me?â
The council members glanced at one another again, and Lord Gawain felt his heart thudding in his chest. How many of his councillors were his and how many could be swayed by Lisandroâs easy charm?
âNone of us,â Qasim said finally, apparently speaking for the group. âWe are White Elm. We swore oaths to this council, and unlike some, we have the honour to hold to those oaths.â
Lisandro lifted his chin slightly as the other councillors nodded firmly, encouraged by Qasimâs strong words. Lord Gawain felt himself relax. Lisandro was not the most powerful force here, after all.
âWell, you had your chance,â Lisandro said with a shrug. âIâm sorry it has to end like this. You should know by now that nothing stands between me and what I want, so please make the effort to not be obstacles. Iâd hate to have to kill any of you.â
âDonât be melodramatic,â Lady Miranda scoffed.
Emmanuelle started pulling herself together.
âLisandro destroyed Peter,â she accused, struggling to stand. Her foot caught the hem of her robe and she stumbled. Renatus grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her to her feet, but he continued watching Lisandro. âIt wouldnât bother âim to âurt any of us.â
â You nearly destroyed him,â Lisandro replied carelessly. âHis friendship for you was weakening his resolve. If heâd given in I would have killed him.â
âLisandroâ¦What went wrong with you?â Lord Gawain asked. He was really struggling to understand why this was happening.
âHonestly? You, Gawain. You are what went wrong with me. Watch out, kid,â he added to Renatus, before turning back to Lord Gawain. âYou, my friend, my mentor, my leader, are responsible for anything I do henceforth, because you failed me in the exact moments I needed you not to. Think back: you remember the moments, the times I needed something and you ignored me.â
âYour needs were selfish,â Lord Gawain rebuked, thinking of one such time quite easily but having difficulty recalling any more.
âMaybe so, but Iâve noticed that the world is ready for a change, and realised that I could be it. Itâs a very empowering feeling.â
âWhat will you do now?â
âDestroy you. Bit by bit.â
At the opposite side of the dismantled circle, the energy levels spiked as someone relinquished their self-control and anger burst forth.
âYou deceitful monster!â Emmanuelle screamed, her usually smooth blonde hair ruffled. âHow dare you? How dare you ruin this council, after all it âas gained you? How dare you destroy Peter?â She continued ranting in furious French and started forward as though to attack her friendâs manipulator, but Renatus caught her and held her back. Glen hurried to Renatus to help restrain her.
âI think thatâs my cue to leave,â Lisandro said cheerfully. He tapped Peterâs motionless form with his wand and the young Scot disappeared, displaced.
Lord Gawain froze mid-step â the Elm Stone ! Why hadnât he bothered to look into the future to see this coming? Heâd been so focussed on the events unfolding in the now and now the ring, the White Elmâs greatest source of emergency power was gone !
âNo! Bring âim back!â Emmanuelle cried, fighting against those who restrained her. Renatus held her tightly, his face expressionless, while Glen transferred soothing energy to her. It wasnât working.
âSomeone needs to shut that little girl up,â Lisandro commented, waving his wand in her direction; she dropped as though dead, but Renatus was quick to catch her before she hit the ground. An automatic check of her aura confirmed that she was alive and unharmed, just stunned. Lisandro smirked at Renatus. âPretty girl, that one. Not as pretty as your sister was, though.â
In an instant