“There isn’t even a body yet. Your counterparts may find the topic disagreeable considering the circumstances of any future appointment to The Tribunal.”

He chuckles. “Montrose is close to eighty. How much longer do you think he’ll hold on to his seat?”

Hildebrand is nearing sixty as far as I can guess. “Let’s have that discussion another time.”

“How are you, though? I saw some of the footage. He was… brutal.”

“As I expect he was instructed to be.”

He clears his throat. “I need to be in court in a few minutes. What can I do for you, Judge?”

“Tell me Vincent Douglas’s location.”

“Now, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I would hate to see the same thing happen to him as did his sister. That’s not who we are as a Society. Besides, Ms. De La Rosa more than earned her punishment, and I’ll remind you that you chose to stand in her place. If this is about vengeance, I cannot assist you.”

It’s my turn to chuckle as I pull into the parking lot of the courtroom where my office is located. “No, Councilor. I am not interested in vengeance. I’d like to know his location so I can be assured Ms. De La Rosa is safe.”

“He will not come after her. He gave me his word.”

“Well, then by all means, if he gave his word, let’s close the matter.”

“Don’t be flippant.”

“Where is he?”

“Answer me a question, and I will do the same.”

Calculating bastard. I climb out of the car and lock it. “What do you want to know?”

“Why did you do it? Why invoke Vicarius? No one has in my lifetime. And for you to do it for her, a woman who is not your family, not your blood, not anything to you.”

Ah. But therein lies the crux of it all.

She is not merely something to me.

She is everything.

I stop walking, as if just realizing it myself. Because Mercedes was right the night I told her about Theron. About my fears. I am an idiot. I have feelings for this woman. Powerful feelings. Even as I know and have always known that a wife was not in the cards for me. A family of my own would always be denied me. The stock I come from would not allow for that. I know it. My grandfather knew it. And I’m pretty sure it’s why Councilor Hildebrand is in such a rush to get me seated on The Tribunal. He sees my potential.

“Judge?”

I blink, then draw a breath. “In all honesty, Councilor, I would not submit her to your cruelty.”

“Hm.”

“You and I, we understand one another,” I continue. “We always have.”