Page 1096 of One More Kiss

Chapter13

With renewed vigor,I ushered Renora inside the sitting room and made the introductions. King Fredrick welcomed her and asked if she’d like a cup of tea.

She smiled kindly. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but that won’t be necessary.”

However, it seemed Edan had overheard most of our conversation. Sneaky… he’d likely been eavesdropping.

“This shall not stand.” Edan paced as Renora took a seat on an armchair nearest the window. “Hadley cannot go about making wishes or ultimatums when it comes to our future. I’ll not have it, even if your mother is aiding her.”

I went to him and cupped his cheek. “She…they will not win, my Prince.”

Fredrick interjected. “Tatiana is correct. We shall move up the wedding after the trial is over if need be. Speaking of which, it is time to go.” He swiveled his gaze toward Renora. “Please, make yourself comfortable here until we return.”

She nodded. “Or, if Tatiana doesn’t mind, I can stand among the crowd. I’ll glamour myself to keep my identity hidden as a precaution.”

I wasn’t certain how I felt about that, only because a member of the council may see through her glamour and assume it was my doing. “Renora, I take no issue with your attendance, but I’d much rather you come as yourself. There is to be no magic use, or it could reflect badly upon me. I want nothing to interfere with this farce of a trial.”

“As you wish, Tatiana.”

We gathered in the grand foyer, and I took a calming, measured breath. I could do this.

King Fredrick opened the double doors, and we filed out, Edan at my side, with Renora trailing behind. It appeared all of Fairy and Wisteria were in attendance, as the courtyard had both fairy and human alike standing and sitting anywhere available.

Gasps rent the air as soon as I was within their sight, and the whispers began shortly after. I held my head high, my shoulders back, and didn’t listen to an ill word spoken of me. They’d soon know I’d done nothing wrong. I did hear snippets about my appearance, which made me smile internally. I’d have to thank Farina for her insistence later.

The Fairy Godmother Council sat to the right, backed up against the rose-quartz wall. All twelve members were stoic, their near-hidden gazes never wandering from me as I approached the wooden podium before them.

Each raised their silver-lace veils, one by one, to reveal the magic radiating from their eyes. “Tatiana of the Fairy Godmother Guild,” Rosemary, the reigning head elder of the council, addressed me. “You have been summoned before the council to prove you’ve not used your wand against the Crown Prince. We are here today to witness his love for you and deem whether it is true or magical in nature. Do you consent to this test?” Her amethyst-colored eyes bore into me, but I refused to be intimidated.

I took a breath and nodded. “I consent.”

“Prince Edan, please come forth.” The entire council stood at once, as Edan took my hand in his.

“Do not touch the fairy godmother.” Rosemary eyed our intertwined fingers, and he removed his grasp.

I had to contain myself. What? Did they think I would taint him in some way, magic him through touch alone?

King Fredrick and Renora stood to the side of the council, and he nodded for the proceedings to continue.

“As the king has decreed, Prince Edan, you are to marry anyone of your choosing. Did you willingly, without the use of magic, choose Tatiana?”

Edan stared her down. “Absolutely, and never with magic. I have loved her for ye—”

“That is quite enough. I do not need you to elaborate.” She turned toward the other council members. “Assess his magical signature.”

Each waved their wands, and multicolored light encased Edan. His body began to hover in midair, and I wanted this to stop immediately. What on Fairy were they doing to him? I didn’t trust these crones as far as I could throw them.

I stared at him in panic, but he only bowed his head, letting me know he was all right. I balled my fists and turned toward the council once more.

As soon as they were done with Edan, Rosemary addressed me: “Tatiana, lift your wand. We shall now scan it for all wishes granted and all magic ever used.” She sneered, as though she would find me guilty of something sinister.

I unsheathed my wand and happily raised it before the council. It, like Edan, began to glow in multicolored hues as the council waved their own wands, assessing my magical use. Seriously, once they saw all that I’d been tasked with, they’d undoubtedly get a good chuckle.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, and finally, Rosemary lowered her wand, turning toward the council, and then facing me with a bewildered expression. “How is this possible?”

“How is what possible, Councilmember Rosemary?” Okay, so I was enjoying the look of horror and astonishment on her face a teensy bit.

“You’ve done nothing…not even a single wish granted that was not sanctioned by the guild, and even those were minor to say the least. You…there has not been the slightest bit of magic used for ill-gotten gain.” She paused and turned toward the crowd. “How many of you among the fairies can say the same? How many?”

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