simmered. “We’ll have to disagree.”
I shot my arm out against his chest to keep him from engaging. “Mika is fine, right?”
She didn’t spare me a glance. “Yes.”
Eilan placed a heavy hand on Raven’s. “It’s okay, Raven.”
Noc cast me a quick glance before straightening the hem of his bloodstained tunic and slipping his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. I knew that look of ease. A pretense so he could strike on a whim and leave the target reeling.
I took a small step forward, and he tensed. “Thank you, Crown. Let’s begin.”
Yazmin inclined her regal head. “All right.” Nessie’s wet nose twitched, and Yazmin folded her hands in her lap. “Recount the events leading up to your banishment.”
I did. I described the night I’d found the human stapled to the wall in Wynn’s basement. Every vivid detail burned against my tongue, and the Council winced. Kaori dropped her gaze entirely when I spoke of being torn from my home and cast out as an exile. Of the things I’d had to do to survive.
Yazmin tilted her head to her beast. “Nessie?”
Nessie’s clear opal eyes flashed a vibrant green. Truth. Tristan dropped his head into his burly hands. Raven settled back into her chair, mouth open and hand squeezing Eilan’s tight. And Gaige…did nothing. His steel-blue stare was locked on Noc.
“What about Wynn?” Tristan clasped his hands together. “Since he’s not here to answer for his actions, what can you tell us about his motivations? Why would he charm you?”
Clouds formed thick in my mind, and a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. “I’m…I’m not certain.” My gaze slanted to Raven. She was watching me with an intensity that left me shaken. She had to be the one who’d placed the bounty. But why? What could she be hiding?
Tristan scrunched his nose. “His grip must have been strong.”
“I’m having a hard time sorting through it all. I remember him capturing me. I remember him locking me away. But once he started poisoning me with Uloox venom…” My fingers trembled and ghosted the hidden scars along my thighs. Noc’s brows drew together as he tracked the action. “Between that and his charm, I can’t seem to clear my head.”
“Call on your Myad.” Kaori cupped her face. “Perhaps his magic could help.”
Onyx. Maybe he could eradicate the lingering threads of Wynn’s charm. Heal my memories. Flexing my hand, I focused on the rosewood symbol and welcomed the flush of power that came with my beast. Onyx appeared, uncertainty still readily visible in his gaze. But he nudged my hand just the same.
No matter what, he’d always love me.
The Council had seen him on the battlefield, but there was still a quiet murmuring from a few of the members. Even though Nessie had heard truth in my words, there was something to be said for a Myad finding me worthy. He’d weighed all my transgressions—supposed or otherwise—and found me suitable to be his master.
Closing my eyes, I pressed my forehead to his. His breath trickled over my skin and settled deep in my bones. Heat traveled through me much like it had before, but the intensity was gone. Onyx had already cleansed me. All that was left was to destroy the tainted remnants of Wynn. Fog evaporated in my mind, and I craned my neck to the ceiling. Weights lifted from my limbs, and I rolled my shoulders to loosen my muscles. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Listened to the steady thrum of my heart. Felt the soft fur of Onyx’s hide beneath my fingers. Smelled the fresh scent of roses and moondust flowers.
My senses were my own again. Fully. Truly. Mine.
But my memories… I tried to sift through the days, but the muddied images of Wynn had disappeared with his charm. Only whispers of what had happened remained.
“Well?” Tristan prompted, eyes locked on the space where my hand rested on Onyx’s head.
“Nothing. I’m sorry.”
Yazmin sighed. “It can’t be helped.”
Stroking the length of his brown beard, Gaige leaned forward. “But perhaps Noc could share his side of things? That might provide some much-needed insight.”
Noc met his gaze head-on. “I accepted a bounty for Leena. She bartered for her life with beasts, and I accepted.”
Nessie’s nose twitched, her eyes flashing green.
Gaige’s hand moved from his beard to his curling mustache. “What next?”
“I fell in love with her.”
My heart came to a standstill. I hadn’t realized how much I’d wanted, needed, to hear those words. Tears threatened to fall. If we hadn’t been in the