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“I object,” I said.
Margaret pursed her lips. “An even fifty-fifty split. I believe a motion like this requires a majority vote, and as it’s split down the middle, the vote goes to the one who made the motion.”
I didn’t know if that was a real law, or if they were making it up on the spot. It didn’t matter. Half the coven was just glad to see the torture end. The other still wanted me to pay, and this was the most shameful sentence the priestesses could deliver, next to execution.
“The Imperium Council hereby removes Nadine Evers from her position as a high priestess of the Miriamic Coven,” Lilian announced. I didn’t think such a thing had ever happened before, but the coven didn’t protest.
“Seeing as there is now a vacant seat on the Imperium Council, would the Curse Breaker Cast like to nominate a Curse Breaker for the position?” Claudia asked.
“I nominate myself,” Mira said.
“Do any Curse Breakers oppose this nomination?” Priestess Lilian asked, glaring at me. She was daring me to oppose them. She was begging for more controversy, but if I defied the priestesses now, it gave the priestesses cause to hang me—to hang us all.
I itched to protest and squirmed in Lucas’s arms. But I didn’t have a choice anymore. “No objections.”
Margaret smirked and spoke just low enough for Lucas and me to hear. “You may have won your trial, Nadine. You will live, but you are off the Imperium Council. I hope you learn that that’s a hell far worse than the Abyss.”
The priestesses turned away, their cloaks billowing in the wind as they headed back up the hill, leaving us sitting in the mud completely forgotten. They seemed far more interested in Mira as they escorted her away. Priestess Charlotte remained for a brief moment. I raised my head to snap at her and ask what she was still doing there, but she turned away before I got the chance.
The priestesses didn’t offer us any help. It didn’t matter to them that we were hurt. For all they cared, we could crawl back into the river and never return.
Slowly, the crowd began to disperse. Several people approached us, and I looked up to see Chloe soaking wet, holding our wands out to us. She must’ve retrieved them from the river.
“Thanks,” I said as I took them.
“You were both very brave,” Onyx said kindly. “The coven has been inspired by you.”
Lucas snorted. “Half of them still want to see us hang.”
“And the other half will defend you,” Chloe insisted.
“Nadine!” Grammy cried as she pushed through the departing crowd to get to us. She dropped to her knees in the mud beside us and drew me into her arms.
“I’m all right, Grammy,” I said breathlessly.
Grammy looked me over. “But you’re hurt.”
“I’m alive,” I said. “My body will heal.”
“I know just the herbs,” Grammy said. “Let’s get you two someplace safe.”
Lucas reached for me, but he winced in pain. Grammy insisted on helping me hobble up the hill, and Onyx and Chloe helped Lucas.
By the time we reached the top, most of the crowd was gone. A group of Executors stood across the street, glaring at us. Mira was noticeably missing; she was probably headed back to the Imperium headquarters with the priestesses.
The crowd parted, and I was shocked to see Lucas’s parents standing there. Jay had his arm around Margo, and they both looked really broken up. They stared at Lucas, as if waiting for him to say something first. I took Lucas’s hand.
“Mom, Dad,” he said curtly. He obviously didn’t want to talk to them. “I didn’t know you’d come.”
“Of course. We were here to support you,” Margo said, but her tone sounded disingenuous.
Lucas cleared his throat. “I appreciate that.”
“Turns out you were innocent,” Jay said with a stilted laugh. What the hell was he laughing about? This wasn’t funny. “Who would’ve thought?”
“Mm… I don’t know. I was pretty sure about it the whole time I was on trial,” Lucas stated flatly.
Jay’s features turned sour. “Come on, Lucas. I was trying to lighten the mood.”
