Chapter 118
Heather
It was still hot outside, but I drove with the AC off and the windows down. My hair was tied back in a messy bun, but a few loose pieces of hair whipped against my face. There was no more time for quiet reflection. Even in the odd spare moments I’d had alone in the dorms, I could hear the conversations in the rooms around me.
The overwhelming lack of privacy had only gotten worse. And now, if I concentrated, I could feel the pack. It was faint, but I’d borrowed energy from the wolves to help break Serena’s curse, and my awareness of the pack bonds had never fully disappeared since then.
With the mate bond getting stronger every day, I felt like there was no room in my head for my own thoughts. After a lifetime of visions, I should’ve been used to it, but those few heavenly weeks of peace—before I realized what being in the pack and mated really meant—had spoiled me.
A few months ago—hell, a few days ago—I couldn’t figure out why Brent was with me. He had the pick of any girl. But now I knew. Being an alpha weighed on him more than anything else. Having me around kept him grounded. Helped him keep control.
The more I found out about him, the more I realized that the two of us were a good match. Luck wasn’t my thing, but I was starting to think that fate was.
I saw the turn off for my parents’ house and kept on going. I wasn’t ready to end the drive yet.
When I pulled up to the yellow house, I couldn’t believe it’d been nearly an hour. My dad stepped onto the porch as I pulled up, and I turned down the music. My ears were ringing, but it was worth it. I felt a million times better. Music really did soothe my soul.
"You trying to kill your eardrums? I could hear you about a mile out."
"Eh. They’ll heal."
"How about sparing the rest of us, then?"
Funny, Dad. "I’m sure from a mile away, you’re safe."
"That’s what you’d think, but with your music..." He hugged me, and I smelled his aftershave. He’d used the same one since I was a little girl. It was one of my favorite smells. "How’re you doing?"
"I’ve been better." I pulled away from him. "I wanted your legal advice. Plus, I figure your PR spin could help, too."
He nodded. "I heard there was a little trouble last night. This Tribunal thing sounds not good." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Let’s go in the kitchen and we can talk about it."
Four Diet Cokes, three bags of Cheetos, seven grilled cheeses, and one and a half packages of Oreos later, I had a solid plan. Dad had even given me notecards. We’d gone through them three times, and he’d drilled me on questions—even the hard stuff. I’d been uncomfortable with the role-playing at first. It’d been hard for me to answer his questions, but by the last time, I had my answers down. I was ready. The Tribunal seemed slightly less scary.
I sat on the kitchen island, kicking my feet. The cool marble felt good against my warm Were skin. I still wasn’t used to being so hot all the time. It was something I wasn’t sure I’d ever adjust to.
"You’re pretty good at this stuff."
Dad laughed. "It’s my job, kiddo."
I stared at my feet. "What if none of this works?"
"Do your best." He leaned against the kitchen counter across from me. "But don’t forget that no one can force you to do something you don’t want to do."
I ate another Oreo. "That’s not true."
"Maybe before it wasn’t true, but you’re stronger than everyone else now. That’s why they’re making such a fuss over this. Don’t be afraid to use that to your advantage if it comes to it."
I didn’t feel that strong. Sure, I was more in control than I used to be, but I didn’t really know anything about my bruja side. And I was just starting to understand the Were part of me. I’d only shifted for the first time a few days ago. It wasn’t like this was a home run.
I was new. I felt new. I felt the opposite of empowered, I needed to get there if I was going to win. So, how was I supposed to do that before tonight?
I wasn’t sure at all. It seemed like every time I took a step forward, I took five back. Eventually, maybe I’d get somewhere, but it was a trudge. I didn’t want it to be a trudge. I wanted to own it.
"You’re a smart girl, Heather. You can do anything you put your mind to."
I was fully committed to both staying alive and being with Brent, but the rest...
It was going to take more than visualization to come out of the Tribunal unscathed.
Ever since the second I’d stepped into my new town, Marion, Texas, I’d been in danger of some sort or another. Bitten. Vampires. A coup. A curse gone wrong. Coven politics. Basically everything that had led to the Tribunal had been an overwhelming clusterfuck of bad.
And yet, even as scared as I was, I didn’t regret moving here. When it came down to it, I was dealing with bullies. I had plenty of experience with that. Only these bullies had claws and fangs.
And spells. Mustn’t forget the spells.
Brent and I stood on the same dais used in the Full Moon Ceremony, but it had been pushed to the side of a massive bonfire. Weres crowded the stone benches, sitting or standing all around, filling the air with nervous energy. As big and overwhelming as the gathering had been last night, this one was bigger.
So, if they decide they want us dead, then what? They throw us in this massive fire?
Brent looked at me like I was crazy.
What? It’s a valid question.
No. The fire’s for light.
Yeah, but we have crazy good eyesight. Do we really need it?
He shrugged. It looks more official with the fire.
Official. Sure. Because what this whole mess needed was to be more official.
Mr. Langdon stood on the other side of the fire. "A charge has been raised against two of our pack. One against Brent Laurent, for turning a girl without pack permission and without providing her with the proper warning and education. One against Heather Jones, for losing control of her wolf and attacking a fellow member of the pack."
I expected some whispering or murmuring among the Weres, but no one said a thing. The only sounds were from the woods and the crackling fire.
"Tonight, we’ll hear testimonies from a handful of people. This includes Luciana Alverez from the local coven. Letting a witch speak here is highly unusual, and Luciana will only be allowed to say her piece before she’s escorted off pack lands. Once everyone involved tonight has spoken, we’ll break to debate our course of action, and then Muraco and Ferdinand of the Seven, along with five randomly selected pack alphas who’ve traveled here, will decide what’s to be done."
Why weren’t Sebastian and Donovan voting? That made me way more nervous. I thought I had at least a few votes in the bag.
Donovan continued like he’d been reading my thoughts. "A point has been raised that myself and two of the Seven are biased toward the couple in question."
Bastards.
"In fairness, we’ve decided not to vote, but we will speak on their behalf. After all parties have spoken, questions can be addressed to Brent and Heather. Then, they will each have a chance to say their final words."
I swallowed. Final words? This was going to be a long night.