Page 10 of The Tribes of Magic (Paragons #3)

BEWITCHED

I looked at Duchess Dellondré. Shock squeezed my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. “I didn’t kill them. I couldn’t?—”

But the Duchess’s gaze was fixed on the other Court members, not me.

“She bewitched all of us. She controlled the whole room without breaking a sweat! For this magical deviant, controlling just two people—Queen Seriana and Prince Fenris—would be easy. And she was right there, talking to each of them right before they killed themselves. She made them do it! She is dangerous!”

This was insane.

Someone—a vampire—chimed in, “I heard Prince Fenris tell her he knows what she is: a Polymage.”

Surprised murmurs rippled across the crowd.

“And Queen Seriana knew it too. I heard her say it. This girl killed them to keep her secret safe!”

Dellondré nodded. “Listen to Lord Brak. He has excellent hearing, the best in the Court.”

A bunch of delegates agreed. There were even numerous calls for my arrest.

Kato’s voice rose above the crowd. “You can’t arrest her! You don’t have any evidence!”

“She showed us what she can do when she bewitched all of us. Then she bewitched Queen Seriana and Prince Fenris into killing themselves. That is our evidence.”

“That is speculation, Duchess Dellondré, not proof,” Kato countered.

A young female delegate with glittering gold hair stepped forward. “He’s right, Dellondré. There is no proof that Savannah Winters was involved.”

“We don’t need proof to bring her in for questioning, Diadora.”

Dellondré’s smile was so chilling, I knew right then and there that if she took me in for questioning, I’d never see the light of day again.

Kato must have been thinking the very same thing. He moved in front of me.

“Charming. But ultimately ineffective.” Dellondré flicked her wrist, and vampire soldiers closed in around us, cutting off any hope of escape.

“Lay a hand on any Gaian, and you’ll learn that I’m anything but ineffective.” Kato didn’t blink. He didn’t waver.

Diadora’s calm voice cut through all the glaring. “No one is laying a hand on anyone.”

Dellondré pointed an accusatory finger at me. “She murdered our queen and crown prince. The vampires demand justice. And, according to the laws of this Court, we shall have it.”

The vampire delegation roared in angry agreement.

Diadora faced the vampires. She was eerily calm, much calmer than I was. I could have sworn I saw a few fanged grins among them.

Though maybe my freaked-out mind was just playing tricks on me.

“Yes, the Court’s laws do grant you the right to question suspects, Dellondré,” Diadora said.

Hello, deep, dark vampire prison.

“But the Court’s rules also grant the accused the opportunity to prove their innocence,” Diadora said, turning to me. “Savannah Winters, you have until all the desserts are gone.”

Duchess Dellondré snatched a whole plate of mini desserts off the tray Victoria was holding. “You’d best hurry, little Polymage. I’m feeling very hungry.”

She tossed a chocolate tart into her mouth. All her vampiric companions did the same.

And I just stood there, frozen, counting down the seconds to my demise.

Kato snatched my hand and pulled me to a corner, away from everyone.

I nervously cleared my throat. “Who’s that woman in the green dress? The one who stayed my execution?”

“That’s Duchess Diadora.”

“Duchess Dellondré, Duchess Diadora—the supernatural aristocrats really do love alliteration, don’t they?” I joked nervously.

Kato set his hand on my shoulder. He must have heard my nervous heart making a solid effort to burst out of my chest. “You know how the sups call Duchess Dellondré ‘the Dreadful Duchess’?”

I nodded. My Nymph friend Rane had told me that.

“They call Duchess Diadora ‘the Delightful Duchess’.”

I snorted. More alliteration.

“The nicknames are apt descriptions of the two duchesses,” he continued. “Diadora’s popularity with the other delegates allowed her to buy us some time to clear your name. But we don’t have long.”

I glanced at Duchess Dellondré’s entourage. “Yeah, not at the rate they’re going through the chocolate desserts. Who would have known that vampires have such a sweet tooth?”

“Vampires.” An idea sparked in Kato’s eyes. “Wait, where’s Prince Wyxl?”

“The vampire who was chatting with his younger sister earlier?”

“Yes. Wyxl is Fenris’s younger brother. The two of them don’t get along very well. And Wyxl’s relationship with his mother has become strained in recent years.”

“You think Wyxl is behind the murders? How? Vampires are Metamorphs. They’re strong and fast and can change into different forms, but they can’t bewitch people. That’s Elf magic.”

“Wyxl has motive. And money. He could have hired someone to bewitch his mother and brother into killing themselves.”

“Ok.” I drew in a slow, deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Then I guess we should start by talking to him.”

Kato and I found the vampire prince in the cloakroom, his fangs sunk deep in Ms. Featherdale’s neck.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Kato demanded.

Wyxl casually stepped away from Ms. Featherdale. “Take it easy, mate.” The vampire sounded much more relaxed than he had a few minutes ago. He dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin, wiping up the crimson drop staining his pale skin.

Kato hit him with a cold glare. “Feeding on unwilling humans is forbidden by Article 26?—”

“Enough about Article 26 already. Article 26 is spoiling my appetite,” Wyxl said, smacking his lips. “She’s totally willing.”

“Oh, really?” Kato indicated Ms. Featherdale’s feet and hands, which were bound with table runners. A thick layer of tape covered her mouth. “She doesn’t look that willing to me.”

Ms. Featherdale made a muffled screaming noise.

Wyxl ignored her. “That’s because you’re a total buzzkill,” he told Kato.

Kato drew his sword.

Wyxl half-lifted his hands. “Whoa, brother,” he said, his words slurred. “Let’s not get violent.” He staggered back and tripped over an umbrella stand.

Kato used his blade to slit the bindings on Ms. Featherdale’s hands and feet. She ripped the piece of tape off her mouth, then bolted out of the closet, clutching her neck and screaming at the top of her lungs.

Poor Ms. Featherdale. Just a couple of weeks ago, she’d been attacked by the Cursed Ones. And now she’d been stuffed into a closet and snacked on by a hungry vampire.

Kato sheathed his sword, then reached down to pull Wyxl to his feet.

The vampire cracked a lopsided smile. “Thanks, bro.”

Kato’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not your bro.”

“Hey, no worries, bro.”

I could literally hear each and every one of Kato’s teeth grinding against one another.

Wyxl’s eyes flickered between me and Kato. A slow smile curled his lips. “I get it. Totally. This is your snack spot. You brought yourself a tasty little treat to eat.” He looked at me, licking his lips.

Gross.

“So I’ll just be leaving now.” Wyxl squeezed himself toward the closet’s exit.

Kato grabbed him by the collar of his fancy suit jacket, yanking him back into the closet. “I’m a Knight, you idiot, not a vampire. I don’t snack on people.”

Wyxl tried to slither out of Kato’s hold, but his movements were too choppy and uncoordinated. He looked like a fish flopping on a hook.

Kato pushed him onto the bench. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

Wyxl blinked up at Kato. “You’re a Knight, you said. That means you won’t hurt me. You’re far too honorable.”

“You were feeding on a human,” Kato replied, his eyes smoldering with cold fury. “I wouldn’t be very honorable if I let you get away with that. You are a dangerous monster.”

Wyxl swallowed hard. “I’m no monster. I’m harmless, I swear. I only took a little sip. I only ever take a little sip.”

Kato’s jaw tightened. “So you’ve fed on humans before?”

Wyxl winced. “No! Not on Gaians! The Summit was just so long and I was so thirsty,” he whined. “I had to have a sip. I was going stir-crazy in there.”

Kato loomed over him like a shadow of vengeance. “What do you do when you’re done? Toss the bodies in a dumpster?”

Wyxl stiffened. “I’ve never killed anyone!”

“Perhaps we should drag you before the Court and allow them to determine that.”

“Please don’t tell her .” Wyxl gazed up at Kato with pleading eyes. “She’s warned me about drinking from humans. Last time she caught me, she said it was my very last chance.”

“Who is she ?”

“My mother, of course. Queen Seriana,” Wyxl replied, frowning in confusion. “I thought she sent you to bring me to her.”

“Queen Seriana is dead,” Kato told him. “Prince Fenris is dead.”

“What?” Wyxl gasped. “How? Who?!” He jumped to his feet, his fists lifted. His eyes darted around the room like he was looking for a fight.

I frowned at him. “We thought it was you. That’s why we came looking for you.”

“You thought I killed my own mother? And my own brother?” His eyes bulged.

“It’s a well-known fact your relationship with them is complicated,” said Kato.

“We’re vampires! Our relationships are always complicated! But I would never kill them!” Wyxl jerked his head in vehement denial. “What kind of villain do you think I am?”

“The same kind that drags unwilling people into closets to snack on them?” I suggested.

“Those are entirely different things!”

“Really?” I countered. “Because they don’t look that different to me.”

“Feeding on humans…” Wyxl licked his lips. “Well, they’re only human, right? They’re not like us. They don’t have magic. And they’re only marginally sentient.”

I scowled at him.

The vampire completely misread my disgust. “Yes, I know. Humans are incredibly stupid. It would be no great loss if…” Wyxl’s eyes glazed over for a moment, then he shook himself free of whatever insane thoughts were dancing around inside his head.

“But, whatever the case, I have never harmed another vampire. And I never will! Especially not my own family.”

Kato watched him. The silence stretched on.

Until, finally, he turned to me and declared. “He’s telling the truth. He didn’t kill Seriana and Fenris. He left the ballroom before it happened.”

“How do you know?”

“I read his mind,” Kato said casually.

“You would never…could never…” Wyxl spluttered in protest. “The best magic instructors in all the Many Realms have been training my mental defenses since I was a child!”

Kato shrugged. “Maybe you should ask for a refund.”

Wyxl’s mouth dropped in outrage.

I opened up a telepathic window to Kato and said, Did you really read his mind?

Y es. But it was not as easy as I said. His defenses are strong. But he’s so drunk on blood that he isn’t employing them effectively. If he were sober, I doubt I could have read his mind.

So, you lied, I said, checking my smile.

I misdirected.

I grinned at him.

What’s so funny?

“Hey, you two are talking about me, aren’t you? Aren’t you!” Wyxl shouted.

“No,” Kato said, as I said, “Yes.”

“I knew it!” Wyxl made a move for the exit again. “The Court will hear of this. Mark my words?—”

Kato tossed a handful of sparkly green glitter into his face, and the vampire collapsed to the floor.

“What was that glittery stuff?” I asked.

“Just a little sleep powder I whipped up. He should be out for a few hours.”

Wyxl rolled over and let out a loud, snort-snore.

I poked the vampire with my toe, but he didn’t move again. “So, he’s not the murderer? That means we’re back at square one.” I sighed and plopped down a little too hard on the bench inside the closet.

Kato sat down next to me. “Hey, don’t worry, Seven. We’ll find the culprit.”

I glanced at him. “Before my time runs out and the vampires drag me away to their creepy prison?”

“Of course.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because Knights don’t fail,” Kato replied with perfect, unwavering confidence.

“We should add that one to your list of catchphrases,” I chuckled.

His face was very solemn when he told me, “The subject is already thoroughly covered in the Knights’ Code of Conduct.”

I smiled. “I’m sure it is.”

Kato set his hand on my arm. “You just need to have faith.”

“In the Code?” I joked.

He met my eyes. “In me.”

“I will. Uh, I mean, I do have faith in you. It’s just so frustrating to lose our only suspect.”

“Wyxl is not our only suspect. He was just the most likely one.”

I turned eagerly toward him. “So you have other suspects?”

“Yes. Number two on my list is Duke Leykan.”

“Duke Leykan?”

“He’s another member of the Court, an Elf whose policies have clashed with the vampires’ on many occasions. He has a particularly heated rivalry going on with Prince Fenris. They are constantly at odds.”

“Why?”

“Duke Leykan believes Gaia should join the Court. Prince Fenris does not.”

“So you’re telling me that our new number-one suspect is actually one of Gaia’s few allies? And if we find out he’s responsible and expose him, we’re hurting Gaia’s chances of joining the Court?” I dragged my hand through my hair, totally messing up the perfect braids Bronte had made.

“If we don’t expose Leykan, we’re hurting your chances of avoiding incarceration in a vampire prison,” Kato pointed out.

“Do you have any other suspects?”

“Many, in fact. But given how little time we have, I thought it best to start with the most likely one and work our way down from there.”

“That sounds sensible,” I agreed.

“But?”

“ But it wouldn’t hurt to spend a few seconds to list all the suspects, would it?”

“No, I suppose not. My list also includes Lord Arad, Lady Bellafina, and Baron Danik. All three have clashed with either Queen Seriana or Prince Fenris in the past. And, like Duke Leykan, all three possess the magic to bewitch people.”

“All three are Elves?”

Kato nodded. “That is correct.”

“So you believe an Elf used a spell to bewitch Fenris and Seriana, forcing them to stab themselves?”

“It does seem to be the most likely explanation. I doubt they willingly stabbed themselves.”

I nibbled on my lip. “I guess not, but…do you think you could get your hands on the knives they used to stab themselves?”

His brows drew together. “I suppose. But why?”

“Because I think everyone is wrong. I don’t think Fenris and Seriana were bewitched at all.”