Page 31 of The Tribes of Magic
“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?”
“Butit 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.”
CHAPTER 3
MAGICAL SIGNATURES
“What makes you think Seriana and Fenris weren’t bewitched?” Kato looked skeptical, but I was so sure.
“I’ve been thinking and, well, did they sound like theywantedto stab themselves?” I asked.
“Not especially.” The skepticism slowly began to fade from his face.
I pressed on. “If they’d been bewitched, they wouldn’t have sounded so terrified. They would havebelievedthey wanted to stab themselves.”
“You have a point.” His gaze lifted in thought.
“That’s why I’m wondering about the knives. Is it possible they could have been enchanted somehow to—I don’t know—turn against their bearers?”
“Objects can be enchanted to do all kinds of things,” Kato said darkly.
“And if you examined the daggers, you could tell if they’d been enchanted to make Seriana and Fenris kill themselves?”
“Yes.” He rose from the bench. “Follow me.”
I accompanied him back to the ballroom. When we arrived, Seriana and Fenris were still on the floor. And the knives werestill lodged inside their chests. According to Wyxl, the magical races were more civilized than humans, but after seeing that, I had a really hard time believing it.
“Prepare yourself,” Kato said quietly, his eyes scanning the room.
“Prepare myself for what?”
“To cast a shield around us.”
