Free The League of Illusion: Legacy by Vivi Anna

Maybe the Davenports should not be in charge of anything.”
    Lord Soren glanced at the councilman. “That is not up for discussion, Lord Birmingham.”
    Skylar wanted to remark, but bit her tongue. Her father wouldn’t appreciate her insolence. She didn’t want to anger the council in case they decided to take this away from her and give the job to another tracker.
    “Keep proceeding with your duties,” Lord Soren addressed her. “Is there more?”
    “Yes, Darin Hawthorne has been following us.”
    A few eyebrows lifted that that. The same hefty councilman, Lord Birmingham, snickered. “Of course the Hawthornes have an interest in how this all plays out.”
    “He seemed more than just curious, my lord. He was combative.”
    “I’m sure you are mistaken. A woman’s interpretation perhaps of the events.”
    “I spoke with him myself. His intentions were made clear.”
    “His intentions to court you, perhaps.” The councilman smiled with a condescending look upon his moon face.
    This caused a ripple of smiles and nods down the line of the council. Save for her father, who didn’t look pleased at all.
    “His intentions are to stop us from finding Sebastian Davenport.”
    Smiles soon faded.
    Lord Soren put his hand up to stop the grumblings, then he looked hard at Skylar. His gaze was fierce even through the glass. “You were not assigned this case to make assumptions but to do what you were trained to do. Track Sebastian Davenport.”
    She nodded. “I’ll do my job.”
    “Good. Do you have anything else to tell us?”
    She considered mentioning Jovan’s plan to perform a necromancy spell but after her father’s admonition of not making assumptions, she decided against it. It wasn’t like she truly knew he was going to perform it. He might change his mind. Technically, there was no crime to confess to.
    “No, that is all.”
    “Report again in twelve hours.”
    “Yes, my Lord Father.”
    Lord Soren ended the transmission.
    Skylar sat and stared into the mirror a little while longer, wondering if she’d done the right thing. Whether she did or not, she knew one thing—the council was not working in anyone’s best interests but its own.

Chapter Ten
     
    The hours leading up to dusk seemed hellishly long for Jovan. Skylar had locked herself away in one of the rooms so she could privately contact the council, and so she could also meditate. Druids meditated a lot.
    Rhys had holed up in the library. The man constantly had his nose in a book—whatever good it did him, Jovan never understood.
    Jovan roamed the halls and other rooms restlessly. He stopped several times at the closed door where Skylar kept herself, pressing his hand to the wood. He considered knocking, with thoughts of other ways to pass the time and relieve the tension, but he knew Skylar would toss him out on his arse if he ever expressed those notions. Instead he wore paths in the carpets from his constant pacing.
    When they finally did reconvene in the parlor for a meal the house cook put together, Jovan was as taut as a piano string and just as liable to snap if handled indelicately.
    “Did you mention Hawthorne’s visit?” Rhys asked. He sat on the edge of his seat while Skylar informed them of her contact with the council.
    “Of course.”
    “And what did they say?”
    “I don’t think they were surprised.”
    “Of course they weren’t,” Jovan burst out. “The Hawthornes likely have a spy or two on the council.”
    Skylar set down her tea carefully. “Are you trying to imply that the council’s corrupt?”
    Jovan stood, no longer feeling hungry, and paced the room. “Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying. The council is an archaic organization with no real purpose but to meddle and dictate antiquated rules and regulations.”
    Rhys sat up straight. “Well, naturally you would think that. Because their antiquated rules stop you from using your magic so recklessly.”
    Jovan stopped to glare at him. “Are we really