Page 18 of Hunter's Trial

“I rescind the question, your honor.”

The judge smiles at Kate and she appears to preen under the perceived approval of him. I see the game now. She does it so effortlessly that it looks like a dance. I have no doubt that she could eviscerate the opposition with her words alone but there’s something almost funny about the fact that she isn’t having to do such a thing.

“I cheated.” Anya says, venom lacing her words. It’s technically the truth. Even though I was the one who practically forced her into Alek’s arms. “That’s why we’re divorced, if you must know. Nikolai found out that I was pregnant with another man’s child and graciously agreed to let me have a divorce. I ruined that marriage, not him. I was only afraid of facing the truth that I cheated. As anybody would be.”

Her hands fall to her rounded belly.

Hell, she’s making me seem like a damned saint.

“No further questions for the witness, your honor.”

The judge turns to look at Kate, and she only smiles. “No, your honor. I don’t see the point, do you?”

“No, this whole thing is becoming a larger waste of my time by the minute.” the judge murmurs. Kate laughs and the opposition looks like he is about to burst a blood vessel in his eye. There’s no case without witnesses. Now that everything he has built his case and evidence around is simply gone, there’s nothing to hold my charges.

“Thank you, Ms. Ivankov, you may take your seat. Mr. Volkovich, take your place on the stand please.”

I am escorted forward. The way that I am presently restrained makes it hard for me to place my hand on the bible and swear my oath, but we manage it. I’m sure that both Daniel and Alek are taking a great amount of pleasure out of seeing me in this horrible jumpsuit and chains. My entire wardrobe is nothing but black so this garish orange? It’s not my favorite. Insult to injury. Just another slice of my humble pie.

I settle into the wooden chair, chains rattling as I make myself comfortable.

The judge doesn’t even bother looking at me directly.

Kate rises to her feet delicately and smooths her skirt down over her legs. Her hips sway when she walks in a way that I can’t help but focus on. Just eye contact with Kate alone and I swear I have to adjust the way I’m sitting. Oh, the things that I would love to do to her.

“Mr. Volkovich, I just need you to confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, the testimonies that we have heard today are true?” Kate asks.

I swear I’ve never seen such a sumptuous, sinful mouth on a woman in my life.

“Yes, I swear it.”

“Under threat of perjury, Mr. Volkovich, the trip that you took Henry on was planned and all of this was simply a misunderstanding?”

“That is correct.”

“And finally, the reason for your divorce was due to Ms. Ivankov’s infidelity.”

I nod. “I swear it.”

Only then does my gaze start to stray to Anya. It might be the very last time that I ever get to see her, no matter how this goes. I have so many regrets for how things ended up, but she wound up with who she was supposed to be with. “She’s found her happiness. I’m sorry that it wasn’t with me, but she’s where she needs to be. Their child will grow up very loved.”

Anya wipes her eye with the back of her hand, brushing away the single tear there.

I did think that I loved her, at the time. Maybe monsters like me just don’t deserve to know what love actually is.

“No further questions, your honor.” Kate says and walks back to her seat.

The judge heaves another long-suffering sigh and stands with his notes to head back into the deliberation room, muttering to himself.

Damn, Kate makes victory look effortless.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KATE

As soon as the sentencing was finished, guards came to take Nikolai away. They will take him back for processing, to take his shackles off and to allow him to change into normal clothes. Whatever was on his person when he was arrested is the same that he will be released in. I suppose that it wouldn’t be out of the terms of my duties to offer to go and pick him up as well. It’s not like anybody else in this room is going to be jumping to drive him wherever it is that he’s going to go next.

I certainly don’t think that I would mind seeing him for a little while longer. Somewhere without eyes on us… without the contract between us.

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