Point

ed just moments

in dark robes started forming a circle of bones and herbs around my feet. Her eyes were as milky white as those of a blind woman, eit

practiced black magic in my life

rms crossed, watching the proceedings with the same detached look he had worn ever since his

now that you have already come to the conclusion that I am guilty, but I want to t

t second. "Then there is nothi

ct. "Silence," she croaked. "Essence doe

my skin. She was whispering some words in a steady rhythm, and I felt an unusua

h spoke softly. "There is someth

an?" asked one of

pection, sliding her hand down the length of my arm without touching me. "Trac

rising up in me. "It's no

d, standing up. "There are trace

immediately f

said, getting up from her seat. "The scar.

he's done something with the ceremony. She's com

u need to check again. I've never cast such a spell. I don't even know how

eady turned to speak to the counc

d listen. "I've been in this pack my whole life. Ask any wolf that I've

e; nobody even lo

said. "The witch has proven what I thought all a

rds him. "I promise you that I'm not lying to you. I don't u

ut so much as glancing my way. "Restrai

t had been set up in the middle of the room. Straps were tightened

ling feebly against the

ore, hands held out in front of

sant," she said, her v

" hardly

some unseen force had clutched hold of the very essence of my being. I shrieked, my body a

wrong," I panted.

e to move even if I wanted to. The wolf inside me cried out, struggli

ears running down my che

watering from the pain; he was standing right where he had b

n front of my eyes. I knew with certainty that in this very second, I was going to di

everythin

ging limply in the restraints, trying to catch my bre

he said. "The

e what was floating in front of me-the essence that had entered me at the time of t

t?" somebod

landed on the skin of a woman standing in a

were now

r heart, the place the essence had landed, her face a

of the council

a new voice cut in. "T

over what had just transpired. I was slumped against my restraints, unable

belonged with me i

iredness. "I've been telling you that I haven't done anything t

was focused on Maevra in front of them, the

he desperation eating through my vocal cords. "I'm in

nd distant as though the fact of my innocence was of no consequence

it," he

I aske

ght an abomination into this land and that would not be forgiven." He t

but I didn't have t

y feet, my legs wobbly and barely able to keep

rom the room altogether, Ma

id, but my voi

ing calm and unhindered by what had just taken place around he

s not o