“You have similar sympathies as the House of Shadows,” Helly countered. “You have cut down all legislation related to humans and half-Fae. You had one of our now-veteran soldiers kicked out of the training program due to your dislike of her heritage. You blamed the riot on the protestors because of who they were. These are all sympathies that were outlined in the letters we read from the House of Shadows, a Fae tribe known for their barbaric treatment of humans and half-Fae.”

“I am not the only person in this room who wants to see Fae continue to be elevated above all else. I certainly am not the only one who sees these protests as outlandish ways to incite violence in our city. And I would only ever kick someone out for their failures, which were well-documented. My sympathies aside, I would never commit treason or help a group I went to war with. That is absurd.”

Round and round it went. Several of the other council members got involved in the cross-examination, but it all seemed to point in one direction. At one point, Alura swayed uneasily as she jumped to her feet to defend her father. She was cut down and threatened with dismissal.

And while it all happened, Kerrigan watched Lorian. She had observed the man for the last year. She knew his wrath. All the ways that he hated her. All the ways that he twisted his words. But here, he seemed… sincere.

It made no sense. Because all of the accusations that had been put forth laid Lorian bare. He had obviously done it. Had he deluded himself so much into believing that his actions were justified? Had he twisted it all up so much that he thought himself in the right?

Kerrigan had always believed herself a good judge of character. She had hated Lorian as long as he had detested her. She saw him for who and what he was. But here, he was not pleading for his life. He was not begging. He didn’t look twitchy or even worried. He was certain that the council would believe him.

So, when the verdict came down, Lorian’s shock was the truest thing to happen in the court.

“The council finds you guilty of all charges. We have agreed to death by hanging the day after tomorrow,” Master Zoh confirmed. He banged his gavel, and the Society was in an uproar.

But Loria… he just looked stunned. As if he never thought it would happen. As if he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Anya doubled over, sobbing big, heavy tears as the majority of the Society filtered out of the room. Alura sat ramrod straight. Her eyes glassy. Her arm around her mother.