Page 82 of Untraced Magic
A long stone table was centered at the front, an elderly male and female behind it, followed by another two, younger than the elders but older than us beside them. The females had their hair held out of their faces in what looked like long braids down their backs, the men with glasses on the tips of their noses.
I felt tiny walking into what Colton had mentioned was called the chamber.
To me, it felt more like a tomb. Something I wasn’t sure I would walk back out of, and I was certain other people hadn’t.
It reeked of death as if the bones of its enemies were embedded in its walls or their blood smeared into the floor. I saw no such evidence that could back up my thoughts, but something about the place justscreamedits misgivings, dissecting me as if trying to decide my fate.
“Father,” Colton addressed the elderly man. “I would like to introduce to the council Betty and her granddaughter, Morgan.”
The gentleman’s attention turned to Betty before sliding over me, his aged blue eyes piercing mine from behind his glasses.
Colton turned to us, his hand motioning to the elderly man.
“This is my father, Arthur, and his council.” He returned his attention to the front of the room. “As you know, it’s come to our attention that Morgan is new to town and has asked for your help in tracking down her birth parents.”
The elderly man raised his head slightly, looking down over the tip of his nose at me through his glasses. “Welcome.” His gaze fell on Betty. “The names you gave me earlier… It’s not good news, I’m afraid.”
Tyler’s hand found mine, squeezing it tight.
Arthur continued, turning to me, “I’ve used all available resources. With discretion, of course. Your father has not been seen in over five years, and your mother… Well, there have been reports of her being alive, but very unstable. Her current location is unknown.”
My heartsank. I had asked for answers and now I had them.
“I need to clarify one thing.”
My head raised to find Betty moving to where Colton was stood near the front of the room.
Betty continued, “When Morgan was born, it was in the territory of Port Fallere. Her mother made bad choices and like you said, wasn’t in her right mind. As I understand it, she is therefore by law officially part of the Sacred Souls coven.”
My jaw dropped. What the…?
So many questions needed answers, yet I couldn’t sound a single one.
What did this mean? Where was Port Fallere? Did this mean I would have to move? Be forced away from Tyler and this life I’d started to build here, in a town I was actually starting to like?
A splitting headache crashed against my skull, my free hand rubbing my temples in small motions.
Tension rippled off Tyler in waves, and I snuck a sideways glance at him. His jaw was rigid, a nerve pushing from it every few seconds. If death formed a color, it had possessed his irises in the darkest form I’d ever seen, spoiling them. Then a ring of glowing amber suddenly circled his pupils.
Was that his fire element pushing to the surface?
I’d never seen it before, not like this. Was he in control right now? Or something else?
“Tyler?” I whispered.
His fingers laced through mine, his chest a controlled rhythm, rising and falling. But his eyes, they never wavered… fixed on the council ahead.
The council table stilled, heads turning to each other when Betty’s voice continued.
“Morgan was birthed in Port Fallere against her will, and against her father’s will. We finally managed to return her to Cutters Coven a few months later.” Her hands knotted together to her front, a tale of desperation in every movement. “I know the law, and I realize being born in Port Fallere entitles her to their coven. But she has been raised, albeit by humans, and notthere. This I know to be true.”
She paused before turning to each councilor, a sudden fierceness pushing to the surface from her fragile frame.
Betty went on, “I propose she is to be legally invited to join our coven. She has great power in her, I know it. She would be of great benefit to our people.”
A blanket of uncertainty wrapped itself around me.
What would happen if I wasn’t accepted into Cutters Coven? Would I be asked to leave?
