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“Who’s the dude with the white hair?” she whispered to the long-suffering guard.

“That is a representative from the Dark Court.”

The two males took the seats on the left, and the females sat on the right. The door opened again, and someone Ella unfortunately recognized all too well came out.

“Oh, crap.”

“Did you speak, Soul Sucker?”

“Not to you.” She focused her gaze on the smiling face of the man she knew as Drew Spencer, the head of the SBLE in North America and possibly the rest of the known universe. She hadn’t liked him the first time she met him. He hadn’t really taken to her either.

“Why is Drew Spencer here?” she said loudly.

The Fae king looked over at her. “He is knowledgeable about both our world and the SBLE. Therefore he was acceptable to all present as an impartial judge.”

“I bet you didn’t consult Morosov about that.”

The Fae king ignored her and turned his attention back to Drew Spencer, who waited patiently by the dais.

“You may proceed.”

Spencer bowed, took his place at the center of the table and addressed the four occupants. He wore a long white robe that made him look vaguely clerical and completely judgmental.

“I will call each witness and allow you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you wish. Then, if necessary, we will hear from the defendant. After all the evidence has been presented, I will retire to consider my verdict and then present it to the court.”

The older queen nodded and clasped her hands together in front of her on the table, her head bowed. None of them appeared to have noticed Ella’s presence, although she was certain they were all aware of her. She glanced around the otherwise-deserted courtroom. Was she the only witness?

“Bring in the accused.”

A flash of light and Vadim was there, enclosed in a silver cage of pulsing energy. She attempted to touch the power source with her mind, but it seemed determined to rebuff her. If she needed to get to him, how the hell was she going to get through something she couldn’t analyze and defeat?

She stared at her mate, who was doing his best imitation of a faultless hero going to the guillotine, his face immovable and his mouth stern. Was she going to rescue him? Had that ever been in doubt?

There was a gentle cough beside her, and she turned to see Feehan and Liz sliding into the seats next to hers.

“Guys!” she whispered. “Am I glad to see you!”

“Is that Vadim?” Feehan said in her ear. “He looks…different.”

She couldn’t help snorting. “He certainly is.”

The guard cleared his throat warningly, and Ella stopped talking.

Spencer looked down at the parchment he held in his hand. “Death Bringer, you are accused of the worst crime a subject can commit in Otherworld, the spilling of Royal blood. Yourownblood. Do you wish to enter a plea?”

“What’s the point?”

Spencer sighed and looked beyond Vadim at the guard beside Ella.

“Please escort Mr. Feehan to the stand.”

Feehan went forward, smoothing his brown spotted tie over his rounded stomach as he passed Vadim. The Fae king stood up and bowed.

“Mr. Feehan, I understand that you are an employee of the SBLE.”

“That’s correct.”

“I also understand that the accused came to work for you this summer.”