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"Michael was planning his wedding," he continued, voice breaking. "He trusted me. He was getting better, and that monster—" He slammed his fist against the podium, the sound echoing through the chamber like a gunshot. Several guards flinched, hands dropping to weapons.

From his throne, Rhadamanthys watched Vincent keenly.

His fingers stilled on the pearl handle of his revolver, dark eyes narrowing slightly.

The cowboy Judge leaned forward, spurs clinking softly as his boot shifted position.

In his world of calculated power plays and ancient protocols, Vincent's unfiltered rage was something rare—something authentic. The corner of his mouth twitched.

Vincent struggled visibly to regain composure, dragging in a ragged breath. "The Pantheon's most fundamental rule is that innocents aren't targeted without authorization. Prometheus killed an innocent man who trusted me just to draw us out."

"But there's something else," Lo interjected, stepping forward smoothly as Vincent faltered. "Something far more damning." He pulled a sleek black drive from his pocket. "This contains evidence that Director Prometheus eliminated Director Apollo on Zeus' orders."

A shocked murmur rippled through the chamber.

Way to go, Jasper! I thought. The bastard came through after all.

“Zeus is a myth,” Minos said carefully.

“Well, someone ordered Prometheus to kill the Asian director, and the conversations on this drive prove it.

There are also financial transfers to the assets who carried out the hit.

" He turned to me. "But more importantly, we have eyewitness testimony.

Prometheus confessed this to Luka directly during their confrontation, with Ana Aleksandar present as witness. "

"Is this true?" Aeacus directed her cold gaze at me .

"Yes," I confirmed, meeting her eyes steadily. "In his penthouse, Prometheus explicitly stated that he'd been ordered to arrange Apollo's disappearance. He said he'd been 'consolidating power' in preparation for 'when he comes for me next.'"

Rhadamanthys shifted on his throne. "And the sister can confirm this?"

"Ana heard everything," I said. "She can testify to his exact words. Her testimony, plus the information on that drive, should be more than enough evidence."

"And the source of these files?" Hera's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp with suspicion, from her screen.

"A secure source who wishes to remain anonymous," Vincent replied evenly. "Someone who recognized corruption in the organization they once served and chose to gather evidence rather than remain complicit."

"Convenient," Hera remarked coldly. "Unverified evidence from an unnamed source."

"The evidence speaks for itself," Lo interjected smoothly. "And can be verified through your own systems. Every file bears Prometheus's digital signature and verification codes."

"And this isn't just about files," I added, my voice hard as steel. "Ana and I both heard Prometheus confess. He explicitly stated that he eliminated Apollo on orders from above. He was paranoid about being next on the list."

"The assassination of a director by another director," Vincent pressed, seizing the moment, "represents a fundamental breakdown of the Pantheon's organizational structure. If Prometheus could eliminate Apollo without consequence, who might be next?"

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Every director on those screens suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable .

Minos turned to me. "Luka Aleksandar. You have admitted to killing Director Prometheus. Do you have anything else to say in your defense before we render judgment?"

I paused, considering my words carefully. This was the moment everything hinged on. When I finally spoke, my voice was calm and measured.

"With respect, Judge Minos, I did what was necessary. Prometheus took everything from me—my childhood, my sister, my humanity. He manipulated everyone around him, including the Pantheon itself. I won't apologize for ending his reign of abuse."

A murmur rippled through the chamber.

"The Pantheon's traditions exist for a reason, even those we have long neglected,” Director Hades said.

Poseidon snorted. "Dr. Matthews has presented compelling evidence of Prometheus's violations, but precedent demands consequences for killing a director, regardless of justification."

Hera's eyes narrowed. "Aleksandar has been consistently disobedient and unpredictable. The punishment should reflect the severity of his actions."

"The Tribunal will now deliberate in private," Minos announced. "All parties will withdraw until summoned."

This too was part of the ritual, I knew. The Tribunal would retreat to their private chamber, weigh the evidence, and return with a unanimous verdict. There was no appeal, no higher authority to plead to. Their word was absolute.

As Cerberus operatives moved to escort us from the chamber, Vincent broke away from his guard, closing the distance between us in three quick strides.

The guards tensed, hands dropping to their weapons, but Vincent ignored them.

He grasped my chained hands between his, squeezing so tightly I could feel his pulse racing through his fingertips.

"I didn't get to say half of what I planned," he whispered frantically. "There was more evidence about Milan, about the violations—"

"Enough," I murmured, leaning my forehead against his for a fleeting second. "You were fucking magnificent."

His eyes widened at the unexpected praise, then softened. The guard's hand closed around his shoulder, pulling him back. Vincent resisted fiercely, his body going rigid as he fought against the guard's grip.

Something shattered inside my chest at the sight. Twenty-six years of people letting me go, turning away, stepping back when Prometheus demanded it. Twenty-six years of no one fighting to stay. Until now. Until Vincent.

The simple act of resistance—of someone physically struggling to remain at my side—hit me harder than any bullet ever had. My throat closed, vision blurring as Vincent twisted against the guard's hold just long enough to whisper, "I won't let them take you from me. Not after everything."

As they pulled us apart, I caught a glimpse of Ana being led through a separate door. Our eyes met across the chamber. She mouthed what looked like "I'm sorry" before the guards ushered her away.

The guard behind me shoved me forward, impatient. As they dragged us in opposite directions, Vincent's eyes never left mine. In that moment, something profound passed between us, deeper than words or touch. A promise. A vow.

For the first time since I'd been brought to Tartarus, hope flickered in my chest. Not because I believed in the Tribunal's mercy, but because I believed in Vincent.

In the last few weeks, I'd watched him transform from a cautious therapist to someone willing to fight with teeth and claws for what mattered. For me.

His eyes held a message only I could read: If they try to separate us, I'll burn the entire fucking Pantheon to the ground.

My answering smile must have unnerved my guards, because their grips tightened. But it wasn't meant for them. It was for Vincent, for the promise between us, for the knowledge that finally someone was fighting for me instead of against me.

And that was worth everything, no matter what the Tribunal decided.