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He was a sexy man. Dressed in a doublet-inspired piece that showcased the strength of his wide chest, his every move made him seem indecent. When Rowan first caught sight of him working on the thick braid, now contained in tungsten cuffs at every 3 inches, she’d dropped her purse.

Underneath the tight top made from the same fabric as her piece, his muscles had bunched and stretched. She demanded he take responsibility for getting her wet just by existing in that moment.

It cost them an extra thirty minutes, which they’d had to answer for when Terra cut them an exasperated look and nearly lectured them for what had felt like the hundredth time just that day until she realized all the other alphas had their eyes on them.

His magic was a second layer of protection to her quickly diminishing anonymity. Though it was not as overwhelming aswhen they were in Black Cove or Dragon City, magic shrouded him so thickly even those races who were notorious for having little to no access to magic felt it as he passed by the docks that allowed them access to the front steps of Judgement Hall.

Judgement Hall was the only building on a giant jutting black slab that had been stuck in the middle of international waters for centuries.

It was a quick way to distinguish low level magic users and humans who arrived through boats or jets rather than phasing in.

The actual building of Judgement Hall was a simple structure of several ornate support columns. They held up a stained glass ceiling depicting every race included in Judgement’s jurisdiction

The sight of the building she’d only ever seen in articles and magazines struck her speechless. There had been no justice done to the details of the work.

Her eyes snagged on the depiction of a succubus and a pang of homesickness for a place she’d never known struck her.

Before knowing the family secret, Rowan had imagined one day she would meet her kin, but now that she knew there was no one she could call kin, who she didn’t already know, those emotions had nowhere to land.

She wondered if she would catch sight of one as she scanned the many mystics surrounding them. The crowd was so thick she wasn’t sure she would.

Past the columns, a sinking pit held assigned benches and tables for witnesses of the proceedings. The benches covered all 360 degrees of the middle of the floor where a platform held a stoolfor the use of the accused and a podium for the presenting of evidence for or against the defense.

Usually, the affected parties sat on the lowest section facing their trespasser and while the shifters were the main targets of these attacks, her family sat next to a small dark blue-haired fairy who turned large watery eyes to land on Rowan as soon as she began her descent.

The clicks of her heels sped up as Rowan all but dragged Alessandro down the stairs to reach the woman.

As soon as she reached her, the fairy had expanded her physical body so she could catch Rowan in a tight embrace.

Rain, Dew’s mother, always smelled like her namesake. Rowan allowed the familiar scent to take her over as she hid her face in the ample bosom of the woman.

Her readiness to give forgiveness was too much for Rowan to take, especially when she hadn’t even apologized yet.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She chanted as the woman’s grip tightened.

“Now, now, young Rowan, head up.”

Rowan furiously wiped a tear away as she did as commanded. “I failed you, Rain.”

Understanding shone in those haunting blue eyes. “Dew is in the next phase of her existence, young elf. I see her every morning on the blades of grass, sometimes on the pane of my windows. Next time just look and you’ll feel her too.”

It wasn’t the same for those who were not fae.

She didn’t have access to Dew like her mother continued to. Her loss was much more permanent, in a way more fitting of a punishment.

Still, who was she to deny Rain’s attempts at comfort when it was her daughter?

“Thank you, Rain.”

Rain gave her one last pat on the cheek before returning to her original size and zooming out of the way to reveal a breathtaking black haired woman with jade hued eyes.

She was in a silken green dress that fell across her body so snuggly it left nothing to the imagination. She wore a crown made of light bark on her head.

“Titania.” Alessandro’s displeasure with the woman was clear.

She didn’t spare him a glance as she moved forward, eyes on Rowan’s as she raised her hands to cup her cheeks.

Unsure of how to react, Rowan didn’t fight against the force of the woman as she turned her head this way and that, looking for something specific.