Page 32 of The Death Dealer (Sentinels of Magic Book 2)

Trevor understood Soleil’s misery all too well. He’d been in a similar state after his first kill, sickened by what he’d done and throwing up in a bathroom stall after a hearty congratulations by Agnes Vector. Looking back, he had to wonder if his victim had deserved it at all. Or any of the ones who followed.

Yes, there were those like Loman O’Connor and Morcant Thywyll who had required putting down and more, but Trevor wantedevery single oneof his previous assignments re-examined. If any were undeserving, he intended to find out and make restitution. Or at least have Damian make it on his behalf if the Authority ruled against him.

As he waited for the Aether to make his point and show the council members Deni’s intent, Trevor considered the two remaining vials of dirt on the table before them. With a sleight of hand taught to him by Draven Masters, he pocketed one of the two.

Agnes Vector and Melvin Glen wouldn’t live out the rest of their natural-born days. Of that, he wascertain. If Trev had to go out of this world as a murderer, so be it. When the time came for him to stand in the Otherworld’s waiting room and the scales tipped one way or another, he hoped their deaths were in his plus column. The duo was evil, and he didn’t intend to give them another shot at hurting Soleil.

Trevor studied her stoic profile. Inside, in the private reaches of his mind where he could appreciate the ironies of life, he smiled. Was it such a short time ago that he thought her plain? It hardly seemed possible when she’d become soincredibly beautifulto him.

Her updo wasn’t perfectly coiffed, and she’d left some of her waves to frame her face and fall down her graceful neck. With her subtle makeup, she was astunner. The perfect mate for him.

Although he wanted to tell her, he couldn’t. If things went against him, as he suspected, people needed to believe he didn’t hold her in the highest of regards. His enemies were watching. At the very least, he could remove the threat of retaliation against her.

“Now, do you understand?” Damian was saying.

Eight of the remaining eleven council members nodded. Three appeared disturbed and volleyedconcernedglances between the defendant’s table and the Aether.

“Denillia was acting on her mother’s behalf in most instances,” Melvin Glen confessed when pressed. Sweat poured profusely down his face, and he repeatedly sent Trevor wary looks, no doubt fearing immediate retaliation.

Justice wouldn’t be swift, but it would happen. If Trev couldn”t do it, he’d find someone whowasn’t hindered.

“Trevor Blane, please rise,” Councilman Reed said.

Soleil’s tormented eyes met Trevor’s as he stood, and he opened his mind to her one last time.

“It’s okay, Dalli. No matter what the outcome, you’re going to be safe.”

Seeming to be dismissive, she looked away, and his heart thumped painfully in his chest. As much as he probably earned her scorn, he didn’t want her to hate him.

“I don’t care about my welfare, you idiot. I’m worried about yours.”

He released a breath he hadn’t been aware of holding. “You should always care about yourself first, sweetheart. Especially in instances like this.”

“Is that why you stole one of the vials?”

Trevor fought a grin. “You know it.”

“I hope you use it on that warthog, Agnes Vector.”

“If I’ve never said it, I’m saying it now. I appreciate the fuck out of your savage tendencies. You’re the perfect DeathDealermate.”

She spared him a glance but was quick to look away, understanding the need for their surreptitious conversation. “But not yours?”

“It can’t be mine, Dalli. We have no future. If the Authority doesn’t recall or end my life, the threat of Agnes’s pre-programmed trigger lies between us. I won’t take the risk.”

“Shouldn’t that be my call to make, Trev? It’s my life at stake, after all..”

“No, because I’d have to live with the devastation. I won’t do that. I can’t.”

A short, barely perceptible nod indicated her understanding, but he sensed she disagreed. The heaviness of grief clogged his throat, and though he sensed some of it was hers, he knew the bulk of it belonged to him.

For a distraction, he tuned into what Damian was saying.

“Again, I ask you to consider thatMr. Blane’s powers were removed,” he argued.

“But they can be restored by you,” Councilwoman Doyle countered.

“Actually,they can’t.” With an elegant shrug of his shoulders, Damian cast her a faux sheepish smile. “I didn’t keep them for myself. I used his abilities against him to obliterate the magic itself. I swear on my soul, I cannot restore Trevor Blane’s powers.”

To a man or woman, the Authority was stunned by the Aether’s statement.

Trevor cast him a sharp look, wishinglike hellhe hadn’t given up his tanzanite ring so he knew what was going through the man’s clever mind.If one spark of Trevor’s power remained, it would regenerate, making a liar of Damian. The Authority would call him to task.

Soleil’s delight tickled his mind, and Trevor glanced down at her with a frown.

“It’s not technically a lie.”Her full, cherry-colored lips curledeverso distractingly, and he had to concentrate on hernextcomment. “He”s unable to restore your power, but if, as you suspect, a spark remains, you can regenerate it yourself.”

Christ almighty! He hadn’t even considered it!The act ofleaving any of his magic behind was reckless on Damian’s part. What if Trev used it to hurt Soleil?

“We’re going to find that trigger or eliminate the threat, babe,”she telegraphed. “Count on it.”

“We’ll need time to examine and consider this new information,” Councilwoman Ishtasapa said among the nods of her peers. “We will reconvene in one hour.”

“As you wish,” Damian replied with a slight bow of his head. “However, I would take it as a personal favor if you ruledin favor of allowinghim to remain on my team. Abilities orno, he’s a valued member and friend.”

The implication was clear. The Aether wouldn’t be happy if they decided Trevor needed tobe put downlike the rabid dog they believed him to be.

“And as for the matter of Ms. Stephens?—”

All signs of affability left Damian when Councilman Pettigrew mentioned Soleil.

“Uh, yes… well, we… uh, that is to say…” Tom Pettigrew stammered in the face of the Aether’s cold stare. “I find her actions to be in keeping with self-defense and an act of heroism in saving the Aether’s life. All in favor?”

The entire Authority was quick to agree,with the exception ofAgnes and Melvin.

“No! No!” Agnes surged to her feet, her skin darkening to that of a beet. “She needs to be held accountable! She murdered my daughter!”

“Our ruling stands, Councilwoman Vector,” Knowles stated in chilly tones. “You and Councilman Glen will face an inquiry into your actions.”

“But—”

He continued as if she’d never objected. “Actions in direct odds with those of this organization. Actions for profit, on your behalf.”

Councilman Garcia banged his gavel. “This hearing isnowadjourned and will recommence in exactly sixty minutes.”

* * *

“We findTrevor Blane to be a contributing member of our society. However, in light of his behavior and the steps taken against innocents and mortals alike, we suggest rehabilitation, requiring six months of reconditioning,” Councilwoman Florence Carter stated exactly sixty-two minutes later. “If he passes the battery of tests and the psych evaluation when that time is up, the Authority will work with the gods to restore his magic.”

“However, should he fail, we will readdress the punishment. He is tobe takenfrom this hall to an undisclosed location, where his immediate sentence begins,” Councilwoman Aguilar added.

Fearing she understoodwhat the readdressed punishment would entail, Soleil jumped to her feet.“No!Thisisn’t right!”

Damian gestured downward for her to sit, but she ignored him.

“This is bullshit,” she shouted. “Trevor has done nothing wrong. Nothing more than your corrupt council has demanded of him.”

“Ms. Stephens, we ask that you sit down. Yourpersonalwants or concerns are not relevant to this sentencing,” Florence said. “Mr. Blane has gone rogue on more than one occasion.” The elderly councilwoman frowned in his direction. “It has come to light that you’ve healed a mortal girl only this past week. Without permission, I might add. That will need to be reversed by another Death Dealer, of course.” When Soleil would’ve objected, Florence held up her hand. “You’ve also taken the lives of others under the direction of theAether,without sanction from the Authority. These things weighed heavily into our decision.”

“Trevor Blane, do you understand our judgment and accept the consequences of your actions?” Councilman Garcia asked.

“I understand, but do not accept,” he responded in a dull voice.

Sickened with dread, Soleil leaned forward and tugged on Damian’s sleeve. “What does that mean? What?—”

Councilwoman Mattie Price appeared stricken. “Trevor! Or, er, Mr. Blane, you understand by not accepting your punishment, you will be put to death, yes?”

Gasping for air, Soleil stared at the other woman in shock.

Death?

His beautiful light extinguished forever?

“No, Trevor,” she croaked. “Please!”

“I’m sorry, Dalli.” His aching voice echoed in her head. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“Don’t do this. Accept. Just accept, and in six months?—”

Their connection ended with a sharp snap and a sizzle. His doing or the Authority, she didn’t know.

“I understand, Councilwoman Price,” he said aloud. “As my last request, I ask that you not reverse my cancer treatment on Lily Stockton and that you allow Jordan Brothers to remove the last of the disease from her body.”

After a rapid-fire discussion with the Council, Mattie agreed.

“Then I’m ready,” Trevor said gravely.

Soleil reached for him, but he sidestepped, crossed to the center of the room, and bowed his head, prepared for whatever they intended.

“Damian, please! Don’t let them do this,” she begged.

“Captain Ellis, remove Ms. Stephens from these proceedings.” Mattie’s voice, although crisp, held an edge of pain, and Soleil met her troubled eyes.She didn’t want Trevor to die,butshewas boundby her duty to the Authority.

“Mattie, please!”

“It’s his choice, Soleil,” she said, not unkindly.

Brooke blocked her view and touched her arm. “Ms. Stephens, please don’t resist. You’ll create chaos the likes you can’t imagine,” she saidin a quiet voicefor Soleil’s hearing alone. “The Aether and the Death Dealer will fight ifyou”re forcefully removed.AsI expect the line of Sentinels against the back wall will, too.One look at their expressions should tell you all you need to know.”

“Will they do it right now?” Soleil asked her. “Will they kill Trevor here? I can’t leave him if they intend to. I can’t.”

Her expression softened marginally. “No.He’llhave three days to reconsider, and they’ll put the question tohimagain. If he maintains his position, he’llbe giventhree additional days to consider his options.”

“And then?” Soleil feared her reply. In her heart, she knew Trevor’s mind wouldn’t change.

“Then he will be executed.”

The air between them grew thick, or maybe she’d lost her ability to breathe asherworry expanded within her chest. Brooke also appeared sad at the prospect of his demise. Had they had a thing once upon a time, too? He’d never said, but he wasn’t a monkprior totheir brief association.

Soleil rose on her tiptoes to peer over the Captain’s shoulder.

With his back to them, Trevor stood with his hands fisted by hissides,as if it were taking all his strength not to come to her.

Next, she sought Damian’s reaction. His visage was stern, and his obsidian eyes held disappointment—for her behavior!

“Go,” he ordered with a firm nod.

Tears blurred her vision as she shook her head. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t let this be his end. Our end.”

Comforting arms wrapped around her, and she buried her face against the warm leather of Draven’s duster. “I’ve got you, cher,”he told her. To Brooke, he said, “I’ll escort her out.” When Soleil would’ve pulled away, he touched her temple. “Sleep.”

The sensation of falling was halted by his strong arms, and the room grew dark as her conscious mind shut down.