Page 67 of Enchanted Crown
Jagen’s soon-to-be-wife was crying, saying over and over again that he didn’t do it.
Jagen, to give him some credit, was not really fighting Malachi off. Was it because he knew he would lose or because he didn’t feel the need to? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to help shake a confession out of him or merely observe. I was angry enough I didn’t completely trust myself to touch Jagen right now.
“I didn’t kill Morana.” Jagen was shaking his head vehemently. “I have no idea what happened.”
Malachi moved to shove him against the wall again, his hands fisted in Jagen’s shirt.
“He’s being set up!” Charlotte wailed. “He didn’t do it.”
My father was adept at getting confessions out of people, so unfortunately, I knew exactly what we needed. I sent my magic out to wrap around Jagen. “Malachi.”
“I know she said no violen—” He cut off as chains of blue began wrapping around and around Jagen.
“She said minimal violence, not none.” I wanted to encase him in my power, head to toe. Let him feel the level of terror Esta had all these months. Though I may have looked like him in this moment, had I been my father, Jagen would already be dead.
I unleashed more of my power at him even as I reminded myself of who I was. And there was the very small chance that Jagen was innocent. Still, I let my magic wrap and squeeze, until Jagen was feeling the pressure on his lungs. Enough to inflict terror, not enough to seriously injure.
“That is oddly helpful,” Malachi noted.
Jagen’s fiancé cried harder the more covered Jagen became. “Please! Stop. He didn’t do it.”
I tightened my hold further and kept as cool a countenance as I could manage. I wasn’t going to hurt him or kill him, but I neededJagen to believe I was capable of it. Though I didn’t like using it often, fear was rather efficient at shining the light on secrets.
“Stop! Stop it!” Jagen’s fiancé shouted as he became covered up to the neck. “I am pregnant!”
My eyes were focused on Jagen’s to see his widen with terror.
“Charlotte, no,” he gasped out.
“I’m pregnant and no one knows,” Charlotte added more quietly. “I have been feeling sick with the pregnancy and he has been with me. He hasn’t left my side. He was with me the entire night Morana went missing.”
I stilled. If Jagen’s fiancé was pregnant, that only made him more suspicious. I squeezed the chains tighter and moved close enough to intimidate with my height. “Do you want the crown for yourself? Your future child? Is that what this is about?”
Jagen choked out, “No.” I released my magic only slightly and he added, “But this is exactly why we haven’t told anyone.” He looked to his fiancé, and I could see concern all over his face. The only thing clear to me from this entire exchange thus far was how much Jagen cared for his future wife. “I—” he closed his eyes.
I willed my power to retreat some, keeping his hands at his sides, but sliding down to his chest and letting up on the pressure. “You what?” I spit. “Please tell me. Tell me anything. Because all signs are pointing to you, Jagen. You have the most to gain. Particularly with a child on the way. Your alibi manages to make you even more suspect.”
His eyes were on mine as he said, “I think Samori knew something.”
“Like what?” Malachi asked, looking like he wanted to grab for Jagen again.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I just know he was acting odd.”
“Before or after I healed him?”
“Before.” He swallowed and took a shaky breath, likely feelingthe stress of the weight of my magic. “I cornered him to try to get him to talk to me. You know how he was. He lived life to the fullest.” Another pause. “He wasn’t himself. He’s always been close to Esta and me. So I went to talk to him. Cousin to cousin.”
“And?” I never took my eyes from Jagen’s. Looking for every weakness, every flinch, every lie.
“And he told me he was handling it for now. Whatever it was.” He let out a sigh. “Shortly after, the attack on Esta happened.”
Malachi looked to me before quickly looking back to Jagen. “You don’t think he was responsible? Because I know for a fact he was not in that dining room nor near it when it all went down.”
Jagen shook his head. “No, but the shifter we found impaled? I think he was involved somehow.”
That had been the most haunting part. What had been big enough to chase the shifter or cause that? I hadn’t suspected Samori, he was just a kid. Yet stuck in his dragon form, he was definitely big enough to cause damage.
“Why are you onlynowtelling us?” Malachi said none too softly.
