it must be difficult to believe, Apprentice Angelique.” Enchantress Primrose’s lower lip quivered as she shuffled through some papers. “But our people submitted reports that Evariste’s magic was used by various black mages in creating some nefarious curses and spells—like the one that kept the elves confined to Alabaster Forest.”
Neither she nor Tristisim bothered to look at Evariste—the supposedly nefarious black mage. They were both watching her.
Angelique stared at them for a long moment. Just how long have they been this stupid? This is how the Chosen got their claws in our lands—because the people who are supposed to lead us are so blind, they can’t even tell friend from foe!
“Black mages have used Evariste’s magic for the past six years because they harvested it from him while he was their captive.” Tendrils of her magic wrapped around her fingers and skated down her arms, giving her voice an extra edge to it.
Enchantress Galendra shook her head. “If only that were so,” she meekly said.
“We have long suspected there was a spy in our top ranks—an enchanter or enchantress who worked with the black mages. We’d been keeping an eye on Evariste for that reason,” Enchanter Crest added.
Considering they were accusing Evariste, the prodigy of Enchanters and beloved goldenboy, they seemed remarkably unconcerned. Instead, they were sifting through papers, of all things!
“Are you mad?” Angelique slammed her fists on top of the railing, impatiently waving off her magic when it twined around her. “Because this cannot be a serious charge.”
“We have been very careful in watching Lord Enchanter Evariste—” Enchantress Felicienne began.
“Careful? You gave me to him—a war mage with the power of an enchantress! If you suspected him, that was the most foolish thing you could have done!” Angelique shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. Had the Chosen gotten to the Council and brainwashed all of them with some variation of black magic? Because that was the only explanation for this astounding stupidity, unless…
“We know this must be very hard for you to hear, Apprentice Angelique,” Enchanter Crest said in a soothing voice. He didn’t even have the decency to look at Evariste.
“You’ve been the most loyal of pupils,” Enchantress Primrose added, shooting Enchanter Tristisim a glare when he snorted.
Angelique ignored the Council and turned to Evariste, studying him.
The shadows were back around his eyes, and he stared at the Council without any expression.
Angelique narrowed her eyes.
“We can show you all our records once Lord Enchanter Evariste has been processed,” Enchanter Tristisim said. He jostled his elbow into Lazare’s side, waking the ancient enchanter up.
“What? Who?” The enchanter squinted in the bright light. “Oh, Evariste’s here, is he?”
There are so many things that feel wrong right now.
Angelique ignored the Council and kept her gaze on Evariste. “You may recall I told you Lady Enchantress Lovelana thinks there’s a mole in the Veneno Conclave,” she said to her teacher in a lowered tone.
Evariste turned to face her, a sort of jaded smile crossing his lips. “Oh?”
“Yes,” Angelique said. “I think I know who it is.”
Evariste shut his eyes and tucked his chin.
“Apprentice Angelique,” Enchantress Felicienne started. “We authorize you to take Lord Enchanter Evariste into custody.”
“He’ll need to be taken into the secured rooms, lest anyone be tempted to break him out,” Enchanter Crest added.
“Oh—we’re on to that, are we?” Enchanter Lazare stretched his arms out in front of him and groaned. “Make a move, girl.”
Angelique smiled. “I am.”
Chapter 34
Angelique let her war magic flood her. She felt it pool behind her eyeballs and tumble around her like the froth of a waterfall, lighting the area up in silver.
Enchantress Primrose sighed. “I wish it hadn’t come to this, Lord Enchanter Evariste.”
Angelique nudged her magic, which slithered from her. “Me, too.”
Enchanter Lazare squinted at her. “Eh?”
Angelique extended her hand, and six swords—yanked from the war mages posted outside Hallowed Hall by her bottomless magic—drilled through the wooden door, blowing it to smithereens.
A snap of her magic, and she flung the blades at the Council.
One of the Lady Enchantresses screamed, and Lord Enchanter Crest yelled as the weapons found their mark.
Enchanter Tristisim and Enchantress Felicienne trembled with fear. Their faces were white, and they shook as they stared at the two swords that had impaled themselves hilt-deep through their chairs, about one finger’s thickness away from their necks.
Enchanter Crest, Enchanter Lazare, Enchantress Primrose, and Enchantress Galendra stared at Angelique from behind the safety of iridescent green shields—a shield that Angelique was greatly familiar with, given her fight with