Page 132 of De-Witched

Gabriel gripped the back of a chair to keep his knees from buckling. “What?”

“It wasn’t him. But I did find something interesting.” Bastian’s voice was deceptively casual. “Someone reporting how influenced you were by a greedy, grasping human. And how the best thing might be to call you out in front of the board, shaming you to be strong. Whispering about how, sadly, maybe you weren’t ready to be CEO.” Bastian’s eyes flashed as he sought the person in question. “Someone who likes his position as ear to that power very much. Right, Will?”

Shock resonated through Gabriel as his head swung to his uncle’s assistant.

Will’s expression mirrored the emotion. “I—you think I...?” he spluttered, putting up his hands, pen and paper falling to the floor. The pen hit, rolled to where August stood staring.

“You kept talking about the human.” August’s brows drew together. “How she was corrupting Gabriel. How he was turning back into the child he’d been.”

Gabriel squeezed the back of the chair and said nothing to that.

Will looked wildly between them all. “But...why would I? It’s not like I have influence.”

“As August’s assistant, you get a certain amount of power,” Henry countered, one platinum brow arching. “August trusts you absolutely, gives you assignments no normal assistants get.”

“You recommend someone for promotion? Done.” Bastian snapped his fingers. “You suggest firing someone for lackluster work? Bam. You push for a new trial; he’ll consider it strongly. You want to be the power behind the throne.”

“I didn’t—I couldn’t...” Will shook his head, seemingly helpless.

August turned fully to his assistant. “Then prove it.” He gestured to Bastian.

“No.” Will balled his fists. “Just because you agreed doesn’t mean I have to. It’s a violation.”

“Do you have something to hide?” James asked from his seat.

“No.”

“Take the test.”

“Yes, take the test.”

“Take the test.”

It ran around the room until August held up a hand, gaze locked on the warlock in question. “Will, your contract says you must submit to a mind scan if deemed necessary by the board.” He kept his hand lifted. “All those in favor?”

Will snapped. One minute he was the sweet guy forever running around after Gabriel’s uncle. The next, an ugly sneer curled his lips. “Fine.” He shrugged, folding his arms. “I rigged the game a little. So what?”

Gabriel’s blood rose, thick, frothing. “So. What?”

His power shot out and Will slammed into the wall, clawing at the phantom hand holding his throat. There were some exclamations of surprise, more that it was Gabriel doing it than out of objection. Nobody moved to stop him.

Henry let the other warlock struggle for thirty seconds before walking to Gabriel’s side. “Ease off.”

Gabriel’s jaw clenched so tight, he thought he heard his teeth crack. “He hurt her.”

“She’s okay. And he’ll get what’s coming to him.” Coolly, he looked at Will. “The High Family love sentencing dirt like you.” His hand rested on Gabriel’s shoulder. A reminder. A support. “He’s not worth it, Gabriel.”

A humming moment passed.

Gabriel closed his hand and dropped it, allowing Will to slide down the wall. He plopped to the carpet, chest heaving, gulping in air.

He struggled to sit up. “She’s a human,” he rasped. “Like they’ll care.”

Henry smirked, shoulder to shoulder with Gabriel. “I bet they will, considering the damage you could’ve caused this company.”

“Speaking of.” James looked around the room, received nods. “I think we can all agree you acted without bias and with pure intent to help a human, Gabriel. It’s exactly what we want in a CEO for Goodnight’s Remedies. You may have voided the clause by breaking the binding, but you did so in a way that would have made your parents proud.”

Gabriel’s throat went thick as other board members chimed in with their agreement.

---