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Vadim’s chest heaved as if he’d sucked in a much-needed breath. “When they are mysiblings!They wanted my power, Father. They were prepared to kill me for it. Should I have let them? Should I have let my love for them make me weak?”

“Why not? Perhaps they would’ve used your power more wisely.”

“I have a unique set of gifts. You taught me how to use them. Doesn’t the blame lie with you too?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The king picked up a handful of the pages. “All these witnesses saw you raise your hand and murder your brother. He died instantly. Your sister wasn’t so lucky and died raving and out of her mind, grieving for her lost twin.”

A muscle twitched in Vadim’s face, and for the first time Ella got a sense of the immense control he was exerting on himself. With the barriers thinned, could he sense her too?

“As I said, I didn’t intend to kill him. He gave me no choice.”

“So you admit it, then?”

“He died at my hand but only after extreme provocation. His magic was corrupt, Father. He and Nia were?—”

The Fae king turned his back on his son and walked over to the high table. “I’ve heard these excuses before. You deliberately took my favorite son away from me out of spite and malice.”

Vadim briefly closed his eyes. “I did what your training taught me. I found a source of evil and destroyed it. That was my function. That was what you ordered me to do. Why should the fact that it was your son make a difference? Are you not able to see his flaws? Should those of Royal blood be above the law?”

Ella saw the answer in the Fae king’s face and held her breath as he slowly turned back to face Vadim.

“You are the only person who considers himself above the law, Death Bringer.”

“Which is why I left Otherworld. Can’t you see that?”

“Leaving death and disaster behind you? You can’t escape your destiny.”

“Why now, Father?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why force a trial now? The deaths happened many years ago, when I was only just coming into awareness of my full powers.”

“Because your foul scheme to come back to Otherworld has to be stopped. You are mated now. You might believe your powers are enhanced by your association with the Soul Sucker.”

Holy cow.She hoped no one took him up on that. Ella met Vadim’s gaze and raised her eyebrows, but he didn’t respond.

“All you’ve done, Father, is exploit my desire to protect my mate. You’ve used her against me to force my return.”

“See how he shifts the blame so easily.” The Fae king shook his head. “Why would I want this monster back? It’s quite extraordinary.”

“If I am supposedly in league with Adam, why hasn’t he given Ella her face back? He had the opportunity when we were both at his castle. Why were we both imprisoned rather than treated as honored and welcomed allies?”

“I have no knowledge of this.”

“But you were there, Father.” Vadim insisted. “Ella has your mark on her.”

Spencer beckoned at the guard. “Bring Ms. Walsh here, will you?”

“He doesn’t need to bring me anywhere. I’m quite capable of walking by myself, you know.” Ella stalked over to the high table and shrugged out of her jacket. She unbuttoned her shirt sufficiently for the Fae to see the glowing wound on her shoulder.

“You did mark her.” The Fae queen glared at her husband. “Remove itimmediately.”

“But he’s using it to keep Morosov in line.” Ella ignored the Fae king’s frown. “It’s the only reason my mate allowed himself to be captured.”

“Remove it, Fergal.”

“With respect, dear wife, I’ll remove it when she leaves Otherworld. It isn’t safe to let her wander around by herself.” He glared at Spencer. “Isn’t it time for you to make a decision about this matter? It’s fairly straightforward. Death Bringer admits he killed his brother, and by extension his twin sister. Now you must pass sentence.”