young man possesses and move on. We need to hear the testimony of Councilwoman Vector and her daughter, Denillia, before we make a ruling,” Talutah said.
“All in agreement?” Councilman Garcia asked.
As one, the remaining members nodded.
“Councilwoman Vector, you have the floor,” he said.
Agnes went on ad nauseam about how she’d strived to be Trevor”s mentor, yet he’d continually ignored her advice to run his own game. She then admitted to the scheme, encouraging him to fall in love with Deni to break his heart and return him to his true purpose of Death Dealer. The crowd gasped at her callousness, and Soleil’s rage brewed and bubbled beneath the surface when it became apparent the rest of the Authority found nothing wrong with her machinations.
“This is bullshit!” Soleil spat.
All eyes turned to her. Some, like Agnes, Melvin, and Deni, were gloating. Others were annoyed by her interruption, but many seemed to share her opinion, nodding their agreement. Trevor was the most difficult to read, merely watching her with a detached air. It was as if he’d retreated into himself so the proceedings didn’t touch him.
“You’ve had your say, girl. It’s our turn now,” Agnes declared.
Soleil sneeredherhatred for the woman and the con game she was playing. “Your turn to railroad him?”
Councilman Robert Knowles leaned forward. “Ms. Stephens, please refrain from commenting, oryou’ll be required toleave. Your objectionsare noted.”
“What about my objections?” Alastair Thorne rose and took his time tugging down his cuffs. “I have plenty.”
Knowles’s mouth thinned, but he didn’t reply.
Turning toward Spring, Alastair held out his hand, then smiled when she delivered a folder into his keeping. “Thank you, child.”
“This is highly irregular, Mr. Thorne,” Councilman Phillip Reed said, not unkindly. He’d been listening intently to the entire farce and had refrained from commenting until that moment. “If you’re to present evidence for this trial, it should be done through proper channels, sir.”
Alastair’s demeanor remained businesslike, yet Soleil had the distinct impression he respected the other man. “Agreed, Councilman. However, this information just came to light moments before our arrival.”
With a glance along the table, Reed nodded and held out his hand. “Please present your case.”
After taking a moment to straighten his tie, Alastair walked through the gate and approached, waving a manila envelope.“In here, you’ll find documentation provingcollusionbetween Melvin Glen and Agnes Vector.They hold shares in fifteen prominent pharmaceutical companies around the globe.” He opened the file and handed out copies to everyone on the bench. “Note the gross earnings their investments have made this year alone.”
Councilwoman Cynthia Doyle’s eyes flared wide, and she glared toward Agnes.
“On this second document”—he waved a hand and a paper settled before each of them—“you can see the communication between the two, discussing the need to shut down the Rainforest restoration project of Spring Thorne and Soleil Stephens at any cost.”
Frowns darkened faces, but the Authority held their peace as they allowed Alastair to continue.
“Prior to Ms. Stephens’s sanctioned abduction, there were four attempts on her life.”
Trevor jumped to his feet and spun to face her. “Four, Dalli? Four? What the actual fuck?”
“Mr. Blane, if you’ll suppress your incredulousness, I’ll explain.” Alastair nodded toward his seat. “Please.”
Sinkingdown, Trev glanced back at her. “Four?” he mouthed.
She grimaced. Yes, there had been a few oddball circumstances, like the pit viper in her greenhouse, but she hadn’t realized they were murder attempts. At the time, she’d assumed it was some idiot’s pet that had escaped. As for the broken water pipes and electrical shorts at her shop, it was an old building.
Black rage clouded Trevor’s face, and he turned his attention on Agnes, shooting her a look of promised retribution.
“And your niece, Mr. Thorne? How many attempts on her life?”
“None before yesterday. Butshe’snot as easily accessible as Ms. Stephens.” His cold stare focused on the true villains in the room.“My head of security hashadAgnes Vector and Melvin Glenunder surveillancesince the explosion at Spring’s greenhouse.Not only did they perpetrate the attack on her person, but they also destroyed years” worth of work meant to repopulate plants that, if restored, could heal the masses without the need for high-priced, ineffectual drugs sold by their partners.”
“You have no proof?—”
“Actually,Ms. Vector, I do,” he saidsuccinctly. “Plenty.” His grin resembled a cat with a canary in its mouth, predatory and self-satisfied. “Two years ago, when my dear cousin Evelyn Thorne and Simon Blanewere attacked, the Aether asked me to look into the disappearance of one Deni Adams from Trevor Blane’s life. Only Deni Adams doesn”t exist. She never did.” Alastair shifted his focus to Denillia. “On paper, anyway. Denillia Jones does, however. And surprise of surprises, she works as a spy for the Witches’ Council, recommended by none other than Agnes Vector and Melvin Glen. He happens to be her father, for those of you unaware.”
Trevor’s brows shot to his hairline, and his mouth opened, making it obvious he knew nothing of the connection to Melvin until that moment.
“Until recently, I’d been unable to prove the connection or that Deni and Denillia were the same person. But I kept detailed records on her movements.” He waved a hand, and another sheaf of papers appeared before the Authority panel. “Her most recent activity was today when she assisted you in the abduction of Soleil Stephens and the magical manipulation of a lethal Death Dealer.”
His voice had chilled, losing its conversational tone. “The perfume bottle remains were recovered at the scene and analyzed. Not only did they contain fingerprints for you and your daughter, Agnes, but the spell was reverse-engineered along with the contents.”
“Manipulation of Trevor Blane was sanctioned, Mr. Thorne, or did you miss that part of this hearing?” Agnes retorted with a sneer.
“Manipulation to keep him as your hired assassin, yes. Did that include compelling him to murder a woman he loves? One he’d be heartbroken to lose when the spell wore off?”
“He doesn’t love her!” Deni bound to her feet and fixed Trevor with a look of longing, one that begged forgiveness for her sins. “He loves me. Tell them, darling. Tell them how youintendedto propose. Tell them she means nothing to you.”
An odd look crossed his face, and he stood. The air was sucked from Soleil’s lungs when his expression altered to one of adoration as he stared at Deni. But as he opened his mouth, prepared to reply in the affirmative, Damian touched his arm, sending Trevor reeling backward and crashing into the rail.
Soleil crawled over those seated to help him, but hatred transformed his countenance the second he spotted her. One thought danced through his mind and into hers.
Obliterate.
Trevor leaped over the railing and headed straight for Soleil, arms outstretched and reaching for her neck.
She stumbled in her shock, unprepared for a second attack. Yes, Damian had removed his powers, but that didn’t mean Trev wasn’t strong enough to hurt her. But the question keeping her glued to the spot was how?
Through their tanzanite ring connection, the Sentinels registered his intent, taking action to stop him. They weren’t as fast as he was, and for the second time that day, Trevor’s hands closed around her throat. She didn’t try to plead with him as she had before. It was no use. The spell was clouding his mind.
Closing her eyes against the blazing hate in his, she pressed her palm over his heart.
“I love you, Trevor,”she whispered in her mind. “I forgive you. Forgive yourself.”
Her world went black on her last thought.
The Death Dealer had completed his mission.