Free Wicked Burn by Rebecca Zanetti Page A

mushy with love and gratitude, but she kept her face set. “Fine, but if it gets dangerous, you’re leaving.”
    “Uh-huh.” Brenna smiled for the three council members and raised her voice. “Simone has accepted my offer of representation.”
    Peter cleared his throat. “That’s unwise for you personally, but not against the rules. The Enforcer hasn’t been called, however.”
    Moira stepped forward, irritation all but buzzing from her. “The Enforcer has a name, Pete. While the remaining Enforcers are in Seattle tracking down the main distributor of Apollo, I’m here in official capacity to protect Simone Brightston.”
    Peter blinked. “Excuse me?”
    Simone moved to stop Moira from speaking, but the wild witch held up a hand to halt her. “Simone is a member of the Council Nine, and if she’s innocent, which I believe she is, then somebody has gone to an enormous amount of trouble to set her up. She’s in danger, and it’s the Enforcers’ job to protect Coven members in danger. Thus I am here.”
    Nick leaned in to Simone. “Isn’t family a pain in the ass?” Somehow, although he probably tried to hide it, he sounded a bit melancholy. The poor guy had never had a family, having lost his parents centuries ago.
    Simone nodded. “There’s no way to get them to leave.”
    Peter studied Moira, who met his gaze levelly. Finally, he nodded. “Very well, but if the Coven Nine decides to send you on a mission elsewhere, do not forget your alliance.” Peter banged the gavel down. “Let’s get this started. Please read the charges.”
    The prosecutor nodded. “The charges are simple. Simone Brightston is guilty of committing treason, the first-degree murder of humans by using planekite darts, and the attempted murder of witches. The charges are made more serious by the fact that Coven Nine members have been attacked with planekite, thus requiring imposition of death on the guilty party.”
    Simone’s head buzzed. At least all the charges were trumped up and not based on the actual laws she’d broken. Yet. It all seemed so casual and normal, yet the prosecutor, in following the law, was asking for her head to be removed from her body. She should be terrified or even angry. But shock drew her away from the proceedings in a way that felt impersonal.
    “This is bullshit,” Moira muttered beneath her breath.
    Brenna smiled. “We demand a proffer of proof.”
    The prosecutor clasped his hands at his back. “I’ve compiled all proof and handed the papers over in manila files, but I’m willing to give a brief recap. For more than a century, Simone has transferred money through different accounts and funded various endeavors, the latest being the mining of planekite, which, as you know, is the mineral that kills witches.”
    “You’ve traced Simone’s money to the planekite mining and distribution?” Brenna challenged.
    “Yes. The mineral has been used to create Apollo, the drug killing humans in Seattle, as well as inserted into darts and shot at our Coven Nine members.” The prosecutor rocked back on his designer loafers. “We have signatures, e-mails, texts, and other records that show Ms. Brightston was not only aware of the mines but actively set this plan in motion.”
    “Why?” Moira demanded. “Why in the world would Simone do such a thing?”
    The prosecutor shook his head. “Our theory as to motive will be revealed at trial. For now, every bit of evidence we’ve collected has been turned over to the defense. We request a trial date.”
    Peter leaned forward. “Pursuant to Coven law, a trial date is set for Monday.”
    “Five days from now?” Nick shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. Five days isn’t enough time to go through and counter this stack of nonsense.” He pointed to the files. “This is a death penalty case.”
    Simone jabbed him in the ribs and winced as her elbow ached. “It’s our way.” She cleared her throat. “I accept the trial date and enter a plea of not