Page 25 of Fated Moons
“When my father arrives tomorrow, he should have some answers.”
“Perhaps, but we have some things we need to discuss and we might not want to tell your dad.” Jackson sipped a beer while he tended to the steaks.
She opted to sit at the picnic table, staring at the low orange and yellow flames dancing toward the sky in the center of the firepit. The smell of fresh, searing meat tickled her nose. “Like what? My father’s the most powerful wizard. If anyone is going to understand this, he will.”
“Trask is more powerful and I know I said I trusted your dad, but I think it’s best if we keep this to Trask.”
She snapped her head in Jackson’s direction. “Are you suggesting my father has anything to do with this?”
He shook his head as he stabbed one of the steaks with a long fork. “No. My instincts tell me your dad is a good man. But only a powerful witch could have turned three sparrows into wolves that quickly.”
“With that logic, you should be concerned about Trask.”
“Perhaps.” Jackson nodded. “But Trask is also a hunted creature. You and your father are not.” He held up his hand. “I get that being a royal witch has its problems. And some believe you come from darkness, but no one has put a bounty on your head like they have the wolfairies or Trask.”
“That’s true. But any powerful witch could either shapeshift or shapeshift other creatures. It takes years of practice. Hell, I could do it given the right spells and potions.” She bit down on the inside of her mouth. Her magic might be strong, but she couldn’t construct that spell in an afternoon.
He turned and arched a brow. “Isn’t it against your witch code to manipulate nature that way and use it to harm others?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have the chops to do it. I’ve been honing my craft for years, and while I’m no high priestess, I have the knowledge. Besides, my bloodline comes from some of the most powerful magic in the witch community. Technically, I come from the same lines as Toldar, only he’s part fairy.”
“You’re making my point for me because you seem to be a little fairy too.” He closed the top of the grill. “Anyone in the royal family probably has the power to construct such a spell.”
“But a spell like that would take a while to perfect unless you were a high priestess or a wizard.”
“I’m well aware.”
“For someone who says they don’t spend time with witches, you certainly know a lot about us.” She scowled. It could take multiple tries to get a spell of that magnitude right. It wouldcause the death of many innocent creatures, something that was forbidden unless under dire circumstances. Whoever had turned the birds had been practicing black magic for years, and anyone who cared to research the royal family would know that many of their ancestors were masters of dark spells and had deep ties to the underground.
Today, those descendants have been outcast. Anyone who dared dabble in the obscure shadows of evil would be stripped of their witchcraft.
“I learned a lot during my father’s trial. I’d skip school and sneak into the back of the courtroom. My father’s lawyers tried to make all of you look evil.”
“We’re not bad witches, and no one I know would do this.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh, shaking his head. “You can believe that all you want, but someone close to one of us is responsible for what just happened, though I don’t have any witches I’m close to, for obvious reasons.”
“Your agent’s assistant is a witch, as are half a dozen people in our producer’s office. I doubt Trask would ever use black magic in such a way, but he is a master.”
He held up his hand. “I know, and I suppose it could be any one of them, except Trask. But whoever it is, they have a motive for wanting me out of the picture.”
“Maybe it’s one of your exes. Wasn’t it Heidi who threatened to castrate you?”
“Among other things, but Heidi hates witches.”
When he opened the lid to the grill, smoke billowed out. The rich scent of a well-seasoned cow drifted in the breeze, making her stomach growl. Meat had always been her go-to food.
“Doesn’t mean she wouldn’t hire one to destroy you,” Amanda said.
“She’s got no reason.”
“She said you were cruel and you cheated on her,” Amanda said. “A woman scorned will do crazy things.”
“I never cheated on anyone.” He tossed the steaks on the tray, setting them down in front of her.
“But there were pictures of you with another?—”
“Those pictures were of me and an old friend who was going through a hard time. The press went nuts, and no matter what I said, Heidi didn’t believe me.”
