“Stop arguing at once!” Isaiah screamed from his seat. “You are both behaving like children arguing over a toy. The Tribunal will reconvene in one hour. Both of you have valid, important points about the situation and good positions for your stance. Be ready to make final arguments when we return, please.”
I was left stunned as the entire Tribunal stood up. It was part of protocol. If one of them called a break, no one argued. The member obviously needed a moment to think.
But it left me pissed this time. Ardghal was smiling at me, already plotting.
I wasn’t letting anyone take Raphael from me. They would know that soon enough.
30
Chapter Thirty
I stormed out of the Tribunal Chambers and found myself back in Cassius’s hallway. He was still standing there.
“You could have come in to back me up,” I snapped.
“I don’t make a habit of storming into the Tribunal Chambers uninvited. We were to wait until they were ready to speak to us.” He looked over my face. “What’s changed?”
“One-hour recess, then final arguments,” I grumbled, walking around him. I was still holding my coffee, but it was cold now. I headed into the kitchen and handed the cup back to an expectant Leith. “Sorry. I need another one.”
“Don’t give her another one until she’s explained to me what she’s talking about,” Cassius said, storming in after me. “What do you mean they expect final arguments in an hour?”
“Me and Ardghal, that fucking uncle of yours, got into it about whether Mygi gets Raphael back. Needless to say, it was a mess. I didn’t even get to properly report on how the last few days have gone. Hasan asked for my stance, and I gave it to him, but that piece of shit fae kept interrupting me. Isaiah called a recess.”
“Who all spoke?” Cassius asked. “I need everything, Kaliya, if I’m going to be any help.”
“The witches were dead silent through it all, as they tend to be. They keep their opinions private until there’s a vote. Callahan was somewhat unsettled by the fact Mygi made no efforts to educate Raphael while he was there. Alvina still loves me, and your uncle fucking hates me.”
“If Callahan was upset, Corissa will have strong words about it, even if she’s in the minority. They generally work together. Pack mentality,” Cassius pondered, nodding. “And there’s Hasan. Werecats have strict social protocol for the creation of more of their kind.”
“Yeah, new werecats become like pseudo-children to the werecat that Changed them, and it’s really weird,” I agreed. “He looked fairly…bored through the entire thing, though. I don’t know him, but I could have sworn he was interested but didn’t want the others to know.”
“Hasan doesn’t like when the other Tribunal members think they can play him, so he’s always been a bit distant,” Cassius explained. “He’s there because someone has to represent the species most hurt by the actions of the larger groups. I’m certain he would have left the Tribunal permanently ages ago if he could get away with it and know the werecats would be safe.”
“Would he be an ally? Should I work to play to his vote and see who falls in line?”
Cassius shrugged. “That’s up to you.”
“Come on, Cassius. You know I’m generally just told to point and kill something. You’ve always been a lot better at this than me, which is why I normally hand this part over to you.”
“You’re the one who just woke up and decided to barge in there, guns blazing,” he reminded her. “But I’ll be in there with you for final arguments. I’m not letting you go in alone for that.”
“Should I go? It’s about me,” Raphael finally spoke up. I turned to him and nodded.
“Yeah. They should see that you have some control over yourself, and we’re not trying to hide you. Maybe one of them will recognize what you are, even if they didn’t remember based on a description of you and your powers.”
“They should allow you a moment to speak as well, even if these are final arguments. I don’t think they’ll be against hearing a few more people. I’ll try to get a word in before the end. Kaliya, you should consider that thing we talked about.”
“Only as the last resort. There’s not much to consider. If all else fails, I’ll pull out the trump card, and none of them will be willing to fight me about that.”