Michelle’s expression didn’t change. Not even an ounce of pity or sympathy creased her brow as she laid a hand on Destiny’s chest.
Her stomach tightened, a heavy ball forming in her gut before drifting upward and expanding in her chest. Pinpricks gathered on her skin beneath Michelle’s palm, and the ball vibrated, rattling her to the core of her being. The room seemed to spin around her, and her head felt as if it might literally explode.
The sensation dissipated, and Michelle stepped away. “It is done.”
Destiny swayed on her feet, but as the room stilled, she didn’t feel pain or emptiness like she expected. She simply felt lighter.
Michelle returned to Gabriela’s side. “Her life is yours. Do with it what you will.”
“No!” Pete grabbed Destiny’s arm and stomped the floor, no doubt to open a rabbit hole and whisk her away.
“Not now, Peter.” Eostre held a hand toward him, and he froze. “Behave yourself, or I’ll send you home before we finish with her.”
Gabriela snickered. “I can’t wait to see this.”
Michelle cut her another look before turning to the goddesses. “What other charges have you brought against us?”
Othercharges? Destiny rubbed her chest and leaned into Pete. “If it’s about his amnesia, I take full responsibility. Please don’t let my mistake affect the truce between our realms.”
“That is noble of you to say.” Eostre smiled softly.
Frigg glanced at her before turning her attention to Gaston. “Vampire, what evidence did your council uncover?”
Gaston straightened and stepped forward. “Madame, Mademoiselle. We discovered the vampire responsible for turning your golden goose and punished him accordingly.”
“With a stake in the heart.” Jane made a stabbing motion before mouthingit’s more fun with my bootat Destiny and wiggling her ankle.
“Ahem.” Gaston glared at Jane before continuing. “Before the culprit expired, our interrogators were able to glean information about Helga’s endgame. She wished to usurp, not Eostre, but Odin himself.”
“And how did she plan to do this?” Frigg asked.
“You are aware of how she devised to insert herself into your council.” Gaston clasped his hands behind his back. “Once there, she intended to invite a team of angels to attack, giving them whatever insider information she could gather. She colluded with one angel in particular, who agreed to split the fae realm, allowing Helga to rule one part while she reigned over the other.”
“Which angel in particular?” Eostre arched a brow.
“That one.” Jane pointed at Gabriela. “Now can I use my lucky boots?”
“That will not be necessary,” Michelle said.
Gabriela scoffed. “Can you believe this? Me colluding with a vampire duck? The absurdity of it makes me laugh.”
Michelle rolled her eyes and pressed her palms together. “Gabriela, you are sentenced to five hundred years in the repository, after which our council with the fae will reconvene to determine if the punishment has sufficed.”
“What?” Gabriela shrieked. “You can’t be serious. You believe them?” She flung her arm at the vampires before glaring at Destiny. “You believe that sniveling little runt over me, your star manager?”
“Star ass kisser is more like it.” Destiny crossed her arms, apologizing for her language not even crossing her mind.
“You’re broken.” Gabriella jabbed a finger at her. “You always have been.”
“I’m not broken.” Destiny raised her head, straightening her spine. “I’m fine just the way I am, and I’m sorry I ever let you make me feel otherwise. You’re the one who’s broken.”
Gabriela gasped and narrowed her eyes, her jaw ticking before she opened her mouth. “You?—”
Michelle flicked her wrist, sending her to the repository in a cloud of baby blue dust. Then, she leveled her gaze at Destiny. “This will be the last time I see or hear from you. I will leave you to your punishment. Mark, return to our realm as soon as it has been dealt.”
“Yes, ma’am,” her dad said, and Michelle disappeared into the ether.
“Now, Destiny.” Frigg laced her fingers together. “About your life.”
