Something Witchy This Way Comes: A Jolie Wilkins Novel (7 page)

“I came here to say goodbye,” I started, feeling myself
begin to spiral out of control. This wasn’t what I’d been expecting—this wasn’t what I’d come here for—and now I needed to escape.

“Damn saying goodbye to me, poppet,” he spat back and shook his head, an odd smile curving the ends of his lips. “You came here because you couldn’t keep away from me,” he insisted. “You came here because you still feel the same way for me that I feel for you.”

“Stop it!” I seethed at him, feeling tears welling in my eyes.

“You love me, Jolie, just as much as you always did, and I …”

I narrowed my eyes, suddenly hanging on his words. And although I knew this conversation was absolutely pointless, somehow I couldn’t let go of the fact that he had been about to say something … something I had so longed to hear … well, that is before Rand and Mathilda returned my memories to me. “You what?” I demanded, surprised by my need to hear him utter the words.

But Sinjin had already dropped his gaze to the floor, as if any boldness he’d previously experienced had withered and died.

“You what?” I demanded again.

But he dropped my arms and stepped away, shaking his head as he did so. The tears that had been threatening me only seconds earlier abruptly receded, replaced by anger. Why I was angry, I didn’t really know.

“It’s just as well,” I said in a soft but disappointed voice. I pulled away and opened the door, disappearing into the sanctuary of the dark hallway.

The ceremony was held a mere two hours later. My panel and I were in attendance in the Green Room of Kinloch Kirk, so named because the entire room, with its amphitheater-style seating, was painted a sage green. It was the same room where only a few months earlier Sinjin had helped me defeat my nerves before I gave my first speech as Queen.

But of course I firmly pushed all kind thoughts about Sinjin to the deepest recesses of my mind, knowing they would only spawn useless feelings of guilt. As I glanced around the room, I was quiet, depressed. I watched Odran and Trent make small talk as they sat in the first row, four rows of unoccupied seats behind them. Meanwhile, in a corner, Mercedes struggled with her “projection charm” to ensure it was working. She raised her hands a few times, closed her eyes and uttered a few words as lights flamed up from between her hands like a fireworks show. The projection charm was basically like a magical video camera. The ceremony that was about to start would be broadcast to the entire Underworld community. The witches and fae would need to go into a visionary trance and Mercedes’ charm would act like a film reel against the backdrop of their minds. Those less magically inclined, like the vampires and werewolves, could tune in on their television sets. They just had to turn on the channel that offered the most static, and Mercedes’ magic would do the rest, broadcasting itself like a television show. Or at least that’s how Mercedes had described it in her announcement.

The fact that Sinjin’s disgrace was going to be aired like the Rose Parade made me sick to my stomach. In
some ways the Underworld reminded me of medieval times—some of our customs were just as outdated.

“I know this must be difficult for you,” Rand said as he took the seat beside mine.

I glanced up at him, half expecting him to be jovial since he was about to witness the banishment of someone he had always disliked … intensely. But instead his expression was grim and I could feel his gloomy mood.

“It isn’t easy,” I said with a frown.

He nodded. “Well, for whatever it’s worth, I think you did the right thing.”

“This wasn’t my idea,” I reminded him, second-guessing it even now. The thought of what was about to happen to Sinjin was making me feel physically ill.

“I wasn’t referring to Sinjin’s punishment. I was referring to the fact that you allowed your panel to vote, and you carried out their decision.” He smiled down at me and appeared to be proud. “You are every inch the Queen you wanted to be.”

I nodded, trying to find comfort in his words. But I couldn’t. I mean, yes, I was proud of myself for choosing to support a democratic vote, but at the same time I was uneasy because I didn’t support the verdict. I just had to wonder what was worse—ruling with an iron fist and feeling justified in my decisions, or … this?

I watched my fingers drum against my knee, and then glanced around the room nervously, wondering when the guards would escort Sinjin in and, more so, when this whole ordeal would be over. My attention turned to Klaasje, who was sitting beside Varick. The older vampire was prattling on about something,
but I could tell she wasn’t listening. She was pale and her normally bright, wide eyes were even wider, scared. She hated every second of this as much as I did—hated the fact that her friend was about to be banished and then God only knew what would happen to him.

“It’s still not a decision that leaves me with the warm fuzzies,” I said, and sighed.

Rand nodded but was spared further comment when the double doors opened and two burly werewolf guards walked inside, Sinjin between them. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, considering that Sinjin was for all intents and purposes a prisoner, but he certainly wasn’t dressed like one. Now, in his midnight-colored suit, he looked like he was heading to a black-tie event. There wasn’t a chain or a handcuff to be seen. He strolled inside casually, pausing when he reached the center of the room. The guards took their positions on either side of the doors and stood there, wearing solemn frowns.

“The party can begin,” Sinjin said with a smile as he scanned the room, his smile broadening when his attention settled on me. I felt my stomach drop.

“Sinjin Sinclair,” Mercedes started as she approached him. She was dressed in a long flowing purple velvet cape with a hood over her head. She looked like she was trying to impersonate a monk.

Sinjin had been right when he’d described this as nothing more than pomp and circumstance. It seemed especially heavy on the pomp.

“Mercedes Berg, the prophetess,” Sinjin said with that devil’s smile, a smile that said he wasn’t taking
any of this seriously, that it was all just a big game to him—like, well, most things in his life.

“You might do well to wipe that grin off your mouth, as you have been denied the privilege of protecting your Queen from this day forward,” Varick called out from his seat on the opposite side of the room.

Sinjin glanced at him and smirked. “Ah, my dear comrade Varick, why should I not smile when I am so enjoying myself?”

Mercedes cleared her throat. “I do not want to make this task long or arduous,” she said firmly.

“We have that in common,” Sinjin responded, dropping the smile as he faced her again.

“Then I will not delay,” she finished, and turned toward me. “My Queen, before you stands your former chief protector, do you approve of his removal from this office?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes.”

She faced Sinjin again. “As our Queen has vested within me the power to free you from your responsibilities as her chief protector, you are hereby stripped of that office.”

Sinjin glanced at me but said nothing, merely nodded in an almost humble sort of way. Then he bowed in a practiced form and turned to face Mercedes again, expectant. Mercedes simply sat down in the seat beside me as Odran stood up and lumbered toward Sinjin.

“As ah representative ah the Queen’s panel, I declare that Sinjin Sinclair, Master Vampire, is ta be stripped ah ’is title ah Master Vampire and banished froom the Queen’s kingdoom … forever.”

Sinjin nodded again and said nothing apparently,
just listening to Odran’s words. Once the King of the Fae lumbered back to his seat, Sinjin must have recognized the floor was his own. He cocked a brow and narrowed his gaze on me, until it seemed as though no one else in the room even existed.

“I recognize and abide by my Queen’s will,” he began. “I have only ever wanted to protect her, to ensure her longevity and happiness.”

Rand grumbled something. I ignored him.

“My Queen, these are uncertain times in which we are living,” Sinjin continued, as if Rand’s reaction were of no consequence to him. “And it would serve you well to rethink my banishment.”

“The decision is made,” Rand said furtively. “Endure your punishment like a gentleman, Sinclair.”

Sinjin faced him then and his eyes narrowed. “The Queen will require all the protection available to her. Banishing me could be cutting off her nose to spite her face.”

Rand stood up and shook his head. “Don’t think you’re going to worm your way out of this one, Sinjin. You’ve been decreed a public enemy, and as such, you will be banished.”

Sinjin said nothing more to Rand, but he turned back toward me. “Poppet, if ever you should need me, you have only to ask and I will come running.”

Of course, I replayed the conversation with Sinjin repeatedly in my head—I mean, how could I not? Questions poured through my brain and it was all I could do to focus on one at a time. Was what Sinjin said true? Was banishing him cutting off my nose to spite my face? I glanced outside the window at the
darkness of the Scottish sky, thankful that I was in the solitude of my bedroom. I needed some alone time in order to contemplate the enigma that was Sinjin. As Queen, it seemed I never had any time to myself, so these few moments were precious.

Sitting at my bedside vanity, I stared at myself as if my blue eyes might hold an answer—as if they could tell me whether Sinjin truly cared about me. But of course, my vacuous expression was reflected back at me. I couldn’t help but notice that my eyes were still wide with surprise, even though the ceremony was long since over.

I couldn’t keep the questions and thoughts from rampaging through my mind, couldn’t stop wondering if Sinjin had been telling me the truth earlier, when I’d first told him of his banishment. Maybe deep down in that icy cave of his heart, he was still truly human and capable of caring about someone else. Maybe Sinjin Sinclair could feel love?

Who are you kidding?
That voice in my head piped up.
Sinjin is a master of artifice, Jolie. You of all people should know that by now!

I shook my head, determined to win this argument with myself, determined to find the good in Sinjin. Why, I had no idea—it was almost an automatic reaction.
You saw his expression—you looked into his eyes the same as I did. Are you really trying to tell me that what you saw there wasn’t genuine and real?

It wasn’t genuine or real
.

You know in your heart of hearts that he’s telling the truth. You know he cares about you and always has
.

I know I’m not going to fall for it again. I’m not
going to be the naive idiot I’ve always been. This time, I’m learning my lesson
.

Bah!
I figuratively waved the voice away and, instead, turned to thoughts of Sinjin’s exile. I just couldn’t feel good about the decision. Even though almost everyone had agreed on it—well, all the men in the room, anyway—I just couldn’t defend the decision. Especially with the Lurker threat ever growing. What did that threat mean for Sinjin? What if the Lurkers discovered him and he had no one to defend him?

Had I just sent Sinjin to his death?

Puhleeze, Jolie! Sinjin is a survivor. You heard Rand
, I thought.
He can take care of himself
.

Yeah, but who knows what the Lurkers are capable of? Not to mention what they’re planning? Who knows what’s in store for us?

Sinjin’s punishment was voted on by your counsel, Jolie, and you can’t go back now. What he did was wrong, no matter what his motivations were. He pulled the rug out from underneath you and attempted to change the course of your life!

Hmm, that’s true
.

He tried to destroy everything you knew, everything you cared about! And you’re debating whether he deserves his punishment? He nearly separated you from Rand! What the hell is wrong with you?

Thinking about Rand was ultimately what set me straight. Sinjin had nearly destroyed everything I’d worked so hard for—everything Rand had worked so hard for. Yes, what was done was done, and there was no going back.

And this time I would be firm in my convictions.