Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Walking downstairs, I can instantly sense his presence, the light green essence of my son's aura glowing brightly around him as he lay in Caroline’s arms, his aura so pure and innocent as he sleeps peacefully.
I go toward her, only for Tobias to step in my way, taking Thaddeus from his mother.
I want nothing more than to hold him, but obviously Tobias and Theo don’t trust me, and this entire trust thing they have going on with me and my son is really starting to grind my gears.
Josiah looks better today, more life about as his eyes scan the room before landing on me.
He smiles, but I can see the worry behind his eyes as he sits on the stool at the island bench.
Caroline also smiles sadly at me taking her seat.
I sit across from them and I can tell they aren’t happy with the news they are about to share.
“You look well rested, Imogen” Caroline states, making my cheeks heat. Josiah raises an eyebrow at my blushing cheeks, his eyes going to Tobias, who has a lazy smirk on his face as he feeds our son.
“So, what is this news about Bianca?” I ask, wanting to just rip that metaphorical band aid off.
Josiah glances toward Theo and doesn’t even try to hide the anger that is directed at him.
I can tell whatever happened the blame was being put onto Theo by his father, which only makes me more eager to hear what it is.
“Bianca’s hearing has been postponed. The council has called a meeting for some reason and asked us all to attend, apparently Bianca is running for a position on the council and Christopher has agreed and wants to have the hearing after she has been sworn in.
” Sworn in? If she is sworn in, how will she be reprimanded if she is a part of the council?
Who in their right mind would give a position of power to a psychotic bitch like Bianca?
“What, but how would the trial be fair if she is a council member, wouldn’t she be able to have a say in her punishment if it has to be decided by all nine members?
” Tobias growls at the information and it’s clear he is only just finding out himself right now, like me.
His eyes dart to Theo before he angrily looks away.
“Okay, why is everyone looking at Theo like this is his fault?”
“Because it is his fault. Him and his bloody temper always stirring up trouble that I have to get him out of,” his father bellows, clearly not happy about whatever it is his son did. Theo shrugs like it is nothing and he couldn’t care less about whatever it is he did.
“I pissed off Christopher around a year ago when I sacked his son,” Theo says blandly, like it isn’t a big thing.
“Sacked his son? You disfigured him, you fool. The son of one of the highest regarded elders and you disfigured him,” Josiah yells making Thaddeus cry. He quickly sits and apologizes for his outburst of anger. Tobias gives him a nod and calms Thaddeus.
“Who is his son?” I ask.
“His name is Max, and he is nothing but a self-entitled twit,” Theo says.
Max? Why have I heard that name before? I know I’ve heard it somewhere, and I try to rack my brain for where I heard it.
Then it hits me, Merida had mentioned Theo almost attacking an employee at work, his name was Max and he left for a rival company.
“Merida said you almost strangled him in a meeting,” I say.
“Almost strangled him? He did way worse than that. He took his eye and mutilated his face,” Josiah says angrily, making me look at Theo with disgust.
“I thought this Max person was human. Merida said he quit and worked for a rival company now.” Tobias nods.
“He does work for a rival company; he is also human. Similar to you, Imogen, his mother was human when she fell pregnant with him. He was changed not long after the incident. Christopher, his father, didn’t want to take any chances with Theo being so hot-headed.”
“Hey, you can’t blame me for this. I did my time over, twelve bloody days of constant lashings for one bloody eye,” Theo retorts annoyed.
“Be grateful, that’s all you got. The boy’s eye can’t grow back, you’re just lucky I still had connections within the council that went to bat for you,” Josiah tells him.
“Why did you do it?” I ask.
“Do you really need to ask, it’s the same person we have had constant drama with,” Caroline says frustrated.
“Bianca, always fucking Bianca” I say, and Caroline nods, confirming..
“Yes, and now that Alaric is gone, she has been getting awfully cozy with Max again, although they have always been cozy. But with Alaric out of the picture, she has sunk her claws into Max. Christopher knows what Bianca did, yet his revenge for his son outweighs that,” Josiah says.
I shake my head and place my head in my hands, trying to think.
We just can’t catch a break and can’t escape Bianca.
I zone out trying to come up with something, anything but I’m not all that familiar with laws of the council.
Tobias places Thaddeus in my lap, making me look up.
I cradle him in my arms and am shocked he hasn’t fallen asleep already.
“If Bianca gets a position on the council, what sort of punishment will she get?” I ask, wanting to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario.
“If she gets a seat at the council, Imogen, she won’t be punished,” Josiah says before throwing daggers at his son.
My blood instantly boils at his words. No punishment at all after what she did.
It seems impossible what kind of backward laws did they have, that would allow no punishment for murder and attempted murder.
She killed three people for god’s sake and kidnapped a baby.
How could they not hold her accountable for that?
I don’t even realize how angry I am until I feel my surroundings shake violently. The car alarms outside blares loudly, the entire house shakes, and the rumbling from the ground sounds like thunder.
“Imogen, get yourself under control,” Tobias hisses, running over and ripping my son from me.
I try to get a grip of my emotions but enraged isn’t a big enough word to describe the feeling running through me.
As I think of all the people she has hurt and she would get away with it.
My mother, Claire, my father, me, and my son suffered at her hands and they are just going to let her go around like she did nothing.
Electricity zaps loudly, the lights flickering, even the fire crackling in the fireplace turns into an inferno raging up the chimney.
I close my eyes, trying to reign in what little control I have left when I suddenly feel cold hands grip my arms and the rush of air around me.
Opening my eyes, I see we are outside in the rose garden, the next thing I see is Theo, and then nothing but red.
Red raging fiery anger. This is his fault she is going to get away with everything because he had some grudge against a council member’s son.
“You? You did this. This is your fault,” I scream, taking a step toward him.
His eyes blaze with anger at my words and he takes a step toward me, his hand outstretched, trying to grab me.
But I quickly sidestep. I can feel his intention and it is to take the darkness that is spreading throughout me like wildfire.
“Imogen,'' he growls when I sidestepped again.
My anger builds, igniting my magic , so thick and sweet and addictively cold.
It wraps its thick tendrils around me. I love the feeling of it bleeding into my soul, dangerous and cold and so strong.
The day turns to night as the wind picks up, dark clouds filling the sky.
Lightning lighting up the sky, thunder so loud its cracks could be felt as it vibrates through the ground.
Theo lunges at me, and I actually laugh.
I predict the move a few seconds before he does it and by the time he reaches my position, I’m ready for him.
My hand comes up to the center of his chest. Energy bursting from my palm, throwing him backward with so much force he skids across the grass.
He shakes himself off before standing. I flick my wrist and watched as he screams in agony.
I like the sweet sound of his gasp of pain as he drops to the ground, writhing in pain as I boil the blood in his veins.
Standing over him, I stare down at him. Some small part is nagging at me in the back of my head not to hurt him.
But I want to, and that part is stronger.
Kneeling beside him, his eyes snap to mine.
Yet he didn’t look scared, and I can’t smell fear coming from him, but looking in his eyes I can see acceptance of what is about to happen.
And it makes me falter for a second, my mind going blank at the look he is giving me.
His eyes glow brighter, burning into me as fog clouds my brain.
I try to get rid of the feeling that is trying to take over my senses.
It dulls the anger but I shake it off, knowing it’s Theo’s doing.
Tobias yells, my attention snapping to him as he runs out of the house.
Caroline’s panicked face runs out behind him with my son in her arms. Josiah walks out a second after.
They run toward me and I look back down at Theo, turning my head to the side as he tries to ignore the burning inside of him.
His eyes focus on me. I push my fingers into his chest, and can feel his blood coating my hand.
I can not only see his pain but feel it searing through my chest as my hand moves inside his chest cavity.
I hear Caroline scream loudly, bringing my attention back to her.