Page 19 of House of Mages and Raven

“Barbie has bewitched all the heirs,” Headmistress Ethel said, her eyes on fire.

“The girl has some power,” the fae king commented, keen interest glimmering in the eyes of his projected form.

The fae king had a strong face, pointed ears, and a silver mane that stretched down to his shoulders. His dark silver eyes brimmed with elemental power. There was no resemblance between him and Rowan because he wasn’t the fae heir’s true father, a terrible secret Rowan had confessed to Sy to show his commitment to her during one of their unholy couplings.

“My king,” Queen Odette addressed King Vasiliy, her lips quivering. “That abomination murdered our beautiful daughter. And now our son, who’s bewitched by the abomination, has defied your order. I want justice. If you love me, you’ll give me the head of the abomination on a plate.”

King Vasiliy gave his queen a look. Her wet gown clung to her skin, outlining her big tits, her snakes hissing in her hair. He waved a hand, air rushing toward her and drying her instantly.

“You shall have your justice, my beloved queen,” King Vasiliy said, leveling his gold-and-diamond scepter in my direction.

Killian moved to park himself right in front of me to shield me, ready to take the blow from his father.

“Move, Killian,” King Vasiliy snarled. “The girl attacked my queen, so she shall die.”

“Barbie didn’t assault your queen, Your Majesty,” Killian said. “This bride candidate has a special magic. Whoever attacks her will suffer double the effect of their own power, unless the caster is stronger.” He surveyed the room coldly. “Just remember, attack her and it’ll backfire.”

Gasps and murmurs of surprise rippled across the throne room. Killian had just warned that whoever tried to come at me next would risk losing face in front of the entire assembly. They’d seen how easily I’d disarmed the Queen of Kingdomof Chaos. And the headmistress had also ratted me out early by telling everyone here that my magic could neutralize almost anyone’s.

King Vasiliy stayed his hand. He narrowed his cunning hazel eyes, which were so different than his son’s pure storm-blue ones.

“We’ve given our heir too much leverage, and he turns on us,” Queen Odette chirped. “He defends the thing that killed our daughter, as if his sister meant nothing to him!”

The veins in King Vasiliy’s temples throbbed. His lips pulled back in a half-snarl.

“Medea triggered her own self-destruction when she tried to kill Barbie with a forbidden weapon provided by the traitor druid and the Legion of the Brotherhood,” Killian said harshly. “She conspired with the realm’s enemies. While we’re still investigating all those who were involved in betraying the realm, I won’t allow the innocent to become a scapegoat. Not on my watch.”

“That thing isn’t innocent!” the queen shrieked. “It killed a royal princess who would’ve been the promised Bride!”

“Barbie shall get a fair trial,” Killian called over Queen Odette’s outburst, “as originally agreed by all the sovereigns and the Council.”

The rest of the heirs shouted their agreement, backing up Killian and showing their support for me. Queen Lilith watched from her luxurious box, her face harsh and her lips tight.

“Who will defend her, then?” asked the vampire king. His projection looked like an older version of Louis. “Prince Killian isn’t legally allowed to argue for a member of his own house since he could be biased. The best course is to bring the girl back to the House of Vampires, as she was originally my subject. My son can discipline her, and we shall go from there.”

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, did it? And Prince Louis was one of the few vampires who were natural-born purebloods.

“Not a chance.” The holographic image of the shifter queen sneered at the vampire king’s image. “The girl is a dormant wolf, illegally poached by the chaos house.”

Then the projections of the kings and queens from the other kingdoms all got into an argument. Noise and shouting filled the room. The Council members argued against each other as well. No one agreed with anyone.

“Please, Your Majesties!” the herald of Kingdom of Chaos shouted, and bowed around at the monarchs’ projections. “We must finish the trial and read the Accused her sentence. Barbie is guilty of?—”

“Innocent until proven guilty.” Cade stepped out of the ranks of the princes. “Prince Killian isn’t legally allowed to defend a member of his house, but I can, and I will defend Barbie. The defendant has never been a member of my house, though she has mage blood. I witnessed the event that caused the demise of Princess Medea, and thus I’m the perfect neutral party. I also bear no agenda; all I want is to speak the truth. The House of Mages is the House of the Truth Seekers for a reason.”

After a few more bouts of heated arguing between the kings, queens, and the Council, Killian let his roar of support for Cade drown out everyone else’s voices. Then the rest of the heirs roared for Cade to be my legal defender.

“Let the trial begin!” Cade called in a bright, booming voice as he moved to pose at my three o’clock and half faced the king and queen of Kingdom of Chaos.

“Thank you for defending the honor of my house.” Killian bowed to Cade before he stepped aside, and the other heirs all moved toward the audience seats with him.

The herald glared at Cade for stealing his show, but Cade didn’t spare him a glance as he adjusted his fashionable scarf.

“Tell the court your name,” Cade said.

I smiled at him. “I’m Barbie.”

“What’s your family name?” he asked.

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