please, how can we condemn a man to gargoyle leeching if he is in fact no longer a rogue werewolf?”
“Because that’s never before been seen!” the opposing magistrate states.
The queen justice raises her hand. “You make a fair point, Magistrate, but you’ve had your time to speak.” She turns her gaze back to Collin’s magistrate and asks, “Any further questioning?”
“No. I believe I’m done.”
“Very well. Ms. Drummond, you may step down.”
I shakily stand and look to Collin for support, or some form of response from him, but as he’s been all day—nothing.
WTF.
When I sit back beside my grandparents, a stone settles in my stomach. My chest rises and falls rapidly. I love Collin with all of my heart, and I’ll do whatever is needed to keep him alive.
But right now, I’m wondering if my mate even wants to be saved.
∞ ∞ ∞
When the day comes to an end, Collin is whisked back into the locked chambers behind the judges.
As before, he refuses to acknowledge me. My body physically hurts at his blatant snub. I thought he would feel hopeful that I’d put myself out on a limb to testify for him, but maybe he doesn’t care.
“How are you holding up?” A soft hand touches my shoulder, and I jump.
Daria’s eyes go wide. She’s standing behind my bench and must have approached when the attendees all stood.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to see how you’re doing. You did well up there.”
“I’m fine,” I lie. “And thank you so much for your help. Without it, I don’t know if the queen justice would have allowed me to testify.”
Daria smiles, and her face radiates a womanly glow. Her large pregnant abdomen juts out in front of her like a beach ball, but she’s alone at the moment, her husband nowhere to be seen.
“You’re very welcome. I just hope it’s enough to sway them.”
I nod, but my chest feels heavy. “Yeah, me too.”
∞ ∞ ∞
The next day is the final day of the trial, and I’m all nerves. I wait expectantly with my grandparents in our usual seat, and my breath catches when the back door to the courtroom opens. The witch appears with Collin’s cage in her wake.
She glides his cage to its designated area. He still wears that ridiculous pink jumpsuit, as he has been all week, and his eyes stay downcast. I will him to look at me, but he seems intent on staring at the floor again.
I can feel Daria behind me. A haze of compassion and empathy surrounds the healer.
“The honorable queen justice,” a fairy announces. He bows when another door opens and the judges parade out with their haughty demeanors and flowing robes.
The queen justice takes her place at the highest seat. According to my grandma, she’s been on the supernatural courts for centuries and has a reputation for being fair but resolute.
I can only hope that she grants Collin some leniency given my testimony.
Daria squeezes my shoulder one last time just as her mate appears. The dark-haired werewolf slides onto the bench beside his wife, his large form silent. He moves just like Collin.
“Magistrates, please rise,” the queen justice declares.
I grip my grandparents’ hands tightly. Here it is. Final sentencing. I’ll finally know Collin’s fate.
After the magistrates are standing before her, the queen justice eyes them shrewdly. “I had a request from the prosecuting magistrate this morning, which I’ve decided to grant. We shall be calling more witnesses before final judgment is passed.”
I turn wide eyes toward my grandmother, but she looks as confused as me. “I thought we would know first thing this morning what the judges decided.”
She nods and gives me a tight smile. “So did I.”
The magistrate prosecuting Collin glides around his table, his demeanor almost giddy. “I would like to call Cali Fogelson to the stand.”
My lips part when Collin’s ex-girlfriend stands from the front bench. She approaches the witness stand as I did. I whip my gaze toward Collin, but he’s still staring at the floor, his jaw locked and his expression tight, so I turn around and say in a rush to Daria, “What’s happening?”
But all she does is frown and shake her head.
“State your name for the court,” the judge on the left says to Cali.
She sits straighter. “Cali Fogelson.” The magic around her shimmers green.
“State your race.”
“Werewolf.” Again, green.
“Thank you for the formalities,” the prosecuting magistrate says, taking over. “Now, for the court, please state who Collin Ward is to you.”