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“Silence!” the overseer bellowed, his voice loud even without the amplification device. “What do you speak of, Heydar of the Nimenni?”

“You heard the tale of the human, Maria. How she arrived on this world. How she was saved from death by the chancellor when he had his Skrizzit apply the runes.”

“Yes, we have heard the testimony.”

“But what was not told was that he ordered his Skrizzit to leave the Infala incomplete. To leave her runes unconnected.”

The crowd erupted in chatter. This was shocking. Appalling. The Infala was the most sacred of the runes, and to so much as tamper with one was unthinkable. And yet, if what he was saying was true, no one knew what the ramifications might be.

The overseer turned to Maria, still in her mate’s arms. “Come here. Show me your Infala,” he commanded.

Maria did as he asked, climbing up onto the dais and lifting her top for him to see. The man studied the rune, his face unreadable. Finally, he stepped back.

“The rune is complete,” he declared.

Chancellor Vinchi felt a wave of relief wash over him. He didn’t know how it had happened, but somehow he’d just been spared a particularly horrible fate.

“You see? Lies. All lies. And from one of this man’s standing, no less. It’s appalling. Shocking. And I will reiterate, this woman is my property to do with as I please!” he declared. “And I wish for the execution to proceed.”

“No,” Heydar said flatly. “You lie. You lie and you shame your house. Your family name. It was I who completed the rune personally, connecting what the chancellor had left unfinished. I give my word as heir to the Nimenni throne.”

“It’s your word against mine.”

Heydar grinned. “ And I have documented visual proof from before and after I did my work,” he added, tapping a device on his wrist, sending a series of floating holographic images through the air to hover in front of the overseer.

The Dotharian looked at them, then turned his angry gaze to the chancellor. He was in trouble, no doubt. How much remained to be seen. But the chancellor was a stubborn man. Arrogant and proud, and he would find a way to win even in defeat.

“It doesn’t matter how it was completed. She is still the property of my family, no matter what happens to me. It is the law.”

“Wrong again,” Heydar countered. “Zepharos, would you and your Infala Mate please show your matching runes to the overseer?”

The crowd gasped, watching in awe as the couple lifted their tops, revealing their matching Infalas, the designs identical and glowing strongly the closer they stood to one another, looking lovingly into each other’s eyes.

Maria felt tears dampen her cheeks. “You came for me.”

“Of course I did.” He kissed her forehead, heart swelling with love. “I would die without you, my love. I live with you or not at all.”

He hadn’t realized their affections were being broadcast on the enormous projection monitors for all to see, but the rousing reaction made them both aware in a hurry.

“She’s bonded!” someone yelled from the crowd. “Her Infala found its match!”

“The woman is free! It’s the law!” Another yelled, the crowd’s cheers of excitement and surging energy clearly on the couple’s side.

Flagro moved to say something, but Chancellor Vinchi waved him to silence. This was his property, and he would be the one to handle things .

“Impossible. She was only recently marked. To develop a mature Infala in such a short time? It is unheard of.”

“And yet the same happened for me and my mate,” Heydar declared.

“Me too,” Valin added. “It seems these humans react differently than most to the pigments.”

“Indeed,” Heydar agreed. “And per Dotharian law, the indentured must be released, just the same as any other newly Infala bonded person, regardless of social status or even criminal charges. This is the second chance all Infala mates are granted by law, is that not correct, Overseer?”

Vinchi was having none of that. “Preposterous! It cannot be.”

The Dotharian overseer raised his hand. “Enough!” He nodded to the silent man in the deep blue cloak who had been quietly observing the entire time.

“A royal of the Nimenni has made a serious accusation. He has also raised the issue of Infala bonding of the accused. My adjudicator will now validate both claims.”

Chancellor Vinchi felt a flare of panic. “But?—”

“You will be silent!” the overseer commanded, not yelling, but the power behind his directive absurdly clear. The chancellor, wisely, fell silent.

The adjudicator rose, shedding his cloak, making it clear why he wore it even in full sun.

His body was the same purple as the overseer, but he was covered in scores of intricate runes, far more than any normal person would ever possess, each of them absolutely radiant with powerful pigment.

He walked over to the couple, assessing them with a steady gaze for a long moment.

He held up his hands, the runes on them glowing brighter, the energy traveling up his arms to his torso.

A moment later he lowered them, the glow diminishing.

A slight smile rose to his otherwise expressionless face .

“First, I would congratulate you on your union. It has only just occurred, I see.”

The crowd cheered at the pronouncement, but the man was not done yet.

“Yours in an unusual bond. For one, it is particularly powerful, the intensity of which I rarely encounter. But it is also one formed not just by the power of the Infala, but by the willing love of two people. The purest, most sacred of unions known. And I sense it is so new that it is yet to be properly consummated,” he added with an actual grin cracking his stoic facade.

“I-uh…” Maria stammered.

“Do not worry. You will remedy that soon enough. It is the way. Now, as for the other issue.”

He placed his hand on her chest, feeling the energy flowing through her Infala, the pigments reacting to his, telling their own tale that only he could hear.

He cocked his head slightly, reading her Infala, then stepped back.

Frowning, he turned to the overseer, an enraged look in his eyes where joy had just resided. He gave his superior a single nod.

The overseer knew what that meant.

He slowly shifted his gaze to fall entirely upon the chancellor.

He once more raised his hand, the crowd falling silent without needing any further instruction.

All eyes and ears were on the overseer, yet he waited, allowing the gravity of the situation to sink in just a moment later.

This was historic, even for him. Laws were upheld all across the galaxy on a daily basis, but this? It would be talked of for ages.

“Chancellor Vinchi,” he began, speaking slowly and clearly, knowing his every word was being recorded for posterity. “You have been accused and found guilty of the most heinous of crimes. An act that chills me to the core.”

“I can explain. ”

“No, you cannot. You are guilty of tampering with a citizen’s Infala.

Not just tampering, but intentionally directing it to be applied incomplete, thus rendering it effectively useless.

This crime, the sheer magnitude of the violation you have perpetrated against this woman is beyond the pale, even for you. ”

“But she didn’t have any runes. I provided them!”

“And in so doing saved her life, yes, I know. But you cheated, Vinchi. You broke the most sacred of our laws. And as one of your status, a figurehead and shining light for those who reside under your oversight, this is an utterly inexcusable violation not only of law, but of the power entrusted to you as chancellor. It is for that reason you are to be made an example of so that none will ever dream to commit such an act again.”

“Wait, you can’t?—”

“I can . Chancellor Vinchi, you are hereby stripped of your lands. Of your title. Of your wealth and position. All are forfeit and transferred to the aggrieved at once. Your family are evicted from your former properties. They will be provided modest lodgings until they determine what employment to pursue.”

Flagro, Galla, and the rest of their family sat utterly stunned, speechless, for once, at the sheer magnitude, the incredible severity of the punishment.

One thing was true, the overseer was making very sure that when word of this got out, no one would even dream of doing what the chancellor had done.

It was excessive, yes, but no finer deterrent would be found.

Vinchi’s proud shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him by the second. But the overseer wasn’t done.

“As for your punishment, while your position and long history serving the conglomerate may lessen the severity, you are nevertheless to face the full Dotharian tribunal held on the central world of Valoris during the next lunar cycle. Until then you are remanded to custody, effective immediately. Take the former chancellor away.”

Stunned, evicted, and suddenly quite poor, his family watched as he was hauled off by the overseer’s personal guards.

The Dotharian looked at Heydar and nodded. “Well played, Nimenni. You took a big risk to right this terrible wrong. Your actions are noted, and you bring honor to your people.”

“Thank you, Overseer,” he replied, bowing his head.

“As for you,” the man said, turning to the lovers. “My staff will handle the transfer arrangements. Good luck to you both, and congratulations on your Infala bond.”

That was it. No lengthy speech, just a quick comment and he was gone, striding out of the arena while the spectators continued to go wild at what they’d just witnessed.

“What does this all mean?” Maria asked as she caught sight of Ziana, Darla, and Shalia, all running across the arena floor to congratulate her.

Zepharos pulled her close, kissing her hard, his hands cupping her ass as he held her tight. “It means our lives are about to become a lot more interesting,” he replies with a smile so full of joy and love that it threatened to make her heart burst right out of her chest.

“Together,” she whispered, burying her face in his chest.

He pressed his face into her hair, inhaling her scent deeply. “Forever.”