Page 95 of Flock This

I made a point of rolling my eyes, making it so dramatic that no one could miss my feelings about that. I couldn’t speak, but I could still make my opinions clear.

“Next,” Ruben went on, ignoring my antics, “we have the trial for Grey Keystone, who is charged with the murder of William Garrison. The charges were brought by the Graves, and since Grey is part of no clan, if found guilty, the punishment will fall to the automatic consequences of a capital murder—meaning execution.”

“Wait,” Kelvin said, speaking up, drawing the gazes of all in the room. “Grey is no longer clanless. She’s been taken in by the Graves. She is now my thrall, and thus under my control and power. As both the clan to bring the charges and the one who the defendant belongs to, that gives me the right to decide her punishment, doesn’t it?”

Ruben nodded. “Assuming what you say is true, yes. You will be able to set down the punishment you feel is appropriate. However, first, we have to test her and officially assign her to your clan.”

Kelvin waved his hand, the motion dismissive. “Go for it.”

I peered over at Galen, finding his eyes had turned amber and the tendons in his neck stood out as though he called on all his control not to intervene. I could almost see the hurt there as he thought I’d turned down his offer to take me in only to accept Kelvin’s.

I wanted to tell him that wasn’t what happened, but without a chance to speak, I couldn’t. Besides, what good would it do? It would only cause problems between Galen and Kelvin, only risk more violence.

I didn’t want that on my head.

Ruben turned toward me, staring down at me, then gestured toward the large crystal. “Please, place your hand on the crystal as you did that first day. The barrier will allow you to reach.”

I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to see that crystal turn red. It might save my life, but it would kill so much more inside me.

No, that wasn’t fair. It was already done, but I didn’t want to see it, didn’t want to face the proof of what I’d lost.

Ruben dropped his voice lower. I’d bet the others could still hear him, but he did it as though to keep the words between just the two of us. “If you don’t, Grey, I’ll simply have to force you. Please, don’t make this harder than it has to be on either of us.”

It wasn’t worries about myself that got me moving. Who cared if someone forced me? I’d dug in my heels enough times over my life that I was used to that shit. Instead, it was his tone that got me moving. None of this was Ruben’s fault. He worked inside the rules and codes that ran the world, and even with those, he’d done all he could to help me.

I didn’t need to make his life any more difficult than I already had.

So I pressed my lips together and reached for the crystal. It was warm, just as it had been when I’d done this before. It had surprised me back then, too, since the room had a chill to it that the crystal didn’t fit with.

A swirl of red inside the large clear crystal made my chest tighten, but as it went to spread, to fill the rock, another color poured into it.

Blue. It didn’t mix with the red, didn’t turn purple. Instead, the blue increased, swirling around inside until the red disappeared and that same old blue remained, just like the last time, bright and matching my hair.

I jerked my gaze away, over to Kelvin, whose eyes sat wide and surprised in a way I’d never seen from him before. Sure, it was really fucking petty, and yeah, this didn’t bode well for how much longer my life would last, but I still enjoyed being the one to put that look on his face.

It was almost worth knowing I was about to die.

“Grey isn’t a Grave,” Ruben uttered, his voice strained.

“Of course she is.” Kelvin slammed his palms down as he stood, the table shaking beneath the hit. “I bit her. I bound her to me. You saw the red. She is mine.”

Ruben pulled his shoulders back, facing Kelvin without a speck of fear. “The red dissipated. Even if some rests inside her, the final color is the one that matters. The code is clear—she remains clanless.”

Kelvin lifted his lip, his fangs descended, a clear show of his lack of control. Even so, he managed to keep himself still, and I could tell his brain was working toward another solution. It was in his blue eyes, the way they twitched as though considering and rejecting idea after idea.

“Grey Keystone has been accused of the murder of sitting councilor William Garrison. Is there anyone with standing who can offer evidence of her innocence?” Ruben paused then, his voice coming out like a desperate plea.

Galen went to speak, his lips parting, but Ruben lifted his hand, palm out.

“You have no standing. She is not part of the Were Clan.”

Galen pressed his lips together, and I’d bet he ground his molars, too. The truth was that he lacked the ability to say anything on my behalf. I was alone, just like always.

I gave Galen another smile, this one trying to tell him it was okay. This wasn’t his fault, and I didn’t want him blaming himself. I didn’t want anyone blaming themselves over it.

Well, maybe Kelvin, but even with him, only a little. He hadn’t done it on purpose, hadn’t put me here by design. He’d even done what he could to fix it when he realized I’d take the fall for it.

Galen stared back at me, his expression tight. I doubted my smile meant much to him now, but later? Fuck, who knew… I thought about Roger, about the way he recalled things about William with a sad fondness. Would Galen think back to my smile and feel the same way?

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