Authors: Sarah Brocious
He pressed his mouth softly to hers. “I love you, Aelan.”
She could feel him holding back. He was trying to refrain from touching her as he wished. She felt it might be a wonderful distraction right now, but not a very smart one. They did need distraction though. “Love you too, Gregor.” She smiled at him. “Why don’t you take me for a ride?”
His eyes danced. “Reading my mind?”
She laughed.
“Let’s go.” He gripped her hand and looked toward Maxim. “You ride, big guy?”
Maxim grinned. “Absolutely.”
Thanatos watched all of the new arrivals. His stomach tightened each time he thought of the trial that was about to commence. He had been a part of a few, and even been tried in a few. It had always been some little infraction. He always wondered who had turned him in. In some sick way, he knew it was always Elenora. She loved to keep him under her thumb. Loved to see him suffer, only to be his comfort after. How sick and twisted it had all been.
He knew her though and she knew him…if only physically.
He watched now as she sat near David. She whispered something in his ear and Thanatos felt ill. Of course she would be trying to seduce David. Anything that was a challenge! Especially when that challenge included Raina.
David loved Raina, as much as any man could whose mind was warped from time spent with Richard. But especially now that he had seen her through immortal eyes that do not filter. Raina was a prize…one he had given up. David would not settle for Elenora.
Thanatos was right. David ignored Elenora’s words and got up to walk away. There was a pain and a fear in his eyes. Not one that was put there by Elenora, but a real one. He was a man torn.
Elenora pouted and Thanatos smiled wickedly. She saw it and glared. Luckily she was distracted by her brother rejoining them, so Thanatos was spared a headache. He rolled his shoulders and left the room. He had to focus. He’d be called to testify tomorrow…he and Nolan. He prayed Raina would be spared after speaking to Isaac in private. He prayed it not just for Raina, but for Nolan. He would be a mess.
He was just about to head up the stair when he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. It was David.
“Can I speak to you?”
Thanatos scowled at him.
“In that room? It…it’s about tomorrow.” David looked like a mess and Thanatos gave in with a nod.
“Thank you,” David sighed.
Thanatos growled. “Just don’t try to kiss me.”
David looked shocked. “She told you…”
“No, but a protector knows…can sense. I won’t tell Nolan…not for your sake, but because I don’t want him tried for attacking you.” Thanatos started down the hall, grin on his face. He was pleased at the pale color he had caused David to turn.
Chapter 18 The Trial
Raina felt like an outsider sitting in a large open room. The lighting was low and somber. It was eerily quiet as the immortals before her regarded each other. There was a resolution in the stares as the trial was set to start.
There were other people in the room. She knew they were more than likely other immortals who were here to testify or stand trial themselves. They had arrived steadily over the last few nights. Nolan's and Richard's case was not the only thing that would be heard today.
Raina wondered if she was the only mortal in this room. If that were true it spoke greatly of the favor she had with Our Sovereignty.
For a moment she felt the joy in that but that moment passed and a shiver ran through Raina when she found Richard’s stare was on her. She squared her shoulders not allowing the fear to overtake her. She met his glare and wished with all of her might that Nolan was there next to her holding her hand. But he couldn't be with her at this moment and she understood that.
Nolan sat across the room facing Our Sovereignty. He was going to give statement. It was the same statement he had given weeks ago in a more private setting. Jonathan sat next to him with documents in hand. Knowing that he was there to defend Nolan gave her comfort. It also saddened her. The sadness came from the fact that Jonathan would have to stand against his own father. It should have never had to come to that. But she knew Nolan was more of a family to Jonathan than Richard had ever been.
Thanatos sat on Nolan's other side. He would be giving witness too. He would never allow his friend to take this on alone.
She now stared at their backs willing them good luck. She wanted this over and done with. Although she didn't know how the proceedings of such trials went she was hopeful that the verdict would be swift and just.
She peeked over her shoulder when she felt a moment of unease and knew who she would find close by. Elenora gave her winsome smile but Raina wasn’t buying it. There was hatred in that fake smile. She would like nothing better than to rake Raina over the coals…to terrorize her emotions.
Nolan had informed Raina that because of the soberness of these proceedings, no immortal was allowed to use their gift for or against another. She didn’t have to worry about a she devil hangover the next morning just because Nolan wasn’t there to shield her.
She wondered how Elenora had gotten out of standing trial or even giving testimony. Maybe she was just not a big enough threat in Our Sovereignty’s eyes? Well, they did not know her like Raina did…obviously. Sure she had a tough life, and Raina had felt sorry a few times for her, but that woman was no good.
“Lovely day for a trial,” Elenora said in a sing song voice.
Raina jerked her gaze away from the she devil and was glad that Maxim had been given the seat behind her. She felt safer with him there. She turned her gaze back to the front of the room.
Titus gave her an assuring smile when she looked toward Our Sovereignty. Isaac seemed focused and Emmanuel finally looked nervous. Well, he should be!
She wondered if Nolan had been able to talk to Isaac alone. She had not been able to see him all day to ask that question. He had convened with Jonathan, Thanatos, and Joseph after they had returned from the ride. She had been left with Maxim who was a surprising delight.
"Don't judge a book by its, ahem, bulk," she had tease Thanatos when he worried about leaving her. She had spoken rightly. She found that Maxim had lived a full life. He protected some very affluent people before coming to realize his true gifts. Since then he had worked for Our Sovereignty as a trusted guard when needed.
He was as gentle as they came. She peeked back at him again. He had his enormous arms crossed before him. He looked so intimidating but she held no fear of him.
She had her talk with Isaac. He had listened without emotion but he had been far from cold. His whole demeanor was kind. But when hearing such things, one had to be neutral and fair. Raina liked him.
There were yet others lining the back of the room now and she could only assume they were also immortals like Maxim there to protect or to complete the sentence. All had that harsh look on their face much like Maxim always carried. She supposed that it could be a sobering job to have. She was not surprised to find that many of them had scars left over from their mortal life. Being a fighter or possibly a warrior would definitely explain why they had been given the gift. It was much like Nolan being a doctor in his mortal life and now being a Healer in the immortal
A movement in the corner of the room caught her peripheral and she looked in the direction she had been avoiding.
She had put off looking at David. She wasn't sure what she wanted to see or what she would see. She feared both. Her heart couldn’t help but want good for him. He was far from perfect, but not all of him was completely lost. She would forever believe that anyone could change!
He sat just a short distance away from Richard. Instead of the defiance that his cohort had, David was almost in a defeated stance. His shoulders were slumped and his head was down. The hands before him were clenched and his knuckles were white. He looked like a desperate man.
She wondered if her words from the day before would mean anything in this trial. Would he fight to the end and remain true to Richard? Or would he come to Nolan's defense and beg for mercy in the place of his testimony. Did he still believe that Richard would prevail and he would pay for turning on him?
This was going to be a moment for David. It would determine how he lived out the rest of his immortality. Some of the old David was still in there and would not be able to live with himself if he allowed Richard to go free.
Isaac finally cleared his throat to bring all the attention to himself.
A silence fell over those in the room.
The leader of Our Sovereignty stood to his feet, drawing all eyes to himself. He looked so young standing there. Who would have guessed he could lead a society of immortals? But lead them he did and he held the respect of this society…with the exception of the few that came to mind.
"No one likes these types of meetings but they are necessary to our society. So let us begin."
Each of Our Sovereignty were dressed to the nines as usual. They looked like they belonged there. All but one of them did belong there.
She wondered again if Isaac would bring up Emmanuel’s treachery.
As if he had read her mind Isaac looked straight at her. It was in that moment that she was sure she knew the answer to the question..
"First on the agenda," Isaac began.
Raina felt her palms start to sweat.
Jonathan pushed back his chair, ready to stand and speak.
"Sit down Mr. Rivers," Isaac said gently when Jonathan rose. "There is one more matter to attend to before the first hearing."
Raina felt like her heart had bottomed out.
Isaac swallowed hard. “We will move on as soon as possible, but there is something that needs to be addressed.”
He returned his gaze to Raina and that gaze held questions. He seemed to give her a silent plea.
She drew in a breath and gave him a short nod. Now she knew why she was allowed into the trial room today. Isaac needed her testimony.
"We have the matter of some treachery within our midst. An issue that has come up and I added it onto today's sentencing. It's a very serious matter and it involves one that is close to me." Isaac did not even turn Emmanuel's way when he said this. But Emmanuel's face went pale white.
There was a general grasp in the room.
"I have several witnesses but the fact is, no immortal has been given license to stand against anyone higher ranking than him. Meaning…against Our Sovereignty. I do however have the testimony of a mortal."
"No," a growl rent through the room. It was Nolan.
Raina had not been prepped. There had been no warning. It seemed Isaac had just made his decision.
Nolan had hoped this could be done privately and not in the open before all of these immortals. “Another time please sir!”
Raina wanted to hush him but she wouldn't look away from Isaac.
"Raina Foster will you give your testimony?" Isaac had ignored Nolan’s outburst.
She cleared her throat. This was it. The only way that this would work was if she testified. "Yes I will."
"She will not." Again this was from Nolan.
Thanatos clamped a hand on his shoulder to keep him in his seat. He looked back at Raina. His brows rose.
She gave him an assured nod. “It’s okay,” she mouthed.
“She’s not to be involved in this.” Nolan growled. “Privately maybe…”
Thanatos gripped his friends shoulder to quiet him.
“Ms. Foster?” Isaac implored gently. “It’s your choice, but I need an answer. So will you give your testimony?”
Nolan tensed, and she feared he would cause himself trouble by causing a scene.
Thanatos understood her imploring look, and tightened his hand on his friends shoulder. “It’s fine, Nolan. She is safe here,” he said soothingly.
“I don’t want…”
“Nolan,” Isaac reprimanded. “You will remain silent in this matter!”
Nolan opened his mouth to argue.
"Nolan," Raina said softly.
This silenced him.
Isaac looked to her again.
"I will." She rose to her feet as Isaac summoned her forward. She made her way, feeling all the eyes of the other immortals on her. It was quite unnerving, but she walked with confidence.
As she got close to the table where Nolan sat she met his gaze. "Did you forget already? Weren’t you the one who said I'm stubborn?"
Thanatos chuckled.
Nolan gave his signature frowny face.
She was surprised that she had room for amusement at a moment like this. But she wanted to calm the fears that she read in his face. Her usual fearless Nolan was afraid. He was fearless only when it came to things that did not involve her safety.
Titus stepped out from behind the desk and reached his hand out to her. He helped her into the chair that sat next to the table.