by Jeff Hale
I knew she had spent the night at the hospital with Kris. Matt had called to tell me what had happened to Kris and he had told me that Kat was sound asleep there. I knew that Kris was going to be fine, but I also knew that Matt was even more shaken by this last random injury to her. Having lost Sasha to something I couldn’t control, I understood him completely, even if I couldn’t give him any useful advice. Turning Kris against her will might assure that she wouldn’t die on him, but it also might drive her away from him forever.
I hadn’t slept well either, plagued by my easy willingness to consign Henry to death. I had woken unsure of the decision, but not certain of rescinding it either. I would let the day play out, and when it came to that point, when it was do or die time, I would go with my gut. On the chance that I might waiver, I had brought a couple of ceremonial items: a sliver chalice and silver dagger.
The three of us took our positions on the stand and I sat in the middle despite the fact that Kat was actually going to deliver the verdict. A moment later, two fae escorted Aerick into the room for the verdict and his sentence. Henry and his pack waited off to one side to witness the outcome of their grievance.
Kat stood as Aerick approached, and announced the verdict that was the only way we had come up with that would fairly address Henry’s complaint, but yet hopefully not result in Aerick’s death.
“The Pack of the Adjudicators has reached a verdict in the matter of this trial against the Sentinel, Aerick Kerensky. In the matter of murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, and assault with deadly Aetheric powers against the shifter known as Guy Alejandro, we find Aerick Kerensky… guilty.” The look she gave Aerick was sad. “The sentence is… death.”
Aerick visibly wilted, slumping forward almost to his knees. He had the look on his face of someone who knew they were going to die, and most assuredly did not want to.
“However, in light of this trial,” Kat continued, “and in line with certain authorities and responsibilities bestowed upon adjudicators, we have considered Henry Ragingbear’s own criminal activities in regards to these circumstances. In the matter of perjury, treason and assault on mortals, as well as dealing with entities of an evil, cruel, and dangerous bent, we find Henry Ragingbear guilty. Due to the nature of the activity involving Baba Yaga, Queen Cynthia requested that she be allowed to pass sentence on Henry and his pack and we have allowed this. Queen Cynthia has sentenced Henry Ragingbear and the remains of his pack to death as well.”
Kat took a deep breath. “We have also taken into consideration the threats made upon the person of Celeste Ivory Lynn. It is our belief, most especially due to Henry’s pack’s ties with Baba Yaga, that Celeste’s life was still in danger, and that the threat to her be considered a pre-meditated intent to murder. It is also our belief that Aerick Kerensky was acting on his own belief of this, and that his act of violence on Guy Alejandro was intended as a precautionary measure for her safety. Therefore, we commute Aerick’s sentence to that of grievous injury against a shifter, Henry Ragingbear, punishable by shifter tradition: a fight to the death. This sentence will be carried out in two hours.” Kat gave Aerick a nod of reassurance.
I stepped down from the judges’ stand and walked over to Aerick, taking him by the arm and leading him to a back room where I could talk to him in private. Once we got into the room he shook off my grip and glared hatefully at me.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” he said evenly, anger barely contained.
“Whoa,” I said, holding my hands up to show him I didn’t mean him any harm. “We just did you a favor, no need to be hostile. I’m not your enemy.”
“Why? Why did you do this?” he asked me suspiciously.
“Because we can’t have shifters like Henry making the humans out there nervous. That happens and we all end up dead. You know that,” I told him soberly. “Besides, Queen Cynthia made it quite clear that anyone working for Baba Yaga is a threat and would be wiped out by members of her court. Henry’s dead either way.” Much as I disliked Aerick’s method of defense of his friends, Henry’s actions were just as damaging to shifters. Some of my dislike of Henry must have shown because Aerick gave me a curious look.
“That’s not all of it. It’s personal for you somehow,” he said observantly.
“Should be personal for you, too,” I replied.
“It is. Only reason he isn’t already dead is because he got away.”
“Right.” I nodded. That wasn’t what I had meant, but I had forgotten that Aerick didn’t know what Henry had done to Kat. “Celeste. She really is a sweet, innocent little thing, isn’t she? I understand she’s some reincarnated girlfriend of yours.”
“Not reincarnated.” He shook his head. “Celeste is Serena. I have no doubt of that now. Not after last night.”
“I thought your Serena died?” I was confused.
“She did. I don’t know how she’s back, but she is.”
I was envious of him for a moment. I would have given anything to have Sasha back as she was. “You’re a lucky man. Not everyone has that chance. Some of us have to deal with just knowing that a person’s soul was once the love of our life.”
“Kat?”
I almost didn’t confirm anything, but I thought that maybe he would understand my pursuit of Kat better if he knew. “Yes. She carries the reincarnated soul of my dead wife, Sasha.”
“What? I mean, Alex mentioned that Kat’s soul once belonged to someone you loved, but he didn’t say anything about that person being your wife. I guess I can understand. I know how I’d feel if Serena were with someone else.”
“You’d eviscerate them,” I said with a wicked smile.
“No doubt in my mind,” he replied, giving me a knowing nod.
“Alex is lucky to have survived then.” I laughed, getting a sense that at any other point in our lives, Aerick and I might have been kindred spirits. “Poor bastard keeps getting mixed up with the wrong women it seems.”
“He has a way of talking his way out of things. Besides I think it was mainly her doing it to hurt me.”
“Well, she’s been through a lot recently, between your verbal abuse of her, and her boyfriend’s physical abuse.” I leaned against the wall.
“What do you mean? I mean, I suspected the abuse, but had no proof,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
“I saw the bruises myself. She came over to our apartment after a frat party. He had beaten her for being nice to Matt and myself. This Travis boy deserves to be in the hospital. Probably the only decent thing Henry’s pack did in that attack.” I snorted, shaking my head.
My expression grew serious. There was something I wanted him to know, something I was hoping would add to his anger, give him even more of an edge. I didn’t want Henry walking away from this fight, not unless I changed my decision later on.
“To the point at hand,” I said, “I want you to know that Henry almost killed Kat once. Possibly planned to rape her, not sure. It never got to that point, but he messed her up pretty badly.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I want you to know that not only did he hurt your Serena, but he hurt Kat as well.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“See that you do,” I said as I turned to leave. I stopped. “Oh and one last thing. Were I you, I would never pass up a chance to be with Sasha again. Ever. Just some advice, enjoy whatever time you’ve been given with Serena again.”
I closed the door behind me, glad that we had come up with a plan that let us get away with not just executing Aerick out of hand; he wasn’t as bad as I had thought.
Lucien had decided that the basement would suit for the fight between Aerick and Henry. Alex, Kat, Queen Cynthia, and I waited patiently while he had workers clear it out and set up a ring with areas for those involved in the trial to watch the outcome from the outside edges. Once everything was in place, two fae guards went to get both Henry and Aerick.
Henry came in first, wearing only
a pair of loose jeans, and I could see that the tribal tattoos that covered the side of his face and head spread out across his shoulders and down his back as well. He made an impressive figure, and I knew he was a dangerous fighter, but I had faith that Aerick would be more than capable.
Aerick finally came in, wearing a dark tank top and jeans himself. He walked up to the raised ring, his glance sliding over those of us who were here to witness. I saw Henry grin at him as Aerick stood there waiting. It was time to get this under way. I made a small motion, a bell chimed, and Henry immediately shifted to his Aspect form and charged Aerick. As he did so, I felt a small wash of power from beside me, from Cynthia.
“What are you doing?” I whispered to her, watching Aerick avoid the charge and launch himself into a flip over Henry’s head, his blades flaring into existence as he did.
“Evening the field. This should be a fair fight, and Henry is clearly outmatched,” she said quietly.
“I thought we wanted Henry dead, not Aerick?” I saw Henry spin around, rear up and take a swat at Aerick while he was in the air, then get hit with Aerick’s fire blade across the back of the paw and yowl in pain.
“We do, but where is the justice in pitting a lion against a lamb?” The expression on her face suggested the debate was over and I turned my full attention back to the fight.
Henry had snatched Aerick out of the air with his mouth. He bit down on Aerick as he shook him, and I heard Kat gasp in worry beside me, her noise echoed by others, including Celeste, who was almost hidden in the back. Aerick’s ice blade ended up in Henry’s snout and Henry dropped him. I could see some of Aerick’s wounds healing magically, as fast as or faster than a shifter’s, and I knew then that Henry was outmatched
Aerick stood back up, wobbling a bit, and Henry took the opportunity to rush him again. He reared up again and Aerick barely had time to move as Henry clipped Aerick’s shoulder with a massive paw, sending Aerick sailing across the room to impact with the concrete wall with such force that it left a cracked dent. I winced, having been on the receiving end once of a similar blow from Henry.
Aerick stood again, shakily, his wounds visibly healing again, but I could see that he was severely fatigued. He suddenly charged Henry, jumped up into another flip that had Henry turning and bringing both paws up as though to bat him out of the air. But Aerick’s trajectory changed suddenly, bringing him down on Henry’s left so that Henry missed with the uppercut. As Aerick landed, he drove both blades into the top of Henry’s head, drawing a thunderous roar of pain from Henry. There was a sick crunch as Aerick stepped to the right and twisted the blades, but Henry was still alive.
Here it was, that point where I had to decide. I held my hand up to stop the fight, the chime sounding, and Aerick halted his movement. Henry struggled against him, but Aerick pulled on the blades again. “Where the head goes, the body goes,” Aerick warned him. Aerick had clearly won and Kat was right, there had been enough killing. I might regret the decision I had just come to, but someone had given me a chance once, and I wanted to extend that same chance to Henry. I glanced over at Queen Cynthia.
“Do what you feel you need to, Adjudicator,” she said softly. “I will abide by your choice.”
“As a reward for his victory over Henry, Aerick will walk free this day, and his past crimes against Henry’s pack will never be brought forth again!” I called out to the room, eyes on Aerick.
“He isn’t dead, Darien,” Aerick gritted out, and I could see in his expression that he didn’t understand why I wasn’t letting him finish Henry off. I could see Aerick’s fingers tightening around his blades as Henry struggled against him.
“Are you so bloodthirsty?” I asked him, although part of me wanted to let him follow through. “Do you see his death as a necessary thing?”
“Yes! I have no guarantee he won’t come after me again! Or Celeste! Or you! You have no idea what Baba Yaga may use him for!” Aerick yelled. “Besides, I thought you wanted him dead? I thought Queen Cynthia wanted him dead?”
I glanced at Henry. I did want the man dead, but that was for my own vengeance, not for justice. “I do. But sometimes there’s a better way. I talked to Queen Cynthia just before you came in and she has agreed to my decision. You have my guarantee for your safety, and Celeste’s.” I held a hand out towards Kat. “Kat, if you would?” I hadn’t explained to them what I might do, but I had asked her earlier, that if I asked her to, to just bring me the two items. She grabbed them off a small table against the back of the room, and brought them to me, the water in the chalice sloshing slightly.
I approached Henry with the items and when he saw them, he began struggling again, shifting back to human with Aerick’s blades still through his skull. It probably hurt like holy hell, and it was probably only Cynthia’s bolstering magic that kept them from killing him. Aerick held him still while I took the dagger and drew it across my palm, squeezing my hand into a fist so that blood ran out and dripped into the chalice. A tiny nick on the fingertip would have sufficed, but I wanted to make it grand and showy, so that it wasn’t lost on those watching.
Henry’s eyes went wide in fear. “Don’t make me do this, Darien! Please!”
“You will do this, or Aerick will get my go ahead to kill you!” I informed him.
“I don’t care! Let him! You don’t know what she’ll do to me! To Wally and Jill! Please, don’t do this!” Henry pleaded.
“And you think Wally and Jill will be safe from Aerick once he walks out of here? Or from Queen Cynthia? Remember, they were sentenced to death with you.”
“What gives you the right to do this to me?” Henry demanded, fear bleeding into anger.
I tapped the left side of my chest. “This. This is your only choice, Henry. You will be property now, Henry, my property. You will have no status.” My gaze went to Wally and Jill, who were waiting anxiously, not knowing what to do.
“Will you take them as yours?” Henry asked, his own eyes flicking to them.
“No. It’s bad enough I’ve made the decision to pollute my pack with you. Besides, I denied Queen Cynthia her sentencing of you, I will not deny her the rest. They are hers to do with as she sees fit.”
“But, she’s my mate,” Henry protested, pointing at Jill.
“Do you really want to die, Henry?” I asked him somberly. “I’ll give you this choice. Die with them, or take your chances with me.”
He was so angry that he almost forgot Aerick’s blades pinning him. His body shook and he looked from me to Jill, staring at her for several moments before looking back at me again. “I’ll take my chances with you,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Henry!” Jill cried out in shock.
Henry didn’t bother to look at her, keeping his eyes on the floor. Cynthia motioned to her two guards, who each took hold of Jill and Wally, then there was a pull of power and all four disappeared. A few seconds later and Henry roared in agony that had nothing to do with Aerick. I almost felt sympathy for him, understanding that Cynthia had been swift in her punishment and Henry had felt two pack dies break through death.
“Do you, Henry Ragingbear, vow to adhere to my commands as Alpha of this pack, to do no harm to your fellow pack members or the avowed mates of your fellow pack members, to do no harm to any under your Alpha’s protection, under pain of death?” I asked flatly.
He just sat there, refusing to speak, his lips pressed so tightly together they were almost white. I jerked my head at Aerick, and he wrenched the blades to one side. Henry screamed out in anguish.
“I do so vow,” he cried out, taking a drink from the chalice I held out to him.
I muttered, “Witnessed,” under my breath and heard Kat and Alex echo me. “I, Darien Torre, take you into my pack, under my command, to do with as I see fit. Your life is mine. With my blood, I declare it so,” I intoned. While the ritual brought Henry into my pack, it did so with no privileges. He was property, with no rights or protection from me or anyone else of higher status. I felt
a cold shiver go through. “Now, you will let him walk out of here, alive,” I told Aerick.
“You still have no guarantee that he won’t come after me or Serena,” Aerick reminded me.
It was a valid argument, but if Henry did, it would mean his death at my hands. Still, Henry was crafty enough to have others do his bidding. “I hereby state that Aerick and Celeste, also known as Serena, are under my protection.” My eyes were on Henry as I said the words. “If any shifter should try to harm them, they will answer to me and my pack. There, that will Mark you and your friend to any and all shifters. They will immediately know that you are under my protection,” I said, walking to stand in front of Aerick.
“What about that?” Aerick asked, motioning with his chin to the back of Henry’s neck.
Baba Yaga’s mark. The moment Henry had been brought into my pack I had felt its presence. “Yeah. I can… feel it. The malevolence. Something isn’t happy that I just did that.”
“Baba Yaga. You just made an enemy of her. Like it or not, we’re in the same boat, and I’m your best defense,” Aerick told me.
“Probably. How do we get rid of that? I don’t like the idea of her using our pack bond against us somehow,” I asked him.
Queen Cynthia approached us and put her hand over the tattoo. Her pretty face seemed pained for a moment and then she cried out in hurt. “My magic is not powerful enough. Sentinel, do you have a way of contacting Mer…” She was interrupted by an abrupt popping noise, and a man suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with shoulder length, dark-brown hair, and was wearing a trench coat over a suit.
“Ah, Cynthia, were you just asking for me?” the man asked in a friendly tone.
“I was, old friend. I do believe that Adjudicator Torre here has made a grave mistake in pack bonding with this filthy excuse for a human, let alone shifter, and connected himself with Baba Yaga. Since he has certain… connections that you may not want the Iron Hag to have, I figured you might want to remove it,” Cynthia explained pleasantly.
