Page 125 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
I sighed. “By a show of hands, who believes we should kill the humans responsible for the attacks?”
Everyone’s hands went up except for Javier’s and mine. And truly, it should’ve only been Javier’s hand that stayed down because I did want their death. But I let my vote count for Donnie since he couldn’t be here to speak.
Eyes still black, George scoffed at Javier. “A mighty fine warrior you’ll be if you aren’t prepared to kill.”
A haze of black covered my vision. I didn’t realize I had George pinned against the wall with his blood in my mouth until I felt Teddy’s hand on my shoulder. Not wanting to spit on our floor, I swallowed his blood, noting the way my stomach immediately roiled in protest.
“You will watch the way you speak to him,” I said, my nostrilsflaring.
“Of course, My King,” he said dryly. “Or have you already abdicated your throne?”
“That’s enough, George,” Teddy said, her voice firm.
His angry eyes turned to her, and I gripped his throat tighter.
“Elias,” Teddy warned. “Let him go.”
“Mo cora,”Everly said gently, calling Georgemy heart.
His eyes flashed, lightening to their light brown color before he shook his head.
“We’re not done talking about this,” George said, his words terse.
“There is nothing for us to discuss.” I pushed off him before I released him.
“Over one hundred years of friendship means nothing, then?” He let out a dry laugh. “You saved Donnie’s life and sacrificed your own. Did you even consider what this would do to Brent?” Growling, he bared his canines at Teddy. “Why share a part of your soul with him only to tear him apart?” he sneered. “You’re both selfish.”
I slammed an open palm against the wall next to his face.
“I know you’re angry with us, George.” Teddy’s voice was small, and when I turned to look at her, I found her toying with the tips of her fingers. “Please don’t tell Brent, though. Allow us to do it.”
“Are you just now thinking about him?” George asked, eyes blackening again.
“No.” Guilt washed over her features as she held a hand to her chest. “I realized what we did to him when we came back from the astral realm.”
George glared at us with eyes filled with what looked a lot like hate. He shook his head in disappointment, and when he walked past me to stand by Everly, he rammed his shoulderagainst mine. This time, I held on to my primal instincts—something that was innately mine and not gifted through magic—and forced myself not to react.
Evander cleared his throat. “I think we’ve discussed enough for today.”
I huffed out a laugh I didn’t feel. We’d barely talked about the one thing I’d asked everyone to come to discuss. I forced myself to focus, to attempt to earn the respect of those who’d come today.
“My apologies,” I said, trying to save the downward spiral of this meeting. “You voted to kill the humans responsible. Why?”
“They targeted and murdered children,” Evander said. “I won’t waste any of our resources for a prison to keep them in when they deserve to die as brutally as those children did. Evil like that cannot be rehabilitated.”
I couldn’t argue with him because I agreed with him. Still, I held back.
“Do all the shifters feel this way?” I asked.
Evander gave me a small smile. “I haven’t spoken to each one personally, but this is how we would handle it if it were up to us.”
“Alastor?” I asked the mage who hadn’t spoken since his argument with Teddy.
“As long as people like that exist, no one in any realm is safe,” Alastor said. “They killed masses without any thought for life. They have harmed your people in irrevocable ways. I believe the real question is, how could you, as their leader and protector, stand for it? How could you not thirst for their blood on your blade?”
Not speaking, I ground the back of my teeth. It was exactly what I wanted. But I knew it wouldn’t bring any of those whodied back.Nothing would. The only hope I had for the future was to pave the way for a better one.
“Will your vote change when Donnie is present and can speak for himself?” Alastor asked. “You aren’t doing him any justice by going against what you yourself want. Let him say his piece when he is well enough to do so, but don’t do your people a disservice by going against your own judgment.”
