by Dannika Dark
“Do you have evidence?” Novis kept his fingers laced together and stared coolly at the prisoner. He was speaking to the Vampire to his left but avoided direct eye contact. I didn’t think a Vampire official would try to charm him in front of the crowd, so perhaps it was to make a point that he didn’t trust him.
“We captured him leaving the scene,” the Vampire countered, straightening the cuff of his sleeve.
I leaned to the left for a better view. Novis brought his clasped hands up to his chin and raised his index fingers, touching his mouth. “And did you confiscate a phone from the prisoner’s belongings?”
The Vampire stretched back. “We did.”
“And did you check the history to see when the last outgoing call was made?”
“This is ridiculous!” the Vampire said, rising to his feet. “I will not concede to a term of ten years for an unproven claim.”
“Stefan,” Novis said coolly, relaxing his arms on the table. “What will prevent others from attempting the same offense if their sentencing will be but a blink of an eye?”
“We do not hand out sentences to teach lessons to others. They are punishments for—”
“Agreed,” Novis said tersely, writing something down. “The Mageri is requesting that the phone and records be turned over for our review. If we discover a call was made between the time he entered the home and when he left, I will bring charges against you, Stefan.”
“For?”
“Obstruction of justice with intent to conceal evidence from the Mageri. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt that your men have carefully checked the records and you have been made aware of their findings, as that is how all investigations are conducted. I make no accusation before the court at present. My assumption is you simply do not find our recommendation fair and, therefore, are lowering the sentencing to meet your standards. We hold to ten years. What say you?”
The Vampire blinked and angrily scribbled on a document, handing it to a guard. “Ten years agreed.”
A gavel slammed against a wooden surface and the guard escorted the bearded prisoner away. I noticed the guard held a sharp stake against the prisoner’s back instead of a baton. It was narrow and looked like it could easily impale someone with a simple shove. I eyed the prisoner closely as he walked to the back of the room and spit over his shoulder.
The manner of sentencing was arbitrary and at the whim of each leader on the panel.
“Logan Cross, please step forward.”
My stomach dropped and I sprang to my feet.
“Sit down,” the guard ordered. “You don’t go anywhere unless summoned.”
I held my breath as Logan walked by me and quickly kissed my mouth before the guard shoved him into the aisle. I touched my lips, still feeling the warmth of his kiss.
He walked with a confident stride, hands still cuffed behind his back. My eyes skated over to Justus, who stood near the wall on the far right. He glanced back at me with critical eyes—a warning to remain still.
My stomach twisted into tight knots as Logan stood at the front of the room. The stage was set up so each row was higher the farther back it went. All eyes were on Logan. Despite their harsh stares, Logan’s broad shoulders and straight posture indicated he was a man without shame.
I gripped the metal chair in front of me and sat as tall as I could, only able to see the back of his head. My throat became dry and a flush of heat touched my forehead.
The Overlord smoothed a hand over his neatly combed hair. “Logan Cross, you have been found guilty of the murder of Tarek Thorn, Lord of the Youngblood Pride. The crime occurred on the property of a human police officer, who was slain at the hands of Tarek. His guards have testified they were ordered to stand down, and by order, watched him engage in an open challenge against you which resulted in his death. Your plea?”
“Guilty,” Logan replied.
I gasped, wanting to yell out, but bit my tongue when Justus slid his eyes over to mine and shook his head.
Quaid, the Overlord, turned one of his papers over. “We have written testimony that Silver, the young Mage engaged to Tarek, was a witness. We have also collected statements that confirm she had escaped from his house the night prior. Tarek sent two guards to find her and one of them was found drained of all his blood. We hired an investigator to visit a local grocer, where surveillance footage shows her stealing a number of items and resisting arrest. Our Vampire also performed an investigation at the jail where she was briefly brought in by an Officer Stone—the human victim. The reason behind her shoplifting is speculative and will not be discussed. Based on the information our Vampire charmed from witnesses at the police station, Officer Stone was under the assumption Silver was an abused woman in need of protection. The testimony has gone into our records to confirm the intent behind Stone’s actions, but keep in mind we have no documented proof any abuse took place. While murder against a human is a crime, Tarek would have been within his rights to challenge the male if he felt his female was in mortal danger.”
My mouth opened and the guard yanked me back before I could say anything. I sat on my foot so I could sit higher, and as the crowd up front moved about, I caught a glimpse of Adam and Sadie. Eyes wide, I scanned the room and saw Levi and Leo to the left. Logan’s brothers were all present, although I couldn’t see Lucian through the crowd. Why would everyone show up for a sentencing?
The Overlord took a slow drink of water and set his glass down before proceeding. “The female Mage made a public acceptance of Tarek’s claim, although she later recanted and stated it was by blackmail. We simply do not have enough evidence to support a justified reason for taking the life of a Lord. Tarek’s brothers are present,” he said, waving a hand to his left.
I weaved my head around but couldn’t decipher in the crowd where they could be.
“They seek retribution and justice for the loss of their brother. The Pride seeks justice for the loss of their Lord. Logan Cross, do you have any supporting evidence that will give us a lawful reason behind your actions?” His eyes flicked to mine and I knew what he was asking for.
Something I didn’t have.
Then he addressed the Thorn family. “Are you willing to reconsider the final offer I have made for a settlement?” Quaid’s brow arched. “Very well.”
He paused a beat before drawing in a deep breath. “Without evidence, it is by order of the court that you are hereby sentenced to death.”
Logan’s brothers were visibly distraught and I involuntarily rose to my feet as the guard struggled to pull me back down.
“You will be executed by manner of beheading before this court on this day. Regulators, please take your positions.”
Everything moved in slow motion and the sounds in the room grew muffled and dull. My eyes went wide as several guards lined themselves between the crowd and Logan. A Regulator in black formal attire appeared, brandishing his katana.
“No!” I wailed. “No, no, no!”
Logan turned to look and the guard placed his hand on Logan’s shoulder, urging him to his knees.
The crowd moved back as if not wanting to be near what was about to take place. Logan knelt with his hands still cuffed behind his back.
Thunder rolled outside and my bones ached.
The sound of shoes tapped on the floor.
Someone whispered, “Traitor.”
I fought, climbing over a guard, and when he grabbed my hips, I threw a blast of energy into him, knocking him on his back. As I ran forward, a strong hand seized my arm and yanked me back. I could feel his power and knew he was a Mage, so I was unable to use my power against him.
Energy buzzed through my body, stronger than ever before. A man on the left wall stood with a mop in one hand and a bucket in the other while the Regulator took a position to Logan’s right, placing the flat side of the blade on the back of his shoulders.
“Bend forward, Chitah,” he commanded in a low voice.
Instinct kicked in. Using moves only J
ustus had shown me, I turned to the guard restraining me and shoved my palm into his nose. Blood poured out and I knocked his arm away and kicked him to the ground. A Chitah ran at me with his fangs bared and I slammed my power into him as he attempted to bite my arm. His fang scraped my flesh but I didn’t react. Suddenly, realizing I was a threat, several guards began to move on me.
A gasp went through the crowd. “Impossible!” someone chanted at my immunity to Chitah venom.
“Let him go! Release Logan Cross, that man is innocent!”
Novis shot to his feet and stepped around until he reached the Overlord. They spoke in low whispers and the Overlord adamantly continued shaking his head.
But all I could see was the glint of the blade. Logan would never resist his punishment because he’d always believed he needed to atone for the sins of his past. Dignity was all he had left, and he was holding fast to it. This was the “end game” Simon had forewarned me about, and there was only one way out of this stalemate that would save my king. I had run out of options.
I marched forward, Regulators rushing at me from all directions as the guards watched their prisoners with alert eyes.
“Sire, you said that Chitahs held sacrifice in high regard. I am offering my life in exchange for Logan’s freedom.”
Novis stopped talking and the Overlord rose to his feet.
“Repeat what you just said,” Quaid demanded. “You would die for this Chitah?”
“Yes.”
“A Mage?”
“Yes, I am a Mage and Logan is a Chitah. My life for his,” I said, panting and feeling as if my lungs were constricting.
“Silver,” a voice hissed. I didn’t know who it came from—Logan, maybe Justus. My eyes were locked on the Overlord. No one else in that room existed.
“Sire, this is not a just sentence. I won’t stand aside and allow you to take the most precious thing in this world to me. He would do the same—he has done the same—and this is the only thing I have to offer you. I freely take his place,” I said, holding out my arms. The guards seized the opportunity to roughly grab my wrists and restrain me.
“Release her,” Quaid said, pensively stroking his chin.
Novis blanched and slowly shook his head at me. I couldn’t look at him. He didn’t understand what it meant to love someone so much you would sacrifice yourself for them.
Knox had.
Logan also did, because he’d done it every step of the way in our relationship. He had so much to live for that I couldn’t allow this. His brothers needed him, and Finn needed him. Sadie had just come into his life and she needed the protection and love of her big brother. She was also in the crowd, and I couldn’t stomach the idea of his family watching this senseless execution.
Senseless.
That’s what it was. All of it. I loved Justus and knew it would hurt him; maybe he felt betrayed. I didn’t have time to think over the possibilities. I hadn’t come into this world willingly, and perhaps my existence as a Mage was just an accident and was never meant to be. Or, maybe it was meant to be for this one purpose. I’d always known I was willing to lay down my life for Logan, I’d just never imagined it would happen so soon.
The Regulator turned his katana, bright blood wetting the edge of the blade as it pierced a sliver of flesh on Logan’s neck. He lifted it up and I realized just how sharp the blade was.
“A life for a life,” I begged. “If Tarek’s brothers are here, then they should know that everything that led up to their brother’s death was because of me,” I said in a clear voice. “What better justice could be served? I beg the Thorn family to reconsider and spare our lives. What more can I offer? I would give you everything I own, but that wouldn’t be enough, would it?” I looked at the crowd on my right. “If animosity is still felt toward Logan, then know by taking my life, he will receive a just punishment.”
It killed me to say that because I knew it was true. Logan wouldn’t want this, but it wasn’t about what he wanted. I would rather him suffer a broken heart than be buried six feet under. Maybe we were never meant to be.
The Overlord leaned forward on the table where he stood, pressing his weight down on his fingers, which were splayed on the surface. “Release her,” he said. “Come forward, Mage.”
“Silver, no!” Logan growled. His eyes rolled black and he struggled to remain in control.
The Regulator lowered his sword and looked to the Overlord for direction. I glanced at Justus, expecting to see his back turned. But to my astonishment, he lifted his chin and proudly nodded once—pain never more evident in his face. I didn’t understand the pride in his expression. It didn’t register why he wasn’t yelling at me and knocking down guards, but Justus was a man who held to different values than me. He respected the law, even if he disagreed with it.
“I’m immune to Chitah venom. Will you accept that as proof?”
There were a few murmurs. “It could be a fluke and won’t prove your claim,” the Vampire on the panel said dismissively.
“If the court will not allow my testimony of the events to hold any value, then all I can offer you is my life. Logan Cross has claimed me as his kindred spirit, and your law will not acknowledge his claim because we have no written proof. I cannot prove what’s in our hearts. So let my blood be my proof.”
I dropped to my knees, hoping someone would have mercy.
“You cannot listen to her,” Logan shouted as a guard held him still. “She is not the one who took Tarek’s life from this earth. I confessed, and I am ready for you to carry out the sentencing. Do not listen to the whims of a female who suffers a broken heart. This is not sufficient compensation for Tarek’s family.”
The Overlord remained motionless, moving his eyes between all of us. The crowd was silent, cemented in place. The Vampire on the stage, however, began to chuckle darkly, tapping the palm of his hand on the table.
“There is no greater honor you could bestow a Chitah than sacrifice,” Quaid finally said. “If this Mage offers her life, it would be a fair payment for the Thorn family because she was directly involved with the events that led to Tarek’s death. Her sacrifice would restore your good name, Cross. I accept this offering. Guards, you may remove his handcuffs; Logan Cross is a free man.”
The Overlord took a seat as the handcuffs were unlocked, and without warning, Logan roared, lashing against the guards in a violent outburst. His canines punched out and the black circumference around his eyes warned he was close to flipping his switch. They gripped his arms, trying to contain him.
“Hold him steady!” someone shouted.
A guard with silver hair stepped forward and clasped his hand around Logan’s. He was a Mage and subdued the prisoner by draining his power.
Logan swayed, still thrashing—fighting against the men and his own animal.
The Regulator’s shoes clicked in my direction and I gave Logan one last pleading look. “I love you,” I mouthed to him, and lowered my head, trying to summon whatever bravery I could to get through this.
I felt the swirl of energy in the air, thick as molasses. All the things I wanted to say. Logan was on his knees when I peered through my fallen hair. His energy drained, he still fought with all his heart, but the guards held him still.
Please God, don’t let him watch, I thought to myself. Look away, Logan.
The footsteps of the Regulator approached and he swept my hair away from my neck. Every sound was amplified, from the steel blade scraping against the floor to the sound of sharp whispers. I felt the cool press of the katana against the back of my neck and released a shiver. My breathing was shallow and quick; beads of sweat trickled down my brow. I heard crying, Adam shouting, and all of a sudden through the midst of chaos, a comforting wave of energy swept through me.
It was Justus.
Somehow, he was flaring his energy in such a way that it felt like a father holding his child. I closed my eyes, tears falling to the floor. I had expected Justus to speak up, but doing so would remove my
honor. The only peace I had was knowing Logan’s family would remain whole and untouched by all this. I hoped one day they would find Nero and cut out his black heart. I hoped Logan would find a mate and raise a family. Maybe it should have ended the night Samil attacked me, but then I thought of the lives that had changed because of that incident. Sadie was home, Sunny was blessed with twins, and Logan had been redeemed. Please don’t let this tip him the wrong way.
“Wait! Stop this,” I heard an insistent British accent bellow from the front of the room.
I lifted my head and Simon hurried past the guard on the door to the right, holding up a white sheet of paper.
“I have permission to speak on behalf of the accused.”
“On whose authority?” the Overlord inquired.
Simon’s eyes locked on mine. “The Mageri.”
Finn burst through the door behind him and when he saw me on my knees, I expected him to shift. But he coolly approached me while Simon climbed the steps to speak to the panel.
Logan was still on his knees fifteen feet ahead, surrounded by guards.
Murmurs surfaced through the crowd and I sat back, befuddled by the interruption.
“We have written evidence that will clear these charges,” Simon declared.
Dear God, did Simon have no shame? He strutted in front of the panel wearing a snug pair of leather pants, biker boots, and a black sleeveless shirt with a white skull on the front. I wanted to do a facepalm when he adjusted himself in front of the audience with a lecherous grin.
The Overlord leaned back in his chair and angled to his left as Simon approached.
“You have written evidence?” he pressed.
Simon slapped some papers in front of the Overlord and sat on the table, facing the crowd.
“Logan Cross was within his legal rights to take the life of Tarek Thorn.” He twirled a skull ring he wore often on his finger. “Also known as the sodding bastard who attempted to blackmail a Mage for inside information, being that she worked for a member of the Council. Also known as the wanker who tried to sexually force himself on this female against her will,” he said, using an accusation that would provoke the protective instincts of the Chitahs present. “Also known as the vapid gobshite who had close connections with one of the most hunted outlaws in Cognito.”