Page 77 of The Death Dealer

“We know, Ms. Stephens. Itwas sanctioned.”

Her jaw dropped as she stared at the man who had spoken. Shifting her gaze to his name, she added Councilman Melvin Glen to her shit list.

“Sanctioned?” Damian cut in. He must’ve sensed she was ready to take up the Death Dealer mantle for herself and wipe the floor with these asshats. “Are you saying that you sanctionedabductionand attempted murder of witches trying to restore the earth’s resources? Would you care to explain why, Councilman Glen?”

“No one said anything about attempted murder,” he protested with a wary glance toward the Aether. “Only the abduction.”

The temperature of the room dropped ten degrees as Damian approached. “Abduction. Of my wife’s sister.”

Melvin paled. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly as he searched for a legitimate excuse to appease them, and his guilty gaze locked with Agnes’s.

“Perhaps abduction is a strong word, Aether,” Soleil said, reasserting herself yetmaking mention ofhis goddess-gifted power. He compressed his lips, and her impression wasoneof him fighting a grin. Weaving her arm through his and leaning into him to show the strength of their familial relationship, she sent a sweeping smile to those along the curved table. “Wouldn’t you say?” As they began to nod frantically, she shot Damian a frowning pout. “What hasmesalty is Councilwoman Vector’s collusion with her daughter and the threat to my life. Not to mention the mind games they played with Trevor over the last—how many years, Mr. Blane?”

“It’s Trevor.”Rising from his seat, he continued aloud, “And?—”

“Not you. Your father.” She turned and gestured to Benjamin, having felt him walk into the room. Exactly how she was unsure, but she’d picked up a vibration unique to him. Later, whenall this crap was settled, she’d ask them about it.

“His entire life,” Benjamin growled. “Just like the Authority does with all the power players.”

Melvin had the gall to protest, earning himself a severe look from Damian.

“You’d be a fool to deny it, Glen.” Ben scoffed and shook his head. “But it wouldn’t be the first time you were.”

Anger clouded the Councilman’s ruddy face, and his dark eyes snapped with frustration at being unable to defend his actions in front of a roomful of observers. This mockery of a trial wasn’t going his way.

“Thanks to you, Dalli,”Trev said through their link.

“They’ve taken enough from you,”she returned coolly, still smarting because he’d believed she would fuck this up for him.

Damian squeezed her hand, then detangled her arm from his. Crossing to Benjamin, he offered a handshake. “Glad you could make it, Ben.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it.” His pointed stare was for Trevor. “My son needed me.”

Trevor’s deeper emotions were a mixed bag, and Soleil felt every single one, from his doubt to his gratitude for his father’s timely arrival to his worry for her.

“I had to make a stop first,” Ben said, half turning toward the door.

Alastair Thorne entered.As always, he wasimpeccably dressed and spoiling for a confrontation with authority. Spring, Knox, Evelyn, and Simon followed. No one in their group looked thrilled to be there. Next, the Sentinels under Damian’s care lined up along the walls at the back of the observation area. The only one missing was Draven, who was likely guarding the Aether’s family.

She smiled as she recalled the tanzanite ring she wore.“Thanks, gang.”

Their nods of respect were gratifying.

Trevor was humbledby those filtering through the door. There were quite a few he recognized as the victims from Loman O’Connor’s reign of terror, and he was happy to see they weren’t as gaunt as they’d been when he’d helped rescue them last year.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Councilman Glen blustered.

“These are character witnesses for my son. Having been subjected to your rigged trial in the past, I thought I’d give him a fighting chance.”

A few members of the head table exchanged nervous glances.

“Your son violated Authority code and conduct, Blane, as haveyouon multiple occasions,” Councilwoman Cynthia Doyle said with an arch look. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I see.”

“Resorting to age-old clichés, Cynthia?” Ben taunted. “Are you upset I never called you back after our last night?—”

“Enough.” Councilman Louis Garcia banged a gavel. “I move that we accept the witnesses and continue. Objections?”

Three raised their hands, but the majority were for allowing character witnesses for Trevor.

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