I grit my teeth together and took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage that constantly lingered inside me. Edan was an unpredictable bastard and supposedly he was only agreeable when he had a woman in his bed.
“He loves her.” Genevieve’s voice was maple syrup-like—sweet and smooth.
“He feels guilt for what Ryszard did to her. That’s not love, sugar,” Edan retorted.
Zurina said, “A Scar can’t be with a human, whether he loves her or not. Balen knows this.”
“He also knows to not drink vampire blood,” Edan shot back.
“I’ve felt the pull between them,” Urtzi said.
“For fuck’s sake,” Edan muttered and sat back, shaking his head.
Urtzi had the ability to taste what was between humans. Depending on the emotion, his taste changed. Urtzi had previously told them that anger tasted vile. I compared it to rotten milk. If Urtzi tasted love—chocolate—it would be easier to convince him that Balen deserved to live.
Tor spoke. “This matter isn’t about the woman, as Edan has so eloquently put it. Balen will be punished. We cannot allow him to walk free and resume his status as a warrior when he has become untrustworthy.” He paused and looked to each of us. “However, he saved the life of a human, which is also our law. Therefore, this must be taken into account. I, Wraith of Earth, vote that Balen be sent to Rest for twenty years and exile for one hundred years.”
Genevieve gasped and everyone’s eyes darted to her, mine included. She quickly lowered her head and her hands gripped the edge of the table so tight her knuckles turned white.
Edan jumped on the reaction. “What’s your deal, Genevieve?”
The water in the fountain began to bubble. Steam rose from the surface. Christ, she was panicking, and if someone didn’t calm her, we’d all be immersed in a rainfall of water.
“I disagree,” I said, keeping my eyes on the fountain. “Sent to Rest is harsh. No one was harmed by what he did.” The water remained simmering like a pot of boiling water. “Balen has protected us for three centuries and is honorable. He was under great duress from the torture he suffered.”
“Calm yourself, Genevieve,” Urtzi said in a soothing tone. A cool breeze drifted across the room and through Genevieve’s golden mane.
“What’s with you?” Edan hated Genevieve, considered her weak and too sympathetic. My guess was that she refused to sleep with him.
I felt Zurina in my mind. “She’s hiding something.”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Perhaps she cares for Balen?”
I doubted it. Genevieve’s strength was emotions. Feeling the connection between Danni and Balen had to be difficult for her when she knew they would be separated. The water rose to the rim of the marble pool and Tor reached out and placed his hand on Genevieve’s shoulder. He closed his eyes and the water slowly began to sink back down until the liquid lay quiet again.
“Waleron,” Tor said. “What say you?”
I looked at each member of the Deaconry, the last being Edan, who raised his brows at me and had the nerve to mouth ‘fuck you.’
I heard a crackle as the plastic of my candy dispenser in my pocket broke under my grip. “Balen is my responsibility. I failed him. I will take blame for what occurred.” Murmurs rose among them and I raised my voice. “Decide my fate.”
“Aw, fuck,” Edan rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. Taking his punishment? Are you for real?”
“No,” Tor said. He met my eyes and gave a nod of respect. “I understand your need to protect one of your own, but I cannot allow it. The CWOs are spreading. You’re needed.”
Mariana, who’d been uncommonly quiet, twirled her finger around one of her dreads. “The woman survived because of Balen. Commendation. But he did lead the vampire to the witches’ coven. Rest for ten years and exile for one hundred years.”
Urtzi sighed and the cool air exhaled from his mouth like a mist of rain. “I agree with Mariana.”
I knew this was a lenient fate considering the Wraiths were predictable and never strayed from the laws. Balen broke it. Simple. Yet, I suspected I could push to get the sentence lessened even more.
I had to approach this tactfully. “His blood is pure. That alone shows his strength as a valuable Scar. One that is needed. As you just said, the Center World Others are spreading.”
Edan slammed his fist onto the table. “Bullshit. He broke the law. We cannot pick and choose who isn’t subject to the laws that were made for the benefit of us all.”
Zurina placed her palms flat on the table. “None have been able to fight off the vampire blood before. Therefore, this situation is unusual. I agree with Waleron.”
“You would,” Edan muttered.
Tor raised his hand. “The law, as it stands, says that any who drink vampire blood must be killed. Balen lives.” He nodded to me. “Your point is taken and Balen’s strength is imposing. Therefore, losing him as a warrior for a century is detrimental to the Scars. Rest for ten years for his betrayal of his sister, and exile fifty years for breaking our law.”
I knew what Tor offered was pretty damn lenient considering Balen must have pissed them off for dodging sentencing for two years. If I pushed any further, Edan and . . . I looked at Mariana—yes, she was annoyed with Tor’s verdict—might argue the ruling.
“I will fight this if you want,” Zurina said.