Page 128 of Destined to Fight

Kelly fought hard to keep herself in check as they all stood, waiting to be called, but it was tough. There were almost forty Arcane packed in the hall outside their court, all of them at the top of their fields.

She couldn’t help but wonder if they could overpower the Council.

Dinnae go there, lass. We are not powerful enough yet, and an action like that would be frowned upon, to say the least.

She gave him her most enticing smile.

It could be fun.

Kade didn’t answer, and he clouded his thoughts to her.

You agree, you just don’t want to admit it.

More silence. Party pooper.

The double doors opened and the same thin man in a tux called her name and motioned for them to enter the room.

The same sixteen people sat in the comfortable seats watching them as they filed into the room.

Fabian stopped in the center of the room again, Kelly followed suit, and Kade stood beside her. The rest of their group formed two lines behind them.

For reasons Kelly couldn’t explain, she wasn’t nervous this time. Instead, she found the Council and their outdated views somewhat humorous. She knew they could ruin her life in an instant, but something inside her said everything would be okay eventually.

The Grand Master stared at her for at least a minute, pouring judgment in her direction.

“Miss Hart.” It was a statement, not a greeting.

Fabian hadn’t given her the signal to speak, and Kade sent her a message to keep quiet.

The woman raised her eyebrows and continued staring at Kelly, somehow questioning her entire existence.

This was going to be so much more difficult than the last time.

“I seem to remember ordering you not to use your powers outside of your own home less than two weeks ago.”

Silence followed, Kade warned against even a sound.

The Grand Master’s voice raised a few levels in volume. “Yet, here you are, having purposely violated that order, along with almost forty of your closest friends. It seems as though you do not take this matter, or the Arcane government, seriously.”

Kelly wanted to tap her foot on the ground while the woman paused for dramatic effect.

“Please, do explain what made you think it was okay to toss our order aside and bring a minor tsunami to the neighborhood of Highland Park?”

“Grand Master,” Fabian began.

The Grand Master held up her hand to him.

“You will not speak for her today, fae. Today, she will speak for herself. I’m genuinely interested in what she has to say.”

Fucking fuckity fuck. Could she say that out loud, she wondered.

Take it easy, lass. Keep emotions out of it.

Right, easy-peasy, lemon-squeezey.

Kelly stood up tall and squared her shoulders. “Grand Master, my defiance of your order was not planned, nor was it done simply to spite you or the Council. In the moment, I acted to save those who fought for me against an unknown enemy. I do not believe in letting others fight for me if I cannot fight with them.”

The Grand Master’s mouth drew a tight, thin line. “Mm, I see. Your acts were noble then, is that it?”

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