Well, that wasn’t a good sign.
Pete moved closer to her, the length of his arm pressing against hers as he squeezed her hand.
“Destiny Monroe,” the crow said, his voice so deep and ominous, it could only be Odin speaking through him. “You’ve been summoned by our council for the murder of Helga, my wife’s golden goose.”
“It was self-defense.” Pete moved forward, but Eostre held up a hand. He huffed and stepped back to her side. “Helga was going to kill theelfen.”
Gabriela sneered. “Destiny is on trial here, not you.”
Michelle shot her a cold look, and she closed her mouth, taking a step backward.
Destiny remained silent. She wasn’t really on trial, and there was no use in defending herself. She could tell by the looks on their faces this meeting was merely a formality. They’d made their decisions. There would be no negotiations. No pleading for her life. What Fate had willed, no one could undo. Not even the allfather himself.
“Hello?” Jane’s voice drifted up from the bakery, followed by several pairs of footsteps on the stairs. “You were supposed to wait until sunset to start this shindig,” she said as she strolled into the room.
Gaston entered behind her, and then Crimson and Mike followed, another couple Destiny had never met coming in behind them. Michelle nodded at the couple, her expression as unreadable as ever. She knew them, at the very least, which meant they were probably angels.
“Crimson’s parents,” Destiny whispered. They had stepped in to replace the cakes Helga had smashed. Gabriela probably called them there to prove a point, to get in one last jab at Destiny’s self-esteem before the prophecy was fulfilled.
“I apologize for our tardiness.” Gaston bowed at Odin’s crow. “Myassociateinsisted on changing her shoes before we arrived.”
“They’re my lucky stilettos. I thought they might come in handy.” Jane lifted a foot and winked at Destiny.
Michelle cleared her throat. “Destiny, as I am sure you are well aware, our pantheons have been at odds for millennia. Our truce has held for centuries, both sides keeping to our own realms to maintain peace.”
“That’s not true. You don’t all stay in your own realms.” Jane raised her hand, and Destiny tried not to cringe. “Plenty of fae call New Orleans home, and Destiny has lived here for a long time too.”
“Because this realm is considered neutral ground,” Destiny said through clenched teeth, giving her head a warning shake. Her friend was only trying to help, but talking back to an angel of Michelle’s caliber always ended badly.
“You’re lucky we’ve already smited your kind.” Gabriela crossed her arms.
“I think you mean smote.” Jane mimicked her posture.
Crimson whispered something into Jane's ear, and she rolled her eyes, dropping her arms to her sides before making a face at Gabriela.
“I tire of this banter,” Odin said through his crow. “Destiny, as a citizen of the angelic realm, you murdered a fae, thus ending the truce. Angels, this is your chance to make amends. What is your offering?”
Michelle opened her mouth to speak, but Gabriela beat her to it. “We offer you her life. We’ll strip her wings and halo permanently, rendering her human. You can do with her whatever you like.”
Gabriela smirked at Destiny and swiped her hands across each other as if finally ridding herself of the burden.
“Your offering is accepted,” Odin said. “We will take her life, and the truce will remain intact. Frigg, Eostre, see to it.” The crow flapped its wings twice and disappeared in a cloud of black glitter.
Frigg gestured at Destiny, and Michelle strode toward her.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” her dad said as he hung his head. “I tried to keep you safe.”
“You can’t do this.” Pete shoved her behind his back, spreading his arms as if he could actually stop it from happening.
“It’s okay.” She tugged on his arm, but he refused to move. “You can’t get in the way of angelic business unless you want to be on trial too.”
“They can string me up by the fluff on my nuts before I’ll let them hurt you.” He jerked his head toward the goddesses. “Eostre, Destiny saved Easter. She savedus. Surely you didn’t agree to a death sentence.”
“Step aside, Peter,” Eostre said. “All her people will do is strip her angelic magic.”
“I won’t let this happen.” His eyes were wild, his pulse sprinting in his veins as Destiny clutched his wrist and stepped around his outstretched arms. “Don’t.”
“It’s okay.” She faced Michelle and let him go. “I’m ready to accept my punishment.”
