Page 88 of Mortal Blood
“If you’d been watching, andifI’d left the academy, then I’m pretty sure you would have dealt with it at the time,” I said carefully.
Brennan leaned forward over the table, his expression darkening. “Did you really think you could open two portals right outside the academy within an hour and I wouldn’t detect it?”
Fuck. It had been Aodh’s portal that tipped him off. Just my luck. There reallywasn’tany point in denying it. I was totally screwed. Better to just get it over with, I guess. I opened my mouth, but before any sounds could make it out, the door swung inwards.
Verena and Brennan both twisted round to the newcomer, a tall, impeccably dressed man who I felt sure was fae. His expensive-looking charcoal gray suit (for all I knew about suits) fit his lean frame perfectly, and he carried a briefcase as naturally as if he’d been born holding on. Chestnut hair was swept back from his forehead without a strand out of place, andhis slate gray eyes were sharp, assessing, and confident as they sized up everyone in the room.
“Alder Blackwell,” he introduced himself curtly. “I do not appreciate you questioning my client without me being present.”
“Client?” Brennan said, his eyes narrowing.
“We were unaware Ms. Ellis had retained representation,” Verena said.
So was Ms. Ellis, for what it was worth, but I just about managed to keep from gaping.
“Apology accepted,” Blackwell said, striding round to my side of the table and sitting in the remaining chair.
I wasn’t one to look a gift attorney in the mouth, but who the hell was this guy?
“Did the pack send you?” I asked quietly.
“No,” he replied, his voice utterly toneless.
“Then…who?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Well, that’s not disconcerting at all…”
“Do you accept my representation, Ms. Ellis?”
I searched his face for all of a second. Something was better than nothing, right? “Yes.”
“Good.” He looked me over and scowled. “Handcuffs, Councilor Verena, really? I hardly think my client represents a threat to your good selves. She has an impeccable record, and no prior convictions.”
Verena looked annoyed but gestured the guard to come andremove the cuffs. I could get to like this Blackwell guy, I decided, pulling my hands in front of me and rubbing my wrists.
“If she makes a single aggressive move,” Brennan said, “I won’t hesitate to take her down.”
“Yes, I’m quite sure,” Blackwell said, sounding unperturbed. “If you have no further idle threats, then perhaps you could bring me up to speed on the charges.”
“Leaving a secure premises in direct violation of council orders,” Verena said.
“And your proof?”
“There were two portals opened right outside the academy a little over two weeks ago,” Brennan said, leaning back in his chair smugly and crossing his arms over his chest.
“So let me get this right,” Blackwell said, sounding confused—not, if I was honest—a great start. “Two portals opened in the vicinity of Darkveil Academy, and you have concluded that my client, who is not a fae, and has no access to fae magic, is the only one who could have opened said portals, and not, in fact, one of the several dozen fae currently enrolled in said academy?”
“Well,” Brennan said, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
“If that’s all the ‘evidence’ you have, then I’ll expect all charges dropped and expunged from my client’s record. And I expect her released within the hour.”
“Not so fast, Blackwell,” Verena said, turning a page in her manilla file. “She’s also being held under suspicion of aiding or encouraging another person of interest to abscond from an appointed facility.”
“Ah, so you believe my client, who you have no proof leftthe academy, and has no way of contacting anyone outside the academy, somehow encouraged this subject to abscond. I’m disappointed, Verena.”
“The suspect is her mother,” Brennan blurted.
