Banishment : Book 9 of the Heku Series Read Online Free Page A

out much worse.”
    “Considering what happened last time we were
here, I’ll give you that. Do I have to be in on the trial?”
    He smiled, knowing how much she hated to be
in a court room in any official capacity, “I don’t know yet. As you
found him, probably.”
    “When I found him, he wasn’t doing anything
against heku laws.”
    Chevalier kissed her softly and then stood
up, “Get some sleep. We’ll be back in Island Coven by morning.”
    Emily nodded and then changed into a
nightgown and was soon fast asleep. When she woke up, she could
hear the gentle lapping of waves against the beach and realized
they had reached Island Coven, but they hadn’t woken her. She
yawned, stretched, and then dressed quickly. She wondered if she
could catch Gordon soon enough to get some of his strawberry
crepes.
    Emily shielded her eyes when she walked up on
the sunny deck. She was right, and the yacht was anchored up
against the pier leading into Island Coven.
    “Good morning, Lady Emily,” one of the Pier
Guards said as he held his dog tightly. The German shepherd was
growling low as his hackles rose and his lips pulled back to expose
his menacing teeth.
    Emily frowned, “Is he going to eat me?”
    “No, M’Lady. He’s just new to the pier.”
    “What time is it?”
    “10:23am, Ma’am.”
    She nodded and then walked down the plank to
the pier, trying to ignore the snarling dog. Chevalier had left his
black Range Rover by the pier, so she would have a way to the
castle. When she climbed in, she adjusted the seat, so she could
reach the pedals, and was soon back at the castle.
    The Door Guards bowed when she walked up,
“Good Morning, M’Lady.”
    “Morning… is Gordon here?”
    “Yes, Ma’am. He’s been in the kitchen most of
the morning waiting for you.”
    “Ok,” she said, and walked through the door.
She looked around the vacant foyer and immediately headed for the
kitchen.
    Gordon turned and smiled when she walked in,
“I bet you’re hungry.”
    “Starving! What’s for breakfast?” she asked
as she sat down.
    “What would you like?”
    “Do you have strawberries?”
    Gordon reached down and picked up a wicker
basket, “Fresh off the vine this morning.”
    She smiled, “Crepes then?”
    “One batch of crepes coming up. Here’s
something while you wait,” he said, handing over a steaming up.
    Emily looked down at it, “What is it?”
    “Chocolat chaud.”
    “Is that Latin for coffee?”
    Gordon chuckled, “No. It's a Parisian hot
chocolate.”
    She nodded and took a sip, “Oh my God, this
is good!”
    He seemed pleased when she took another sip
and then sat back to wait for breakfast.
    “It’s about time you woke up,” Kyle said when
he walked into the kitchen.
    Emily held out her cup, “You should try this.
It's amazing.”
    He shook his head, “No thanks. The Elders
would like you down in the court room.”
    “They’re here?”
    “Yes”
    “Chev hauled the entire Council here because
Niccolo read a book?”
    “No, just myself and the Elders.”
    “Why not wait until we got to the city?”
    “Niccolo is from Island Coven,” Kyle said,
and then stood back by the door, indicating he wanted her to
follow.
    “I didn’t know that. No wonder Chev was mad.”
She made no motion that she was going to follow him.
    “We need to go,” he said, amused.
    “I’m waiting for breakfast.”
    Gordon laughed and put a tray of cream cheese
filled strawberry crepes down in front of her with sizzling bacon
and hash browns, and a glass of ice cold orange juice, “You can
take it with you.”
    She nodded and took the tray, which Kyle then
took from her before stepping out into the hallway.
    “Hint taken, I’m coming,” she said, and
followed him down the dark stairway into the cave-like court room.
Just outside the door to the court room, Emily stole a piece of
bacon and then ate it while she walked in.
    She hated how many heku were here for the
trial and wondered what purpose it served to