I had to blink back tears. Not only did Declan trust me, but he meant every word he’d just uttered.

There was a rustling behind me, and I looked back to see Mama Ami standing. “If I may address the tribunal?”

Woodbridge looked like he wanted to deny her, but couldn’t think of a valid reason why. Patrice appeared intrigued, but Prisha obviously knew Mama Ami, because she was smiling at her. I mean, it’s hard not to smile at Mama Ami. She was amazing.

Prisha’s smile faltered a little when she caught the icy demeanor on Mama Ami’s face. Ha! You poked the bear now, lady. Behind her I could see my mom, Jory, smirking. She winked at me. My mom would always be there to fight my battles at my side, but she also knew that her words right now wouldn’t matter. Mama Ami’s would. No one could argue her credentials or knowledge.

Prisha cleared her throat. “Of course. The Tribunal acknowledges Dr. Larsen, animal mage and Louise Matthews’s current mentor.”

Mama Ami took a few moments to go over the details from last night—who’d called her, what she’d seen when she got there, and so on. She held her chin high. “I’m the one that brought this to the Tribunal’s attention. Aside from Ms. Bhatt, I’m the only person in this room who fully understands how damaging and wrong this kind of binding is. It’s not just illegal, it’s immoral.”

My stomach plummeted for a second. Mama Ami believed in consequences, and if she thought the right course of action was to throw me to the Tribunal as offering, she would. But she was also wise and fair. Which meant if she truly thought that was the best course of action, it was.

She cleared her throat to quiet the sudden murmuring of the crowd. “That being said, sometimes exceptions need to be made. Like most animal mages, I studied Eva Campbell’s crimes extensively. Yes, she is strong, but I believe that Louise has already ousted her once.”

I blinked at her, surprised. I did what now? I glanced at Declan.

“The trap,” he murmured. “It felt like her magic.”

I was so glad I hadn’t known that in the dream. I still would have tried to save Declan of course, but knowing who I was going up against, how strong she was, might have made me doubt myself.

Mama Ami explained what we’d told her about the dream. The Tribunal interrupted a few times, asking us clarifying questions, but mostly they just listened. “Louise heard a hunt—I don’t think Eva Campbell knows where Declan is yet. However, she bound him as a child. They have a connection. I think she was reaching out into his dream state, calling to him.”

“The trap was made for his wolf,” I said.

“That’s what I believe, yes,” Mama Ami said, nodding. “They were using it to hunt Declan down.” Her tones were crisp, and though Woodbridge opened his mouth to say something, she plowed ahead. “Declan hasn’t been sleeping well and had to take a sleep aid from Wicked Brews. Because of that, he was especially vulnerable last night. Under the sleep aid, he couldn’t rouse himself. His wolf did the only thing he could—he called out to Louise. He instinctively knew she’d help.” She motioned toward me. “Explain the tether.”