Claudia was brought to the stand. To say that she looked unrepentant was an understatement. She looked outright livid, with her eyes glaring golden fire at me.

Eli, who was to head the proceedings, nervously shuffled on his feet as he took his place beside Claudia. He kept stealing glances at her, as if he were afraid that she might suddenly just pounce on him. With Claudia looking like an angry lioness and Eli a nervous, shivering mouse, it seemed highly possible that Claudia would end up devouring the thin, lanky vampire.

“Let’s get this done with, shall we?” I initiated. My eyes fell on the empty seat where Vivienne was supposed to be. Where the hell, is she? I made a mental note to seek her out right after the trial.

Eli began to make the introductory remarks, announcing the purpose for the trial and what Claudia was being charged against. For the most part, it was clear that none of us were sure of what to do. It’d been centuries since a person was last tried at The Shade. This was the first time a member of the Elite had been on trial.

Eli’s jaw was twitching when he finished his introductions and turned toward the defendant. “How do you plead?”

“Not guilty.” Claudia kept her eyes straight on me.

My brow rose. “You deny keeping my brother within your home?”

“No.”

“Were you aware that I, your prince and superior, gave a command that he be surrendered to my custody by any citizen of The Shade whom he came into contact with?”

“Yes, I was aware.”

“Then how are you not guilty? Is it not clear that you defied me?”

“Let’s stop playing this charade, your royal highness,” she hissed. “All of us know that you left The Shade with no laws before you went on your drowsy four-hundred-year retreat. You cannot charge me with a crime when there are no laws to break.”

I leaned an elbow over the armrest of the leather recliner I was rested on. One corner of my lips rose in an amused half-smile. “You see that’s where you’re wrong, Claudia. In this island, there is but one law and you broke it. The word of those who rule over you and in my father’s absence… that word is mine.” I scoped every member of the Elite present in that room. “Mark my words. In The Shade, for as long as I rule, my word is law. Those who defy it will suffer the consequences. Does anyone dare object?”

The silence was electrifying. I was fully expecting Claudia to stand up for herself, but to my surprise, she cowered back. I smirked. Even lionesses fear the king of the pride.

“Is there anyone here who would like to speak on the defendant’s behalf?” I called out.

Claudia didn’t have an abundance of allies at The Shade, so I wasn’t expecting anyone to stand up for her. I was surprised when Yuri stood on her behalf. Of all the people I could’ve expected to say something to save Claudia’s neck, it certainly wasn’t him.

Yuri took the stand, glaring at Claudia before addressing me. “It’s no secret to this kingdom how much this wench and I detest each other. I find it sickening just to stand here alongside her. However, it’s also no secret to this kingdom that if there’s one citizen on this island who was ever able to stand being around her, it was your highness’ older brother, Lucas.” He paused for a breath and gave Claudia a pointed look.

It was a strange thing to see how Claudia’s eyes moistened with tears. I found myself all the more intrigued by the story behind Claudia and Yuri’s strange relationship.

“We cannot excuse her blatant defiance of your majesty, the prince, but I stand here appealing to mercy rather than to justice. We became the Elite, because we bled together in battle. We stood as brothers and sisters, as a family during the worst of times. Lucas was such to Claudia – a friend perhaps, a lover maybe, family at best. Must we really punish her for trying to protect the one person at The Shade she can consider her ally?”

My response to Yuri’s plea would cause wild commotion and I knew it. “I find your words moving,” I addressed him, “however, defiance is defiance and I will not stand for it. Unless someone can give me a more substantial reason to give her reprieve, she will serve as a warning to everyone in the kingdom.” I stood to my full height to give my words further emphasis. “I will no longer be defied by anyone.”

I saw fear in Claudia’s eyes. It was a rare thing to see her tremble and I relished every second of it.

“I sentence her to thirty lashes and six months in the Cells effective immediately.”

The result was chaos, but I was able to accomplish what I set out to do. The message was sent loud and clear. The Shade was no longer a lawless kingdom. I was the law.

CHAPTER 24: SOFIA

I was running through The Shade’s dark, misty woods. I was cut up and bruised. I could taste blood on my lips. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. A dark presence was after me. Hope surged within me when I saw the clearing that would lead to my escape. I was going to make it. I sped up, desperate to find safety. Any hope I had was replaced by terror when I fell over the edge of a large, dark pit and right into the bowels of it. My gag reflex was immediately triggered by the stench, the sight, the silence and the sense of being surrounded by death. I was surrounded by countless corpses, some of which were familiar, dearly beloved faces. Ashley. Paige. Rosa. Sam. Kyle. Ben. Me.

My entire body was tense. I couldn’t move a single muscle, but I was keenly aware of the uncontrollable tremble of my body.

“Sofia?”