Hunted

responsible. Nio was sure to miss his buddy Sim too. I fought tears and remorse again by the time I stood beside my grandfather.

Grief and loss are part of our existence, Lilith, the Goddess said, her soft voice soothing.

Does it get any easier? I asked

No, but you will learn to grieve as you move on.

What if it is my fault?

You think tonight is your fault? Tonight is just the beginning. It is something neither you nor I can control.

The beginning of what? I asked, hoping I’d get an answer this time.

The beginning of your journey, something your father and Coronis hope to stop. Look at them.

Across the hall, Valafar stood beside Solange. He was dressed in his trademark black pants and tunic, a red sash wrapped around his waist and a cloak with red lining over his shoulders. He looked a few pounds lighter, but he appeared healthy. No skin falling off or anything gooey. I really didn’t want to care, and couldn’t explain the relief that washed over me. Maybe my heart was wired differently, so I loved him even though he would do me harm.

Solange wore a triumphant grin, the red Athame clenched in her hand. Fury coursed through me as I recognized Coronis’ energy inside her. I wasn’t surprised that my sister was Coronis’ vessel. She could already wield her dagger.

“Guardians?” the red-robbed leader of the Tribunal asked.

“I will speak on behalf of the Guardians.” The voice that came out of me was firm and commanding, the sweetness of minutes ago gone.

“We recognized Xenia as the Guardians’ advocate,” the leader said. “Proceed.”

“Before we start with the proceedings,” I said, repeating the Goddess’ words, “we demand the return of the Cardinal Kim whom Valafar and his followers kidnapped.”

Across the hall, Valafar and Solange conferred, then he disappeared. Within seconds, he reappeared in the middle of the floor with Kim. She looked disoriented, her hair a mess and her clothes filthy, but she seemed fine. An excited murmur rose among the Guardians as her uncle teleported to her side and hugged her, then led her back to the Guardian side. It was the first time I’d ever seen Cardinal Seth show emotion.

I focused on the Goddess’ next words. “We also demand the return of the old Hermonite they kidnapped. His name is Jethro.”

“He chose to join us.” Solange spoke in Coronis’ annoyingly screechy voice.

“I refuse to take her word for it. Jethro must make an appearance before this court and talk to us. He’s the leader of his group of Hermonites and cannot be dismissed callously.”

“We already asked him, and he chose not to waste the Tribunal’s time with such a trivial matter,” Solange insisted.

“We get to decide if a matter is trivial or not,” the leader said. “Next item on the agenda.”

“When you convened a meeting a few weeks ago, I was unavailable to defend the Guardians against the vicious lies concocted by the demons,” I said.

Solange laughed before I could continue, bringing back memories of Coronis cackling as she drained the powers of Guardians. Other memories came from the Goddess—hateful pranks perpetuated by Coronis, jealous tantrums over their father’s affection. It was as though my relationship with Solange was a replica of hers and Coronis’.

“It is not our fault your second in command is incompetent,” Solange said, her voice harsh and malicious.

“Tariel needed a vessel and his grandson volunteered, then fed him lies about their family,” I continued. Tariel was Bran’s grandfather and a former Cardinal Water Guardian. Coronis had kidnapped him, drained his energy and mated his only son, Bran’s father, to a demoness. Obviously, Gavyn wasn’t above duping his grandfather.

“This is another trivial matter that cannot be changed,” Solange retorted.

“I concur. Next,” the Tribunal leader ordered.

I couldn’t read the Tribunal, which sucked, but the Goddess didn’t seem worried. “The first case presented to this court was the hypothetical unfair advantage the Guardians have over the demons, which could tip the balance between good and evil. I don’t see it.”

“Without Valafar,” Solange said, “the demons will not have a strong leader who can stand up to the Guardians and stop them from dominating and destroying humanity.”

Tell them you concur, the Goddess said.

Why?

Because I know what I am doing, Lilith. Repeat my words.

Why Valafar? Why not some other nature-bender?

Lilith, she warned, her voice rising.

“I concur,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Could you repeat what you just said?” the Tribunal said.

“I concur,” I called out. Even if it was the dumbest reasoning I’d ever heard.

You know I can hear you, the Goddess said.

Good, I retorted before I could stop myself. When she didn’t speak, I wondered whether I had gone too far. The problem was that Grampa had raised me to stand up for what I believed in.

She chuckled. You remind me of myself at your age. Impatient, impertinent and stubborn. Do you understand about the balance between good and evil and how it helps humanity to thrive and give us purpose?

Yes. But why him? There must be other powerful demons lounging in Tartarus.

There is a reason for everything that is happening right now, so be patient.

I hated the bitter taste of defeat, but I clammed up. The reason had better be a darn good one.

“Next,” the Tribunal spokesman said.

“Second,” I continued, so pissed I spoke through gritted teeth, “this Tribunal was made to believe that the Guardians influenced Bran Llyr’s decision to change sides. This is not true. We have witnesses that will testify to the fact that he made this decision on his own.”

“All of them Guardians,” Solange retorted. “Whatever they say will be biased.”

I glanced at Grampa and nodded. Darius stepped forward. “Darius son of Palizur is not a Guardian,” I said. “He’s a Neutral.”

“Yet he and his group fought alongside the Guardians today,” Solange retorted.

“So did the Order,” I snapped. “It doesn’t mean they are on our side. They just hate you more.”

“There is no need for him to testify, move on,” the Tribunal said.

That wasn’t good. I exchanged a look with Grampa. Was he worried about the way the proceeding was going too? “The second witness is Jethro. He is not a Guardian or a Guardian sympathizer. He will testify that Bran sought his help to find the Guardians.”

“Bran Llyr needed the Guardians’ help to rescue his sister, but he stayed only after he met Lil—your vessel, dearest sister,” Solange said with a sneer. “If it weren’t for her, Bran would not be a Guardian.”

The Goddess started to speak, but the Tribunal interrupted her with, “We will take everything you’ve said into consideration when we make our final decision. Next.”

Solange consulted with Valafar. “You should take one more thing into consideration before you make your verdict,” she said. “Bran Llyr won the battle on Jarvis Island, which makes him the rightful leader of the Hermonites.”

“He was lured to Jarvis Island the night of the mortal combat under false pretenses,” I snapped, speaking quickly to keep up with the Goddess. “The contract was between him and Damien, a person that doesn’t exist. As a result, he didn’t win the combat and is not the rightful leader of the demons.”

We waited for Coronis to object, everyone holding their breath.