The audience inside the circular chamber erupted in loud chatter. I've never felt more awkward with every person staring at us walking in.

People clustered by their talent in designated sections around the room. I scanned the Water Circle group opposite us—no Kellan. Rings of filled benches stared into the center of the room.

A robust man wearing a long white flowing robe smashed a stone against the rock pedestal. The layers of thin fabric draping his body floated with his movement, giving him the appearance of a bird in flight.

"Order!" He hammered the stone gavel again in a loud smack. "The council demands order!"

Just follow my lead.

A bear of a man stocked up the aisle toward us, gait wide and with purpose. His earthy jacket hugged his muscular frame, threatening to rip apart at the seams should he unleash the raw power contained beneath them. He stopped a few feet from us, drew a fist and smacked his chest. A cloud of dust pulled from his clothes, and he bowed.

Rock Circle?

Jaxon nodded, straightened to his full height and returned a stiff bow. He's their second.

I held my skirt wide and curtsied.

"Welcome back, Burnell." The man's gaze drifted to me and back to Jax. "I see your travels to our sister world was successful."

"Indeed."

The audience continued to murmur, watching on like we were their favorite actors playing out an episode on TV.

"Enough!" The man in white drove the stone down, and sparks radiated out to the first rows of attendees. His sleeves fluttered with his vertical movement.

I pulled my attention back to the conversation.

"The announcement. Did I hear correctly?" the bearish man asked.

Jaxon grinned. "That our partnership is in a few days? I think everyone in Acklemar knows that by now. Don't tell me my father forgot to send the Brackstone clan their invitation."

Brackstone let out a deep roar of laughter and shook a finger at Jax. "I should know better than to ask you a direct question. You always could shrug off even the most difficult questions."

The noise of the crowded room fell away.

"Cryer," the man in white hollered. "If you're trying to delay today's proceedings with this little stunt, so help me..." He shook the baseball sized stone gavel in his hand. "Check the register and correct your announcement so we can proceed."

The Cryer pressed his lips together into a thin line and balled his hands into fists. "I will not—check. I know my responsibilities, and my announcement of Their Highnesses is accurate to the ledger," he said stressing the word, is.

The stunned man turned his gaze to me, and wild conversation erupted throughout the room.

The edges of Jaxon's lips turned up into a smirk. There hasn't been this much excitement in council probably ever. In fact, that might be the first time Windy has had nothing to say.

Windy?

His actual name is Archamaeus. He gestured toward the man in white. The first of the Air Circle. Windy's my nickname for him since he always corners someone at a function and talks them into boredom.

"So, it's true," said Brackstone. "Well, Miss Delacroix, I believe I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thanks to you, today's session should prove most stimulating." He stepped forward, bowed again and lifted my hand to his lips. "For once I'm going to actually enjoy being here." He released my fingers.

"The council calls Jaxon Burnell"—Windy checked the ledger the Cryer passed him—"and Wren Delacroix forth."

Brackstone stepped aside. "I think a round of StonePowder is in order after today's session." He patted Jaxon's back. "I'll save you both a seat at the pub."

"Count on it." Jaxon held out his arm."Shall we?"

He led me down the aisle and several flights of stairs. When we got to the main floor, Jax held open a small door that drew to the height of my waist. I stepped through and waited for him on the other side. The spectators quieted. Jaxon took my hand in his, and we approached Windy, who stood behind the pedestal in the center of the room. Behind him, in the first row of chairs, four seats were propped up higher than the rest. Otis lounged in one of them with his fingers tented and steely stare directed at me.

"Due to the impossibility of your claim, the council demands a retraction or verification of it," Windy said loud enough for even the back rows in the room to hear.

They want to see the ring?

Jax nodded, lowered my hand and knelt beside me. You didn't think they'd just take my word for it, did you? He held the hem of my dress.

I have to warn you...

Of? He slid his hand over my calf and lifted the dress exposing my battered leg to the room.

The audience gasped, and the Fire Circle audience broke out in a loud cheer and applause. Otis leaned forward with his lips twisting into a thin smirk.

You never thought to mention how bad these are? Jaxon's brow tensed, and he pursed his lips momentarily before smoothing the fabric down.

It wouldn't have mattered.

Maybe not. Jaxon stood and interlaced his fingers with mine. But I would have insisted you use some of your Gran's cream on those bruises. I could feel him tremble, and his grip get hotter with each passing second.

You're mad at me?

The heat in his hold receded. At you? No— But with my father? The word, murderous, comes to mind.

Windy scribbled something in the ledger. "Verification is confirmed."

Jaxon turned, leading me away.

"Wait!" Windy called.

We both halted mid-step. Jax led us back to where we previously stood and produced a quick bow.

"You called, sir?" Jax answered.

Windy nodded, placed his feather pen in the center of the open book, then looked directly at me. "We take battery seriously, Miss Delacroix. Those bruises..." He gestured extending a finger in my direction, then grimaced as if the bruises proved how weak I was. "How'd you get them."

You're about to be the first woman to ever address the council.

Well then, I'll be sure to make it count. I unlocked my clammy fingers from his.

Wren, don't do anything foolish...

Windy strummed his fingers against the pages of the open book, waiting for my answer.

Me? Foolish? I untied the scarf and yanked it from my head. I wouldn't dream of it.

Murmurs circled the room, and our voyeuristic onlookers stared at my battered face.

"If you want me to name those responsible"—I took a step forward—"I will not."

The chatter among the people got louder, and Windy drove his stone gavel onto the pedestal. The noise decreased to a hush, and he opened his mouth as if he had something to say, but I wasn't even close to being done.

"I stand here strong. A woman bearing the marks of a victor, not a victim." My necklace began to flash on. "These bruises and scars only serve as a proud reminder that I am stronger than the things that tried to beat me. This council doesn't inquire when a man has a black eye or a cut on his brow. They assume the injury is from training with his circle." My hands prickled with the energy of the realm stones beneath my feet. "I may be a woman, but I've trained like every man in this room and in the eyes of this court I'm an equal."

All of the stones on my necklace glowed bright, and Windy's eyes widened. I pulled the radiant energy to me and disappeared. Windy glanced around the room for me and nearly fell over when I reappeared directly in front of him.

"I kindly suggest the council attend to the matters at hand and leave me to fight my own justice."

Fire Circle members shot to their feet cheering and whistling. Only one member remained seated—Otis. His gaze drifted to the applauding masses, then he rose to his feet, clapped twice and returned to his chair.

Holy crap, Jaxon said drawing out the word holy.

Windy raised a brow and scribbled something in his book. "Duly noted, Second. Your point is valid." He turned to the council members behind him, and they nodded in succession. "You want equality and equality you shall have. Your explanation is sufficient."

Well said. Jaxon took my hand, kissed the back of it, and led us away from the direct address of council. It must have killed my father to stand and applaud, but he couldn't very well ignore the mass support of our circle.

We climbed the stairs between two sections of seats. On our left, Fire Circle members applauded us while we ascended the first flight, and on our right, our friends whooped and whistled.

Even taking a seat is going to cause an uproar. Jaxon gestured for me to sit next to Sage.

I rested my hand on the back of the bench, taking the weight off my aching leg, if only for a moment.

"Hey, Jaxon. Have you been gone so long that you're now too good to sit with your own?" A guy, Jax's age, stood and crossed his arms.

Jaxon's posture stiffened, and he looked over his shoulder. I released my grip on the wooden bench.

"Teker," Jax responded.

"Cousin." His eyes flashed honey-brown. "Don't tell me after all these years of us plotting against Kellan, you're here to support him." Teker raised a brow.

Why would he think that?

Because this section is reserved for family and friends of the accused, we're expected to sit with our Circle. "You know me." Jax shrugged and slid a hand into his pocket. "Do I ever do anything without reason?"

"And a pretty reason she is too." His lips turned up into a smile, with his gaze lingering on me for a moment, then he looked back to Jax.

"Smooth Teker." Jax wrapped an arm around me. "I see you haven't changed."

"What can I say? I'm just an admirer of beauty. Besides, I saw perfectly well you've staked your claim." Teker held our his open palms, then glanced briefly at our friends behind us and cupped his mouth. "Strategy's always been his strong suit. I've never even won a game of Calept against him. But even if I am too slow to whip him in a game of wit–I am smart enough to join him." He grabbed his pack from the ground, took two long strides across the aisle and plunked down on the bench behind us.

What does he mean join us? He doesn't even care about what happens to Kellan.

If you weren't tied to Kellan—neither would I. Jax stood tall and scanned the Fire Circle section in front of us. Welcome to Politics. He's just openly allied himself with us over my father.

Fire Circle members turned to their partners, whispering softly. One lady rose, furrowed her brows at her partner who remained steadfast in his seat, and approached us.

She lowered her eyes to the ground and curtsied, showing off the tiny pink flowers embroidered on her skirt. "I may have no voice in council, but I'd be a fool not to support the first woman to ever have been granted that privilege." She curtsied again and nodded to Jaxon. "Your Highness."

The woman crossed the floor between the sections and eased into the spot next to Teker. He smiled a wide toothy grin and winked at me, then lounged back in his seat. I turned back to the Fire Circle section and watched more people rise to their feet, joining the growing procession in front of us. Soon half the Fire circle section had emptied and filled ours. We were about to sit when Jaxon, nudged me and pointed to the top of the stairs where a group of women from all talents stood.

I don't understand. They aren't even from the Fire Circle.

And yet, you're the only one in this entire room who speaks for them. Jax kissed the side of my head and relaxed into his seat, leaving me to address them.

"Ladies." I fanned my dress and lowered with one hand over my heart. "I'm honored. Please..." I gestured they should take a seat.

One by one they curtsied, then filled the remaining open spots, leaving some to stand once all the seats were taken. I eased onto the bench with a sense of relief the spotlight was finally off of me.

"Council calls forth to center chair, Kellan Fountaine, his Royal Highness to the Water Circle," the Cryer announced.

The double doors on the main floor opened and Kellan stepped forward. A tidal wave of raw emotion and energy slammed into me. I gasped for air and dug my fingers into the bench, trying to withhold the urge to claw my way to the front of the room to be with him.

He held out his arms, and the man closest to the door pulled a key from his pocket and locked the manacles, securing Kellan's wrists. Before even taking a step, Kellan closed his eyes as if concentrating on something, then looked directly at me.

Nice speech, love. Kellan bowed in my direction. Still fraternizing with the enemy?

It's called saving your life. I gripped the bench so hard, a small piece of wood broke off in one of my hands.

Call me crazy, but I hardly call you smothering me with your emotional reactions from you kissing Jaxon, a life saver.

My heart raced. You say that like this is easy for me.

Well, it's about to get a whole lot harder. He tugged his shirt down and walked toward the white stone chair a Rock Circle guard had replaced the pedestal with. Here's a fact you'll enjoy knowing. Center chair is made out of truth stone. 

Wooo! So glad you're still reading! The saga continues, and somehow things never seem to get any better for Wren. Looking forward to posting the next piece next weekend. What's your FAVORITE part of this chapter?

Be sure to VOTE some love! Thanks for reading. :)