Page 28 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“Not if you’re from that realm,” Tya countered. “For years we’ve had to watch our previous Council member make a mockery of our magic, our ways, and our people, disgracing us by throwing in his lot with the wizards during the war. I’m the future,” she declared, straightening, “and I’m ready to prove it.”
“Ready enough to commit murder for it?” Declan asked, cutting straight to the chase.
Tya didn’t even so much as blink. She continued to make eye contact with Chaoxiang, as though thinking he was the only one she needed to convince. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“We’ll be the judge of that, Ms. Yarran,” he muttered. “How long did you know Aata Taylor?”
“We arrived here a few days ago,” the Australian candidate mused. “So… a few days.”
Hell quirked a brow at the girl’s sass. “You never met him before?”
“No.”
“Some will argue thatyouhad the biggest motive to kill Aata,” Emperia pointed out. “With him out of the way, you stand to win the Australian seat unopposed. What do you say to that?”
“That anyone who believes that of me doesn’t know me at all,” Tya shrugged, nonplussed. “I’m here for my realm. For my beliefs. For my desire to do better. I’d be making a mockery of all that if I were to simply kill my opponent. There’s no glory in being simply given the honor of representing my people. That privilege must beearned.”
Emperia gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Very well. Where were you between ten and eleven yesterday morning?”
“In the accommodation provided to me by the Council,” Tya replied, knowing the question had been coming.
“Was there anyone else with you?”
“My brother, Christopher,” she replied. “He’s happy to be questioned.”
“We’ll be in contact with him,” Chaoxiang promised. “Do you mind if we perform a Calling spell?”
It was Rosie’s turn to lift a brow in her colleague’s direction. A Calling of Arcane Magic spell would tell the Council the spells used by a witch within the last 24 hours. It was genius.
“Not at all.”
The Council members joined hands around the table and began to pull in their collective magic. Joining together their energy ensured no one person could be accused of their favoritism or deception. Their magic was woven together seamlessly, forming one long single ribbon of glistening energy before it reached Tya. It gently began to swirl around her, creating a softly glowing aura before it began to pluck strings of magical energy out of her. Each started out thin and spindly, like taffy.
One by one they began to detach from Tya, floating up into the air above her head like bubbles that formed into the memories of spells. For someone who was a candidate in a global election, Tya’s Calling spell results were surprising. Aside from the magic she had done during her Ordeals so far, the rest of her spells were strangely simple and few in number. There was nothing there that would indicate the kind of magical poisoning that Aata had suffered.
As far as her magic was concerned, Tya hadn’t been the one to murder Aata. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have her brother—or someone else—do it.
“Thank you, Tya. We have just one last question for you, if you’ll indulge us a little longer. Do you happen to know what a Taniwha is?” Chaoxiang asked.
Tya’s face flushed pink, and she glanced over at Rosie sheepishly before averting her gaze.
“It’s a powerful dark spirit,” she replied quietly. “They come from New Zealand. Aata was a Taniwha. I told him he needed to tell the Council. Mrs. Forrest overheard part of that conversation.”
Chaoxiang nodded. Rosie could tell he was pleased that, for all intents and purposes, it seemed Tya had been truthful with them. “Thank you, Tya. You may go. We’ll call you if you’re needed again.”
Once Tya had left the room, all eyes turned to Ivy.
“Anything from Aata?” Declan asked hopefully.
“Nothing,” Ivy sighed from where she’d been sitting on the couch in the corner. “He was busy watching her every move like he was a hawk ready to pounce on a field mouse, but there was no real animosity there at all.”
“It can’t be her, then,” Emperia said. “Surely?”
“I wouldn’t put my money on her,” Ivy agreed.
“That still leaves us with two pretty robust suspects,” Declan pointed out.
Chaoxiang pursed his lips. “I’m not willing to rule any of them out yet.”
