The Beast Within (The Elite Series) - By Jonathan Yanez Page 0,46
made up the Council, all of whom looked nobly born and were stylishly dressed. Their eyes were unreasonably bright shades of green, blue, brown, amber and violet.
The man in the center of the curved table, Laren’s father, was the head of the Council. He had been the one who had bidden the rest of the room to rise. He reminded Connor of a king sitting on his throne, comfortable yet poised, and ready to make serious decisions. Gray and white blended in his short groomed beard, and his piercing green eyes looked as though they could penetrate solid objects if he so chose.
“This Council has been convened because not one, not two, not even three, but all four Laws have been broken.”
A controlled gasp erupted from the room and whispers amongst the crowd soon ensued. Laren’s father waited for a lull in the noisy room. “Since this is such a large case and there have been so many Laws broken, we have to examine each portion of the trial separately. As a Council, we have chosen to first listen and assess the events that led to the breaking of the Second and Fourth rules: no Elite killing another, and not mating with or turning humans.”
His right hand motioned to the woman who sat beside him and he politely gave her the floor. “ Thema, if you would.”
“Thank you, Adolpho.” Thema was a tall, strong-looking woman with long braided hair pulled back behind her head. She looked like she was in her early fifties, but Connor knew better than to guess her age based on appearances. Her ebony skin accentuated her striking violet eyes. “Connor Moore, son of the notorious Caderyn Moore, was one of two half-bloods turned two nights ago in the American state of New York. The same night, three Elites from the Ulfric Family were killed, along with a handful of humans. Faust Ulfric has come forward, naming the guilty parties as Larentia and Lupus Abelardus.”
Whispers and astonished gasps ran rampant through the crowd. Connor looked questioningly at Morrigan. His father was notorious? Morrrigan returned a look of her own that said, “I’ll explain later.”
Thema ignored the clamor. “Will the accused please come forward?”
Laren and Lu enter the room, side-by-side. Everyone turned to watch as they made the long walk to the Council’s table. Laren was dressed in a gray suit with a white top. She looked determined, her smile and carefree attitude gone, she was all business.
Lu, on the other hand, held the same expression Connor had grown accustomed to seeing. He walked confidently with his head held high, oblivious to the crowd around him.
They reached the Council table and knelt obediently, eyes directed to the floor.
“You may stand,” Thema directed after a few moments. “How do you plea?”
Lu spoke for the pair. “We plead guilty to the charge of killing the Elites, and guilty to the turning of Connor Moore. As the Council will undoubtedly see in the course of this case, and through the actions of Faust Ulfric, we had no choice.”
Thema nodded and motioned the two to take a seat next to Connor and Morrigan.
Turning her violet gaze on the room, she addressed the crowd. “Of course the relationship between the accused and our esteemed Council leader cannot be disregarded. Adolpho Abelardus has been the head of this Council for fifty-seven years, and in this time has proven himself a man beyond reproach or question. He has never compromised his values, and as a Council, we have decided that to require him to step down from his position for this trial would not be necessary. However, he would like the opportunity to address the room.”
Adolpho rose to his feet as Thema took her seat. “There is no doubt that I love my children,” he said, his commanding voice filling the room. Looking at Laren and Lu, he half smiled, then nodded. “But I also have a love for my duty and the Law that has kept us from conflict for so many years. Most of you know me as fair and uncompromising. I promise you that throughout this trial, I will hold to these values despite the circumstances. If there are any here that feel I should not be allowed to preside over this case, please come forward and state your concern.”
There was deafening silence. The silence was so all-encompassing that the slightest sound would have caused an echo. Connor was stunned that these people had such a high regard for Adolpho that they