64

Xade’s pov

Murmurs rippled through the council like an uncontrollable bush fire. but one stern look from Alister and the room goes quiet.

I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let him see that he was getting under my skin.

“Tell me, boy.” Alister began, his voice sharp and cold. “What possessed you to put our kind in danger for some girl?”

My beast stirred and the air shifted in the room. Alister rose one brow

in surprise, sensing the shift in my body. “She’s not j sneered, unable to hold my tongue back.

“Xade.” Peter warned in a low hiss

me girl.” I

Alister’s eyes narrowed at my boldness while Dad stood rigid beside me, his posture a warning for me to calm down. Which I am finding

hard to do.

“Really?” Alister asked with boredom in his tone. “Then who is she to you? Enlighten us. We want to know who this human is to you to make you not think so clearly and jeopardize our lives”

“She’s-

“She has been his friend, a family friend for years.” Dad cuts in stiffly. “She’s like family despite her being human. When her father died. I became like a second dad to her She’s like a sister to Xade. Of course his instincts to protect her is very great which resulted into him not being able to think as clearly as he should have

Sister? I wanted to short at the word, but I knew it was best Alister thought that was the truth

His eyes had thickered to dad when he spoke and he seemed to be thinking. The silence in the room was suffocating as the rest of the council members watch intently.

And then Alister chuckled and the room grew cold. I had a feeling that the man never laughed a day in his life just from the way the rest looked at him. “A sister? A human as a sister’?”

The council members exchanged uneasy glances while Peter looked at me with a wince. “Yes, as a sister, one of his blood,” Dad said firmly and steadily despite the tension in the room “And family is worth

rotecting no matter the cost don’t you agree Alister?”

Alister grows serious, his eyes now hard on dad. “You think the human girl is worth all this trouble?ven worth the nitial of downfall of our kind?”

Dad grows taut and the silence in the room chokes me. And then he replies, shocking everyone. “Yes. As my son had mentioned, she’s not just anyone. She’s family.”

Alister sneered, spitting out the word family as if he had tasted something bitter and disgusting. “Exposing us all for one human girl!” He snarled, the veins in his neck and forehead casting through his skin. “And you’re condoning his actions.”

Dad stiffen. “I am not condoning anyone but I am trying to make you see why he lost control. He sees her as family and I have raised my children to fight for their family, protect them. All he was doing was protecting her.” He defended.

Alister leaned back in contemplation before he looks over at me

thoughtfully. And then he spoke coldly. “Your blind attachment to this

human gul nearly costed us our secrecy from the human world Our people were nearly exposed because of your heroism to save her ”

He looked over the council members “I believe the boy is to be punished for bringing us to the brink of disaster.” He spoke firmly, his voice traveling around the room

Everyone froze with battered breaths, including me. When his eyes returned to me and narrowed coldly I knew the punishment would be

Severe

“Bring out Rose “He commanded Peter who grew uncasy from his request, yet nodded and walked out of the room.

Dad’s hand land on my shoulder and he squeezed. “What punishment do you want to serve my son Alister?” He demanded, his voice barely containing his anger.

Alister looked at him amused I like you alpha Zadknd you bravery is commendable. Which is why I will spare his life,” he flicked his eyes briefly to mine. “But he will be punished, for nothing goes unpunished. I have people to profeet after all.”

“So you’re making my son an example?” Dad asked bitterly.

Alister looked back at him with an unreadable mask on his face. “You should be happy I am not killing off your heir. After all, I have others. killed for far less.”

Peter returned a few minutes later with a woman who was clothed in a dark green dress that reached her ankles. Crystals wrapped around her waist in a chain and some donned in her braided plaits that cascaded down her back. Her pale skin is white as snow, her scent carthy.

A witch.

Her green eyes move to mine for a few before she stood just a few feet

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ahead of us. She bowed. “You’ve called for me Alister?” Her voice is

soft and faint

Alister nods, the smirk returning on his face. “It seems I am need of you dear Rose. This hero boy is to be wiped out of the memory of all the humans in the school, including his ‘sister’. This is your specialty Rose. I am expecting you to be able to handle this task.”

III