By the Magic of Starlight (The Forbidden Realm) Read Free

that.
    “The Fairy Council has had something against me for a long time,” Kyne said. “I know all about that and I know what’s been expected of me. If you have a problem with me or any of the rumors about me, that’s between us. You leave Raea out of this.”
    Swift shook his head. “You have no idea how I wish I could do that. Raea has always been an exemplary worker, a good fairy, and valuable to our cause. We have reason to believe she’s been corrupted and I think the council will agree that finding you together like this tonight only further proves that.”
    “We did nothing wrong!” Kyne insisted.
    “Then perhaps you can explain that to the council. They are reasonable. If you truly have nothing to hide, then you truly have nothing to fear.”
    Unfortunately, that was true. The Fairy Council was known throughout the Forbidden Realm for being reasonable and fair. If Raea and Kyne had nothing to hide, then of course they’d have nothing to fear. Trouble was, they
did
have something to hide, and it sounded as if Swift had enough evidence to lay it all out in the open.
    “Are you bringing charges?” Kyne asked. “If not, then we don’t have to go with you to see the council.”
    “Yes, that’s the law. But it’s going to look so much better for you if I can tell them you came willingly.”
    “Well, I won’t. If you want me to see the council, then let’s do this right. You come up with some legitimate charges, and I want to see an Advocate for the Accused. Now.”
    Was he serious? Raea tried to get Kyne’s attention, to get him to notice the warning look she was shooting his way, but he stared only at Swift. It was not a pleasant stare, either. Swift seemed unimpressed, though. He merely rolled his eyes, let out a frustrated sigh, and pulled up a pinch of whatever dust he carried in his pouch.
    “Are you sure you want me to do this?” he asked Kyne.
    “Yes. Do it.”
    Instantly, Swift released the dust. It evaporated with a green puff. There was only a moment of silence then another light was seen in the distance, coming from the direction from which Swift had appeared. Apparently his dust had been the kind used for long distance contact. He must have known this would happen, so he had someone waiting for his summons. By the Skies, Raea doubted Kyne had expected that. He likely thought he was calling Swift’s bluff, that he could gain a reprieve or at least stall Swift’s plans for the night.
    Raea watched as another fairy appeared. A female this time, prim and dainty and blue. She seemed just as efficient and official as Swift.
    “Kyne has requested an advocate,” Swift said to her when she arrived.
    The blue fairy nodded. “I’m Pimma, Advocate for the Accused.”
    “So I
am
being accused,” Kyne said, barely acknowledging her. “Of what?”
    Swift cleared his throat and pulled himself up tall and straight. His wings beat faster and he rose higher, enough so that he was looking down on Kyne, and the rest of them had to strain to look up at him. He smiled, and Raea waited for the charges to be leveled. It would be bad. They would be accused of an unpardonable crime. She waited for him to say the word “passion.”
    But he didn’t. He ignored her completely and kept his crystalline green eyes directly on his detainee.
    “It pains me to do this, but I must charge you with the worst sort of crimes. Kyne, Summer Fairy, I accuse you of Co-Mingling.”

Chapter Two
    Co-Mingling?
That was unexpected. And bad. Kyne ran his mind over recent events, wondering just how Swift had come to these charges and not any of the others he could more easily have grasped onto. It made no sense.
    Co-Mingling was a serious offense—worse than the forbidden things he’d actually already done. Co-Mingling charges would claim that he had crossed the Veil and presented himself as human, interacting with humans and passing himself off as one of them. It meant he would’ve had to betray his magical essence and