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"What is it?" Sebastian asks, his lips glancing against my ear.

“It’s him,” I say. “It’s Jerry. My ex.”

Chapter 16: The Pain

Submit to you—

is that what you advise?

The way the ripples do

whenever ill winds arise?

~ Ono no Komachi,loose translation by Michael R. Burch

“How?”asks Derek, eyes wide.

I shake my head, a rising panic flooding my senses. “I don’t know. But that’s Jerry.”

I would know him anywhere. The dark eyes and black hair that's perfectly coifed. The long, brown coat he always wears. The cruel glint in his eyes.

Sebastian curses under his breath. “I heard he had a practice in the mundane world, but I never imagined the two of you had met. It can’t be coincidence.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. “He sought me out as a client?”

“Or perhaps Matilda’s ad sought you out because of him. I’m not sure.” His eyes look dark. His brow furrowed in worry.

Before we can say more, Jerome—Jerry—Van Helsing passes us by, smiling and winking at me. All four brothers stand and call for an objection at the same time.

"Your honor," Derek says, as the other brothers sit, "this is highly unusual. This man has never met with my client professionally and has a history of violence against women. He's unsuitable to be their expert witness."

At the words "violence against women," I shrink into myself, my mind clouding with the unreality of it all. What's he doing here? How is this happening?

Sebastian reaches for my hand under the table and squeezes it. The touch, the strength in it, soothes some of the frantic fear out of me, but I'm still left perplexed by the situation I now find myself in.

Moira Van Helsing stands, glancing at me before she speaks to the judge. "Your honor, my brother is an expert in the field of psychology, has given professional testimony in this court before, and is more than capable of studying Count Dracule's file and giving his expert opinion on the accused."

"Objection overruled," the dragon bellows. "You may continue."

Derek frowns and sits, his hands clenched into fists at his side.

Moira smiles and nods to the judge. "Thank you, Your Greatness."

She faces Jerry with a flourish. "Dr. Van Helsing, please recount your qualifications for the record."

My head fills with the sound of whooshing water and I feel like I'm going to vomit as Jerry stares at me while elaborating on his skill and training, including being pack therapist for the Van Helsing werewolf clan.

My ex is a werewolf?

He then goes on to testify about Dracula, that he's hot headed, dangerous, abusive, feels himself above the law. All the expected attacks that we prepared for.

But we didn't prepare for what happens next.

First, the courtroom door opens and Elal, the coroner, comes in and hands a slip of paper to Derek and to Moira. He looks apologetically at us, then slinks away.

Moira's eyes widen when she reads it, and her smile is damning.

Derek looks it over and swears.