Cecily peeked her head in. “Sorry, I know you guys were planning to rest, but Maeve is awake and contained. She’d like to speak to Logan and the panthers.”
“Is that safe?” Logan asked.
“She can’t use her magic while under containment,” Cecily explained. “She can’t hurt you. They’ve also placed Godric into stasis while they figure out a plan since he hasn’t woken up yet.”
She didn’t look particularly happy about that last part but I wasn’t about to dig into it.
We followed her to Kendrick’s suite, where the witches were congregated, the rest of my pack joining us as well, their obvious curiosity bright in the bond.
Rachel sat on the floor, the Council standing around her in a semicircle. Her hands were bound, and crystal-tipped pins dug into her body, trails of blood marring her smooth skin. She didn’t shy her gaze away when I caught it. I wasn’t sure why Iexpected her to. She’d been softer the last time I’d known her, but now that I really looked at her, she was more stranger than anything else. Once upon a time I’d loved her, but maybe the Rachel I knew didn’t even exist anymore.
“We’re here. What did you want?”
“The Council insists I confess my crimes regarding you while in your presence.”
Logan held my hand tightly and Seth looped his arm around her waist, likely as much to keep himself upright as to offer her comfort.
Rachel sighed and Anya’s book moved to float in front of her, ready to record her confession. “I, Maeve Fiona O’Clery, did knowingly try to meddle with fate, coerced a bond, and engaged in illegal magics. My gods cautioned me against this path and I chose not to listen.”
I had no idea what she meant about coercing a bond when I had given it to her freely. Or maybe it wasn’t as free as I’d thought.
“For decades I hunted for a way to undo the damage my ancestor caused. I was tired of the O’Clerys being persecuted for crimes Fiona’s descendants didn’t personally commit, and I thought that if I could undo what she’d done, I could finally live however I wanted. I sought to free Godric MacCadáin from his prison and heal the rift between our bloodlines. When I was unable to access him, I knowingly plied Anya La Valla with falsehoods to acquire her assistance. With the help of her library, I discovered the Ashford line, the only living descendants of the son Godric had before his imprisonment. I used blood magic on Caden Ashford without his knowledge to begin our relationship and did not release him from these magics prior to acquiring his bond. At the time I thought all it would take to mend the rift was bonding our bloodlines, but obviously I was mistaken.”
I stood frozen as she explained, searching back through my memories. She had swept into my life, inserting herself naturally—or so I’d thought at the time—into our day to day, showering me with affection and giving me hope for a future I now knew was never meant to exist.
“As he started to escape my control, I turned my attention to the younger Ashford, opting for multiple love spells to encourage his already existing affection for me. I considered that bonding both living members of the bloodline might be more successful than one, but before I could initiate the second bond, Caden fully escaped the control of my magic, and Seth did as well. The bond between the brothers was too strong for me to fully manipulate. I disappeared instead, forcing a spell that made him believe the bond was broken. After that I assumed a new identity until I was reconnected to the Ashfords during this whole fuss with Godric.”
Fury burned hot and bright through the bond, my pack indignant over the harm Rachel had caused us.
“Maeve O’Clery,” said Violet, “the Council has deemed you too dangerous to remain in possession of your magic. For your crimes against the Ashford line, in addition to the crimes already confessed to us, as well as others I’m sure we will uncover in time, your magic will be bound for the remainder of your life. You will also be taken into Council custody, where we will determine effective routes of reconciliation.”
“I have a suggestion,” said Anya. “If you’re aiming for reconciliation, I would like my request to be considered since I was unknowingly party to Maeve’s crimes. I’m sure the Ashfords won’t have an issue with it.”
Rachel sighed again, staring up at the ceiling. “I feel like I know what you’re going to suggest, because my gods are being rather loud.”
“Go on,” Jisoo said, encouraging Anya.
“Maeve could surrender her magic to Logan, like Logan did for Godric. If she’s going to be bound anyway, she’d have no use for her magic.”
My mate stiffened next to me. “What?”
“What part are you confused about?” Rachel asked, a hint of condescension in her tone.
“Um, all of it? I only had magic for a few weeks, and didn’t really have any teachers.”
“Hold on,” Violet interjected. “The O’Clerys are not supposed to have magic at all. Logan is not entitled to Maeve’s magic regardless of the situation.”
“Mom,” said Cecily in sharp admonishment. “You can’t be serious. Logan and her mates gave up everything, risked their lives to heal Godric and bring an end to the threat the Council has been worried about for centuries. Surely if we bound Fiona forcreatingGodric, we could allow Logan to have magic forhealinghim? I believe she deserves that much and I would like to formally petition the Council to consider it if an agreement is not reached before removal of Maeve from the property.”
“We’ll validate the petition as well,” said Sharla, Kyoko nodding at her side.
“They would have died protecting witches and shifters alike if we had not arrived when we did to intervene,” said Kyoko. “Godric stripped their magic, and nearly their lives as well. I believe the O’Clery line has earned its redemption through Logan.”
Violet sighed and snapped her fingers, a bubble enveloping her and the other Council members for several agonizing moments before they appeared once more. “The petition is accepted by the Council, on the condition that Logan has a trained witch approved by us to supervise her education.”
“I volunteer,” announced Cecily. “I’ll train her, and you know you can trust me.”
Violet pursed her lips. “You work for the Council. You’re supposed to stay with me.”
