Page 127 of Bound
“For the murder of the vampire known as Draven Frost, we collectively sentence Ruin Wade to twenty-five years of fines in the amount of $0.01 per month.”
It is the lowest amount ever charged, and the first flicker of hope fills my chest.
Renvi steps to the rail and the soft murmurs below fade into stony silence. “For the murder of Lilah Marks,” he says, his voice clear into that crushing stillness, “we collectively sentence Captain Ruin Wade to death.”
Lilah’s scream cuts off fast as Ruin presses her face into his chest. But her sobs remain audible as her smaller body quakes. His pale features are ashen in the overheads, almost dead already, as he tries to comfort her despite the pain I can see wrecking him too.
Caine and the others surround them like a wall of flesh, closing them off from us. Gage’s body goes ramrod straight as he steps before them and emerald fire rolls down his arms. Readying to protect his captain.
Markus, however, remains calm as he paces closer to the stairs, an odd gleam in his eyes. “Under whose supervision will both rulings need to be honored?” he asks.
Bran’s lips twist. “Yours, of course. You are his liege, no?”
The gleam grows. “And, the deadline on carrying out such a grim punishment?”
Gage’s head whips between them as the flames over him fade.
“The fine must be meted out within the allotted bracket,” Bran says, his tone grave. He raises a hand. “But I will allow an indefinite time table on the death sentence.”
No one moves. No one breathes.
An indefinite …
Ruin stares up at Branwen and the others, his face stricken. Like he doesn’t dare to hope. “I don’t—”
“Do you wish to appeal our decision?” Bran asks coolly. “We can review the facts presented and rule again.”
“No,” he says, sagging. Tanner closes in on one side, Gage tight on the other. They support their captain as he supports Lilah. “Your ruling is more than fair.”
Bran inclines his head. “We are emissaries of the Council. We must be fair.”
Ruin peers down at Lilah and she stares up at him. The incredulity and hope mixing on their faces is hard to watch. Hard to believe.
She lets out a small cry and he lifts her, kissing her with a passion that I can feel all the way across the room.
Murmurs and nervous laughs join in as the others crowd them both, patting Ruin on the back and pressing a hand to Lilah’s hair. I catch more than one set of shining eyes, but it is not supernatural light. It’s tears. Tears of joy.
“Thank you, Amoret,” Bran says as he looks on. “It was your counsel that swayed me.”
I peer over to find him, Renvi, and Cusnu watching me. “Mine?”
“You knew them outside of the trial. You witnessed the man without the weight of power. Though we do not agree that the end justified the means, we believe the more criminal act would have been to keep a love that powerful from blessing the world,” Bran says, gesturing to Ruin and Lilah where he twirls her over the foyer. “The sentences will appease the High Consul, though, I imagine he will have a few choice words for me on the time tables I have given.”
My eyes drop and I curtsy as a wave of affection fills me. “Thank you, brother. Renvi. Cusnu. Your wisdom is vast and your fairness true.”
“Now, I believe we have one more thing to say.” Bran claps his hands and some of the excitement fades from the room. “Alas, our being kidnapped ruined what we had hoped would have been a rather interesting first night in your fair city. As we will leave tomorrow,” My stomach drops and I press a hand to my belly.So soon? “We would ask for one thing before we go,” Bran continues.
Ruin sets Lilah at his side. “Anything.” Though Markus looks at him, he smiles.
Bran peers around the large space before his eyes flick to me. “You have quite a lovely home, Lord Alport,” he says. “Would you do us the honor in hosting a ball?”
My cheeks flush and I can only stare at him as Markus rubs his square chin, that brilliant gleam back in his eyes. “A ball?” He glances at the others. Ruin with Lilah, Tanner and Nisha. Caine. Horan. Gage. Markus’ smile grows. “I believe we could facilitate that. Yes. A ball it is.”
