UNDER HIS SPELL by Rachel Carrington

brought here today because of
the acts you have committed against Rane.   The tribunal has determined you are guilty and should be put to
death.   Rane has, to our bewilderment,
intervened on your behalf and asked that we allow you time to explain your
actions. We are all at a loss to understand why a member of our Assembly would
stand up for the very witch who tried to kill him, but nevertheless, we have
granted Rane’s request.”     
    Skye folded her hands atop the table and kept her eyes
downcast.   Rane knew her well enough to
know she wasn’t intimidated by his brother or any of the other wizards seated
around the massive, oak table.   She was
gathering her thoughts, buying time until she could politely tell them all to
go to hell.
    Skye’s head lifted and Rane braced himself with an inner grin.   “I know you think you have the right to
condemn me, but you know nothing about me, my life, or what I’m up
against.   To protect your own family, I
dare to say, you would do a lot more than attempt to take a life.”   She rose to her feet and Rane slid his chair
back to get a better look as she paced the Assembly Room.
    Skye spun around and put her hands on her hips and Rane couldn’t
prevent a grin.   “How dare you!”   Her sparkling eyes took in each and every
wizard and Rane thought he saw Nexon squirm.   “You claim to be a protector of people yet what you really mean is a
protector of your own people.   Mortals
mean little to you when one of the wizards is under attack.”
    “You are not exactly a mere mortal,” Jaxon responded with a bite to
his voice.
    “I never claimed to be a mere mortal and I never required your
protection.   This isn’t about me.   I grew up hearing stories about the wizards
and what an incredible group they were.   My mother used to tell me tales of impossibilities, miracles even, that
wizards performed to save humans, even at the risk of their own lives.   And now, you would condemn me without giving
me the benefit of the doubt.   What kind
of justice is that?”
    A muscle ticked in Jaxon’s jaw.   “We have laws here.”
    “They are never wrong, I suppose.”   Skye nodded her head once.   “Of
course not because that would mean admitting error and we all know wizards are
infallible.”
    The ticking intensified.   “You
have been allowed time to convince us of your innocence.   You are wasting that time with this tantrum.”
    Rane winced and pushed himself to his feet.   “I do not believe this conversation is going
anywhere any of us want to go.   Perhaps
it would be best to continue it another time.”
    Skye held up one hand.   “Not
yet.   This,” she raked her gaze up and
down Jaxon’s body, “wizard needs to know the truth.”
    Tess came to stand behind Jaxon, placing her hands on his
shoulders.   “My husband is the leader of
the Assembly.   As such, he has a right to
know what your intentions are and why you wanted to kill Rane.   All of us have that right.”
    Rane noticed the shortness in Tess’ voice and he laid one hand on
Skye’s arm.   Her words would fall on deaf
ears if she alienated everyone before she could get to the crux of her
story.   “Skye, they feel like you wanted
to kill me for gain.”
    Shaking her head, Skye walked back to the chair she’d vacated and
sank down against the heavy wood.   “That
isn’t it at all.”   She lowered her head
and for a brief moment, silence reigned.   Then, she pinned Jaxon with a steady gaze.   “They have my sister.”
    The women in the room sucked in a sharp breath.   “They who?”   Jaxon asked quietly.

“The other witches.”   Skye
massaged the bridge of her nose with two fingers.   “The Coven of
Thana
.   The leader is a witch named Sabrina.”
    Jaxon slid to the edge of his seat.   “She wants you to kill Rane.”
    Skye tipped her head back to see Rane’s face.   He gave her a reassuring smile.   “Yes.”   She trained her gaze on Jaxon’s