Ivy
Monsters I've only seen in passing, or not at all, seem to have shown up for this. The place is packed. Conall has to growl and push past each and every one just to get us inside. The building is hot and smells of flesh and scales and fur from so many bodies in one place.
The meeting hadn't started before we arrived this time. I guess that's a better sign. The six council members and Laz are already at the front arguing. That is not as good a sign.
Ada, Layla, Dolly, and Amy wave at us from the front row. We walk up to the two seats they'd saved for us, front and center.
"Randy is being a complete asshat. Killian's been defending you," Amy updates me.
"What about the rest?" Conall asks, eyeing the other four on the council.
Layla cringes. "They seem to be siding with Randy."
My heart drops. I find Conall's hand on instinct. He encircles it, holding firm.
Laz steps to the podium looking tired and worn out. I cringe remembering the look on his face when I'd chosen to complete my aunt's spell instead of resetting the wards back to his original settings. I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to push for my exile as well.
"We're here about recent changes to the island," he starts, making eye contact with me.
But there's no anger or upset in his expression, only resignation.
"As you know, the new wards have some quirks and everything's a little different.
We should be seeing more new monsters coming to the island.
They seem to be allowed on the basis of need, mating status, or honestly just whether the island sees them as worthy or necessary.
And as far as I can tell, not just monsters. "
There's muttering and shifting from the crowd. "The wards are now open to humans if the island believes they may be mated to a resident, or again, just if the island sees fit."
Randy is absolutely red-faced and glaring at me. The other council members seem slightly calmer but frustrated. Even Killian, says, "So we're relying on the whims of a possessed island to decide who comes and goes?"
"It would seem so," Laz deadpans.
"I see this as another reason to evict this human woman from the island. We entrusted her to break the spell Ursula Shipton cast on the wards, not finish it. She can't be trusted,” Randy says.
There's an uproar from my row, including from Laz and Killian.
Killian finally breaks through the noise and brings everything to order.
"You may not have agreed with what she did, Randy, but no one can deny that it needed to be done.
There are people waking up to mates every day.
Monster pregnancies have been reported on the island.
I don't believe being isolated from the outside world has done any of us any good.
" There's a murmur of agreement. "Didn't you find that the garden gnome you've been feuding with next door has actually been your mate the whole time? "
Randy glances to the right of the audience where I can see a man with overlarge eyes, about two feet tall and roughly Randy's age, with puffy white hair, blushing. Randy mutters something I can't make out.
"Is it ideal? No. But I'll be the first to admit it seems far better than the spell I came up with for the last twenty years." Laz points out.
More murmurs of assent.
Randy's jaw works back and forth as though he's chewing on his own pride.
He opens his mouth again, but before he can say anything, the ground beneath our feet shakes.
Gasps and small screams echo off the walls.
It stops after a few moments, but earthquakes aren't exactly natural in northern Michigan.
It can only be my aunt. The spirit witch of the island, I suppose. "Fine," Randy mutters.
There's an uproar of hooting and clapping.
I squeal and Conall spins me. Once he sets me back on my feet he steps aside to talk to Laz.
I spot Amy just a few feet away, a small frown on her face.
She's wearing straight legged jeans and a button up blouse, her platinum blonde hair loose and falling down her back.
My stomach swoops. I've been dreading this conversation but I know I need to have it.
I walk over to her and her small frown turns into a smile, purple eyes lighting up.
"Glad you're up and around." She says pulling me into an unexpected hug. I carefully hug her back but when we pull apart I know I need to make sure the air is clear.
"Amy, I completely understand if you're upset with me." I start. She tilts her head, clearly confused.
"Why would I be mad?"
I hesitate, pulling at my shirt. "I changed the wards back, and they were put up…they were for…" I trail off unsure how to appropriately end that sentence. Thankfully understanding dawns across her face.
"Oh no. No. I never—" she takes a deep breath orienting herself.
"After the attack, obviously I was scared and traumatized, but as I grew up and understood what the new wards were costing the island, I always hoped there would be a way to fix them.
I'm glad you found that way." Relief crashes over me as she hugs me again.
Conall comes back to my side. "Home?" he asks. I nod.