Rise of the Witch Queen

Parley with the Winter Queen

"He doesn't care about you," Will said "He's just using you."

I flinched at his words, but I knew they were true. I'd always known they were true. And I hated myself for forgetting. "Nothing happened. Nothing is ever going to happen." I forced as much ice into my voice as I could. I would not let either of these men see how much this hurt me. "If you'll excuse me I have to go take a shower," I said turning to leave without waiting for permission. 

"Charlotte wait" Luke pleaded "It might have started out like that, but it's not anymore." Luke might have had more to stay, but I wasn't going to hang around to hear him out. I'd suffered enough humiliation for one day. I let the water scorch my skin as it cascaded down my body. I'd been a fool to let myself forget even for a moment what Luke was. He was a handsome playboy who saw me as nothing more than a meal ticket and maybe a piece of ass he brag to his friends about nailing. I'd been an idiot to think that there might be more to him. 

Pulling on a ridiculously fluffy robe I flopped down onto the bed. Stairing at the calling fan whirling above my head when someone knocked at the door. "Go away" I called out not caring who it was. I preferred to lick my wounds in private. 

"It's Will" Will said opening the door.

"I'm sorry does go away actually mean 'please come in' in manhattan?" I grumped sitting up.

"No but it does is concerned big brother" He smirked"Besides we still have things to talk about. I made you a promise that I would be as honest with you as I could. And that means I still have some things to discuss with you."

"So you plan on humiliating me further?" I jumped up on the bed. 

"Charlotte please sit down and be serious" Will pleaded.

"Why?" I asked jumping up and down on the bed "I'm a silly creature trapped i a silly cage. This is entirely appropriate."

"I know I need to get you tutors to start your magical education" Will paced "You will have tutors by the end of the week. But we do need to talk about the council meeting that happened last night ."

"Really?" I asked refusing to look at him " You already embarrassed me in front of your friend and now you want to continue the trend you started in private?"

"No I want to protect you god damn it!" Will slamned his fist into a bedside table "Will you at least just let me try?"

Letting my body fall to the bed I looked at my brother. "I'm trying. I just need something to do." I sighed "I thought when I got away from Jace that we would be trying to find our parent's killer. Or at least learning some magic. Instead I'm just stuck here while everyone else is moving on."

Sitting down on the edge of my bed Will sighed "I know. I've been busy. I'll talk to Poppy and get her to start tutoring you in the basics of spell work."

"And what about whoever killed our parents?" I asked frustrated.

"I'm working on running down some leads. Until then you should practice meditating to try to get some control over your visions." Will said.

"So hurry up and wait" I sat up. 

"Well not exactly" Will said "That's kind of why I came up here. We're having another council meeting to broker a truce with the fae and we need you to be there."

"Wonderful. An afternoon with all my favorite people" I grumped. 

"I wish I could say it won't be that bad, but after last night" Will shuddred "I promise I'll make it up to you."

"What do I have to do?" I sighed.

An hour later later Will, Luke, and I were headed to the council meeting. As much as I was dreading being in a room with all of the warlock council again I figured this was the best chance I had to dig up clues about who might have murdered my parent's. I figured it had to be one of our parent's friends on the council. However had done it had the kind of influence that only the council members seemed to wield.