“The Syntrophos bond is alive and well among our generation. I suppose you can thank me for that,” Allie said sadly. “You just saw my grandmother’s prophecy of how I would ‘gather my equals.’ This bond unites us all. But my fellow Syntrophos here today have been hunted and drafted into the Milan Initiative. Aidan McBrien’s family was threatened unless he agreed to enter the Initiative. They also threatened him with my safety.” Allie turned her gaze to him. “We believe he agreed, so he could protect his family. To protect me, at first. But as time passed, he also took on the responsibility for the others. He stayed with the Initiative for them.”
Aidan’s heart swelled with love for her. I knew you would get it. She understood him in a way no one else ever would. He only wished he understood her half as well. One of these days, he would figure out all the intricacies of Alexis Carmichael. And he would love every single one of them.
“Aidan and the others have been trained for the sole purpose of seizing control of Sterling Tower on the orders of the Chief Justice.”
“She lies,” Charles said, furious.
“I can prove it.” Allie raised her voice over Charles’s blustering.
“How?” the chairman asked, darting a glare at the dais.
“If the Senate would allow my mentor, Emma Renard, to question the Chief Justice, all will be revealed.”
“Emma Renard? She is an officer of this court, is she not? Lieutenant governor of the Great Lakes Region of North America, I believe,” Chairwoman Thomas said.
“And a powerful truth seeker,” Allie added.
Aidan cast a glance back at his team, letting a small smile light his face. This was going better than he could have dreams. He wanted them to know this was working—trusting in Allie would see them freed from the chains that bound them to the Initiative. “Be ready,” he whispered, giving them a reassuring nod.
As Emma questioned the Chief Justice, who were starting to freak out now that this was blowing up in their faces, Aidan studied the exits. Marcus would slip out undetected. He wasn’t going down with his puppets. But that worked for Aidan’s plans. They were going to make it out of here, and they would survive to fight Marcus another day. And if they played their cards right, they wouldn’t be fugitives either, thanks to Allie.
“Did you ever intend to inform the Senate of this army or of this Soma takeover?” Emma demanded.
“No. We do not need their approval for matters of security.” Charles’s eyes grew wide with fright. He was putty in Emma’s hands.
Cries of indignation arose from the Senate body.
Emma consulted the paper Allie had handed her before she continued with her questions. “You routinely disregard the Senate’s permissions for such endeavors,” Emma continued, ignoring the outrage of the court. “Who orchestrated the capture of Alivia, first born of the ancients, Kassandre and Ashar?
“The Coalition,” Charles said. “Everyone knows that; it was two hundred years ago.”
“But it wasn’t the Coalition, was it? Alivia was taken by one Marcus Servius when she was just four years old, and you helped him do it, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Charles stared down at his hands, unable to resist Emma.
Aidan turned his attention back on Marcus, expecting him to be long gone by now. Still, he sat, observing the goings on like one of the crowd. He refused to meet Aidan’s gaze. He had eyes only for Allie now. Aidan knew that look. Marcus would not stop until he possessed Allie for himself. Aidan had spent the better part of four years working his ass off to keep this from happening, yet here they were. But as he regarded his team of Syntrophos a surge of confidence hit him. Maybe not all was for naught. He had a loyal army now. And his family. Together with Allie, they would shield the world from the man who threatened their way of life.
“And the assassination of Chief Justice Kassandre and Ashar? Who is responsible for their deaths?” Emma asked.
“The Coalition,” Sarah forced herself to say.
“They are an easy scapegoat. But let’s try that again,” Emma said. “The truth this time.”
“W-we gave the order,” Sarah said through gritted teeth.
Aidan jerked his head toward Allie expecting to see shock, but she clearly already knew the answer before Emma asked the question.
“And who do you work for?” Allie asked, her voice laced with acid.
“Answer the heir,” Emma demanded.
“The ancient, Lord Teigan, betrothed to Queen Eiselynn before she ruined the Immortal world forever.” Sarah’s voice rang out like a death knell. Her own. “He will claim what is his by right!” she screamed. “And we will be by his side when he brings the Immortal world into the light of day once more, banishing the mortals to death by fire, as she should have ordered thousands of years ago.” She shot Queen Alísun a hateful glare, collapsing in her seat.
“We will not have this.” Charles stood. “I demand this entire testimony be stricken from the record.”
“Denied,” Chairman Thomas said.
“And where is this Lord Teigan now?” Emma asked.
“I do not know,” Sarah said, though she struggled to speak the lie.
“Rephrase the question,” Emma said. “Where is Marcus Servius? Charles?” She turned to the more susceptible of the two.
“He sits there.” Charles Madison stood and pointed at the man in question. “He is Senator Robert Sinclair.”
Loud murmuring rose to a roar as Emma continued, “Senator Robert Sinclair, also known as Marcus Servius, the man who abducted the young Alivia. Among his many other aliases, this man is also known as the ancient, Lord Teigan, correct?”
“That is correct,” Charles said.
It was too late: Marcus had already slipped away. Aidan stared at the two empty seats where Marcus had just sat only moments before.
“Bailiffs, search the building for him,” Chairwoman Thomas ordered.
Three uniformed men ran from the chamber, issuing orders to the guards outside the room.
“You won’t find him,” Allie said. “He disappears as fast a smoke in the wind. With his common features and extraordinary gift for evasion, he is already gone.”
Aidan’s heart raced in his chest. Had she already had dealings with Marcus, or was this her clairvoyance speaking?
“Madame Under Secretary, please issue a warrant for the arrest of the man known as Senator Robert Sinclair, Marcus Servius and the ancient Lord Teigan,” Chairman Thomas said. “I put forth a vote to the Senate,” he continued, turning to face the courtroom, “to remove the Chief Justice Sarah Madison and Charles Madison from office and charge them with high crimes of treason against the International Senate they have sworn to serve. What say you?”
Aidan breathed a sigh of relief at the unanimous sounds of agreement from the Senate body. She pulled it off. And God help him, she did it the old fashioned way, through the law. Just like a mortal would. He wanted to laugh. Allie’s mortal brain saved the day. He had to stop thinking of that as her handicap—clearly it was an asset.
“Bailiff, take Sarah and Charles Madison into custody to await their trial,” Chairwoman Thomas said with formality.
“You cannot do this. You don’t have the power to remove the only seated Chief Justice,” Charles snarled.
“That is for the Senate to decide. You have been stripped of your office and will receive a formal trial,” Chairwoman Thomas said, as the remaining bailiffs rushed to arrest the Chief Justice, leading them from the room.
Allie rushed forward. “I ask the court to release the Governor Naeemah El Sadawii and Greggory McBrien immediately and dismiss the charges brought against them. They have no ties to the royal family and should not be held accountable today, or any time in the future, for my actions. Please allow them to continue to loyally serve this government as they always have.”
When this was all done, Aidan was going to crawl on his knees over broken glass to thank her for keeping his family safe.
“In light of today
’s events, your requests are granted,” Chairman Thomas said.
Aidan didn’t wait for direction. He crossed the room and stripped his parents of their restraints.
“We’re getting out of here,” Aidan said.
“All of us.” Naeemah took his hand. Her look said she would end him if he didn’t come with her.
“All of us.” He nodded.
We need to get out of here, Allie. I still don’t trust any of them. Aidan escorted his parents across the chamber to sit with the rest of their family.
Agreed. Get all of our people behind me.
Aidan lifted a hand to call his Syntrophos to his side. “Time to go,” he murmured instructions to each of them, as they took their places between Allie and their family and the rest of the courtroom.
“The court apologizes to you and your family,” Chairman Thomas said. “But it seems we find ourselves leaderless. We cannot adjourn until we have appointed a temporary Chief Justice today. For the first time ever, we have a queen in our midst.” He turned to Alísun. “Will you and the Scholar step in to lead us until arrangements can be made for an election?”
“We will not,” Alísun said. “It is not our decision to make. It has been a very long time since the queens ruled our people. But when a queen names her heir, the heir becomes the highest authority of the Immortal world. This decision falls to Alexis.”
“I am afraid we cannot allow an Unproven child to make such a decision,” the Chairman said.
“You mistakenly discredit youth.” Alísun shook her head sadly. “In my day, we revered it. Respected the voice of our children, for they would be the ones leading us when we grew old. Alexis is more than capable of appointing a trusted substitute. Her gift will guide her. She is the highest authority in this room, and the decision should fall to her.”
“We cannot accept your recommendation,” the Chairman said. “The Senate will decide.”
“I will decide.” Allie’s authority swirled around her like a cloak as she stepped forward. “You will do as I say, and you will respect my authority.” She paced in front of the Senate, her eyes blazing with fury and the strength of her power. “I do not wish to govern, but I will if you continue to push me.”
That’s my girl. Aidan put himself as close to her side as he could get.
“Chairman Thomas.” Allie approached Edward and his wife. “May I take your hand?”
“Of-of course.” Both the Thomas’s extended their hands to her, wary of Allie’s show of strength.
Allie studied them with her gift, determining if they were suitable candidates to replace the previous Chief Justice. “You will take on the role of temporary Chief Justice.”
“If the court agrees, it would be our honor to serve,” he said with a respectful nod.
Allie turned to the raised dais where the under secretaries sat. Darius, Livia, Aidan and Naomi followed her. She studied the Madison’s secretary, finding something she didn’t like. “You are dismissed from your post,” Allie said. “They will stand trial as well.”
Aidan gestured for Ezra and Wes to arrest the under secretary and send them down to the waiting cells beneath the courtroom. “Hand them off to the bailiffs downstairs and come right back.”
“Who shall take the remaining seats?” Chairwoman Thomas asked.
“The people must choose.” Allie turned to face the Senate. “I ask the court to make arrangements for public elections to be held within the year. The people deserve the right to elect two new Chiefs of Justice who will then appoint a new Chairman of the assembly.”
“That is not enough time,” the secretary insisted. “We will need at least a year to plan the election and a year for the candidates to campaign.”
“You people drag your feet when you need to take action.” Allie slammed her fist down on the dais railing. “I don’t care what you have to do to make it happen. Make the announcements, and give the candidates four months to campaign, and then we will have an election this year. If you fail to take action, then I will return and take action for you.”
“And what do you intend to do as first princess?” Chairman Thomas asked. “What authority are you assuming here?”
“I have no desire to participate in the Senate unless I have to. Don’t make me have to.” Allie glared at the silent senators. “Take your positions seriously, or I will clean house. Otherwise, I will remain in my position as the leader of Soma, free of government interference.” Allie stepped up to the podium, turning to address the assembly. “I ask that every member of this Senate, from the high-ranking officials seated here today right down to the lieutenant governors who police the cities, to set their slaves free. Any person who has been purchased from Soma will be freed one way or another. I will be following up, and if I find you have not complied with this simple request, I will remove the slave from your home, and you will be charged with crimes of human trafficking.” Allie stood silently for a moment to let her words resonate. “I will not tolerate corruption.”
“While you and the royal family have the full support of the Senate as well as our respect,” the Chairman said, “we simply must determine the legal extent of your authority in the modern world.” He took a step toward her. “We would like nothing more than to foster a positive relationship with the royals, but the parameters of your authority and ours must be clear in the eyes of the law.”
“That matter has already been decided,” Alísun said. “My heir has stepped forward, and everyone in this chamber has already accepted her authority, whether you realize it or not. The matter is closed.”
“It is not closed,” Chairwoman Thomas said. “While we believe the heir deserves a voice in this chamber, the weight of that voice must be discussed at length.”
“The royal family will decide the extent of my authority,” Allie announced. “No one else has that right. The queen has never abdicated. Her sovereignty remains, just as it was when she was named queen thousands of years ago. You are here today in your positions of power because she allowed it. And we are here, displaying the mantle of our authority, because you have allowed yourselves to become corrupt in your thirst for more power.”
“Perhaps you are right,” the Chairman said. “But I am confident we will reach an agreement both parties can be happy with.” He stepped down from the dais. “We invite you to stay here in the city. We can reconvene later this week to make the necessary decisions. You and your family are more than welcome to stay in the hotel suites here for our distinguished guests.”
That’s our cue to leave, Lex. Aidan stepped between Allie and the Chairman, as his soldiers fell into a V formation around Allie and her family.
“That won’t be necessary,” Allie said, backing away from the Chairman. “We will be leaving now.”
“I’m afraid we cannot allow you to leave until these matters have been decided.” The Chairman raised his hand, causing all the doors to the chamber to slam shut, their locks clicking into place.
Time to go. Aidan and his team started backing up. “Samantha. Bennett.” Aidan nodded for them to break formation.
The two raced to the top of the chamber. Raising their hands together, Samantha and Bennett demolished the locked door. Splinters and debris rained down where the door once stood.
“Stop them,” Chairman Thomas called.
Senators rose from their seats to intercept, but they were too slow to react.
“Now.” Naomi nodded at Neela and Ivy.
The two grasped hands, and an icy blue mist formed a wall around Allie and her people, closing them off from the Senate’s reach.
“Quinn, Darius,” Aidan said. “A little help?”
Quinn and Sasha joined hands, cloaking everyone under the veil of mist with Quinn’s invisibility, and Darius threw up his soundproofing barrier, so they could no longer be heard or seen.
“All right, everyone, we’re walking out of here now,” Aidan said. “Go, quickly.”
The Senate erupted in chaos when Allie and all of t
he Syntrophos disappeared.
“Seal the building,” the Chairman cried. “Do not let them leave. Especially the Syntrophos. They cannot be trusted.”
How are we getting out of here if the building is on lockdown? Allie asked.
Same way we’re walking through this doorway. Aidan ushered her through the crumbling debris of the chamber doors and into the lobby. Relieved, he saw Gemma and Spencer standing outside, waiting by the cars they’d acquired with Ruthie, Ace and Lola behind the wheel, waiting to drive them far away from this place.
Is everyone with us? Allie asked, frantically looking over her shoulder.
My team will get us all out of here.
Samantha and Bennett charged across the lobby, using their gift to demolish the glass facade of the building at street level.
Shards of glass no bigger than grains of sand exploded out of the building, causing the guards to panic, desperately searching for a threat they couldn’t see or hear. Mortal men and women on the sidewalks screamed at the explosion, cowering behind cars, searching for a source of the violence.
Allie and Aidan shot from the building with their hands clasped.
“Where will we go?” Allie asked, searching up and down the street for a way out.
“This way.” Aidan turned, dragging her to the cars waiting along the curb. Gemma and Spencer rushed to meet him.
“You planned this?” Allie asked.
“I had a feeling we’d end up on the same page at some point.” Aidan skidded to a stop beside a white delivery van. Pilar was behind the wheel.
“Get in.” Aidan shoved Darius and Livia into the back of the van. Alísun and Alex were right behind them.
Allie tugged Aidan’s hand as she stepped into the van, but he pulled her back.
Emerge- The Betrayal Page 39