Page 67 of The Princess of Portals

“This isn’t happening,” I muttered to myself.

“Prince Fenris is so noble.”

“And so compassionate.”

“To forgive the Knights, to want to protect them, even after what they did to his mother—that makes him a true hero.”

I couldn’t take it.

“Stop,” I croaked.

They didn’t stop. They didn’t hear me. I had to be louder. I had to make them listen.

“Stop!”

They stopped. Like magic. And it was magic. My magic.

I rose from my chair, looking upon their frozen faces. “He’s lying. Can’t you see it?”

They didn’t move. Didn’t speak. They couldn’t. Though Count Qwintyn’s face was red. He was trying to fight my spell. It wouldn’t work. He was no match for my magic. None of them were. I had them here. Now I had to make them listen.

Several members of the Court grunted through closed mouths. They stared at me with terrified eyes.

I felt hands on my shoulders. Kato’s and Conner’s.

“Seven, let them go,” Kato said.

“No. They have to listen. They have to understand the truth.”

“This isn’t the way, Red. You know that. You can’t force the truth on someone. They have to accept it willingly. Or you’re no better than Fenris.” Conner glared at the vampire prince.

Fenris was the only one not struggling and not scared. No, he actually looked smug.

And that’s when I realized I’d played right into his hand.

I let them all go. The members of the Court gasped and growled and shouted insults my way.

“Unnatural magic!”

“How dare you!”

“Do you know who I am?”

I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. I should have, but all I felt was numbness. We’d failed. No, I had failed. I’d had one chance to convince the Court that Fenris was guilty, and I’d blown it. I’d let him get under my skin.

“Fenris was right about the Gaians all along.”

“They don’t deserve magic. Just look at what they do with it!”

I collapsed into my chair and buried my face in my hands. I wished they would stop shouting, but I didn’t dare wish it too loudly in case my magic took that as a command to strip them of their free will. Kato and Conner were right. That wasn’t the way. I didn’t want to be that person. I didn’t want to be Fenris.

“We should attack now, before it’s too late.”

“Agreed. Their numbers grow every year. And who knows what foul experiments the Gaian Government is running on them.”

Fenris’s words broke through the storm of voices. “Do not blame her, my friends. This is what I’ve been warning you about. The Knights aren’t a danger to us. The danger comes from the ones pulling their strings. We have to cut those strings!”

His voice rang with conviction. He was a good actor. Unfortunately for us.