“Well, it wasn’t best for me,” I piped up, not liking the feeling of being the ‘this’ in the conversation and being ignored at the same time. “I wanted a family, a big, loud, proper family. And my mother denied me that.”
I cleared my throat. I wasn’t sure if it was the proper thing to say, but I couldn’t help it. I encouraged the feelings of outrage that had begun to build inside me so I could use them to move forward with my argument. Didn’t these people realize that I’d had no choice on how my life had turned out? If my mother had stayed, fought for the man she loved, then we all could have been happy.
She would probably be alive.
Granted, I wasn’t positive she would be, and I wasn’t positive about the outcome. But at the very least, I would have known my family.
“I think it’s time to right that wrong, don’t you?” I quirked one eyebrow at both men and stormed back to my chair. My emotions were getting the better of me. I had to leave or else I wouldn’t be able to focus on now, on the trial.
I sat down, though my chest rose and fell at a rapid rate. Who did all these people think they were? To judge me. To tell me how I could live my life. Who to marry, who to love?
Not fucking likely!
Not today. Not ever again.
“I’m ready,” I said as loudly as possible and everyone settled into their seats.
The trial was set out very much like it had been the last time I was here. There were several seats at the front of the room, that faced the rest of the ‘congregation.’ Six pews lined up in front of me, all containing powerful witches and warlocks.
The man who had given us the three days to think about the new conditions stepped forward, and my father sunk back behind me, standing next to my chair. The room was so quiet, I could hear people breathe with their noses. All eyes were on me, like I was naked or had some kind of target on my back. My stomach tingled, as though the tattoo there felt my nerves and wanted to protect me from this feeling of unease.
“Ave Melfi. Have you come to your decision?” he asked, his tone official
I nodded. “Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I have.”
He waited, then finally asked, “And what is it?”
I lifted my chin, and forced myself to be brave, clinging to the anger that still pulsed in my system. Maybe if I could use that anger, I could appear much more confident than I really was.
“I would like to take on the role of my father’s official heir and be the next High Warlock when my time comes.”
There was a strange titter around the room. No applause. No happiness. Had they expected me to refuse?
The man before me practically stumbled forward. “Oh, well, then, you will need to sign the contract we have drawn up for the—”
“No,” I said, cutting him off.
His brows raised. “No?”
If it were any other circumst
ance, I would have laughed at his befuddlement. As though they never thought I could get what I want, how I wanted it.
“I want some amendments made before I can sign it. After a lifetime of being trapped in a single house, in a single realm, with no choice on how I lived my life, I will not have the same conditions forced on me for the rest of my days.”
The man glanced towards my father. “Matlock... she simply can’t...”
“I wasn’t finished,” I said, standing up so that I was now at least the same height as the men around me. “And I can speak for myself. You do not need to involve my father in this.” My chest hurt as my heart pounded against my ribs, but I pushed on. “No. I will not sign the contract as it stands. I will not have an arranged marriage, nor be forced into one the way my father was.”
The man before me stared at me like I was crazy.
“But... but... you have to!” he sputtered.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “I do not!” I said. I sounded like a child but I didn’t care. “I am the legal, and blood, heir to the High Warlock and if you think I’m going to let you bully me into accepting a man that you picked to be your next High Warlock, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Charity and two other Council members rushed forward, huffing and puffing with outrage.
“You can’t do that!” a red headed woman cried.