Page 9 of Familiar of the Witch

Melrose and Venice moved closer to me in a silent show of support that warmed my heart. Things had been rocky between Melrose and me ever since I had sequestered Meredith and Ria, but there was no hostility now.

I met her eyes. I don’t know what she saw in mine but she nodded once, decisively, then turned to Venice. ‘Have you ever seen the movieSpartacus?’

Venice’s eyes went wide. ‘Yes! Great idea.’ She stood. ‘I’m Spartacus!’ she announced loudly to the hall.

‘Fuck’s sake,’ Melrose muttered. She stood. ‘I’m Ellie Tron!’

On the other side of the room, Jeb stood. ‘I’m Ellie Tron!’ he declared.

Isadora Moonspell stood, meeting my eyes as she cried, ‘I’m Ellie Tron!’

John Melton stood. ‘I’m Ellie Tron!’ He grinned at me across the room.

And that was it. Suddenly twenty – thirty – fifty witches were on their feet declaring they were Ellie Tron. I struggled not to react. My game face was a thing of the past as the whole room roared the name of my alter ego while the Council gaped.

Jasper held up a hand and slowly the clamouring ceased. Into the silence, still sitting on a chair of truth runes, Bastion spoke. ‘I’m Ellie Tron.’

There was a collective gasp of shock. No one had expected that, least of all me. Did Bastion have some sort of immunity to truth runes? But that was unheard of…

He elaborated. ‘I’m an observant man and over the centuries I’ve learned a great deal about runing. It is easy to acquire the right potions for the right price, and I am a wealthy man. I have killed hundreds in my life, thousands even. I am keen to atone for the blood on my hands.’

Though all he was saying was true, he was wordsmithing for all he was worth. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d said he was Ellie Tron.How had he done that while under the power of the truth runes? I had never seen anyone lie under so many of them. It shouldn’t be possible. Yet here he was, lying – becauseIwas Ellie Tron.

‘But…’ Seren spluttered. ‘You’re not a witch!’

Bastion shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Non-witches can use runes and potions as much as a witch can. Of course the spell-work is nowhere near as effective but itcanwork. I am a griffin. Your “charging for healing” policy does not apply to me.’

The stunned silence in the room was deafening until Kass broke it. ‘All in favour of dropping the charges against Amber DeLea?’

I heard a handful of muttered ‘ayes’.

‘I want your word that the charges levelled here today against Amber will never be repeated,’ Bastion continued. ‘Someone is trying to smear her good name and that stops now.’

‘I agree,’ Kass said quickly. ‘And I also agree that no charges will be levelled against you, Bastion, as you are not under purview of our laws. Is the Council in agreement?’

There was another round of ‘ayes’.

‘Release Miss DeLea!’ Kass called.

Bastion stood up and left the sphere of the truth runes. Before he could reach me, Mack stepped forward, his eyes blazing with hatred. The moment hummed with tension and I wondered for a moment if he was planning to use theIR against me. Instead he released me from my cuffs with a malevolent glare.

Magic returned to me with such force that I swayed on my feet. Bastion was there, wrapping a steadying arm around my waist. ‘Easy, Bambi,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve got you.’

I forced myself to nod, to swallow down the hundred questions swirling in my brain. He’d done it; he’d gotten me off all the charges and I hadn’t even been questioned with the truth runes. The burning question was … how?

Chapter 8

I gave Benji another hug. He had decided that he wanted to stay in Edinburgh to teach David the ropes; I suspected that he didn’t want David to feel as lonely as he had done. It was incredibly kind so, although I’d miss him, I didn’t argue with his decision. Benji deserved the chance to make up his own mind, be the master of his fate – as much as he could be with the Council’s claws dug firmly into his soul.

He hugged me back gently. ‘I’ll miss you, Am Bam,’ he whispered.

I smiled. ‘You’ll be so busy making friends you won’t have time to miss me. If you need me, call. You’ve got a phone now.’ Bastion had given Benji one of his burner phones and put in his own, Oscar’s and my numbers. We were only a call away if he needed us.

‘I will, Am.’

‘Be careful of black witches,’ I pleaded. ‘No heroics. If you see anything suspicious, let me know. I’ll deal with them.’ Or, more likely, Bastion would.

Benji nodded, eyes serious. ‘I will,’ he promised again.

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