“I am so sorry I failed you, my son. Please, forgive me.” Gabriel leaned forward and kissed Rhys on the forehead. When he stood and faced the other leaders there were pink tears streaming down his cheeks.
“No! It’s not fair!” Ashby cried. Rebecca broke away from Aleks and wrapped her arms around Ashby. Sebastian, Kate and Nic walked forward to help ease the small man’s pain.
“It’s not fair.” He sobbed brokenly.
“It’s not fair,” Kate repeated.
“Not fair,” Rebecca said eerily.
“Not fair,” Nic and Sebastian echoed. All five of them looked on, their eyes slightly unfocused.
Connor looked at the semicircle the Inner Court had formed facing Rhys. His eyes moved to Gabriel and Aleks, and they, too, looked surprised.
“It is law! Baron, what are you waiting for?” Salsiby demanded shrilly.
Baron was staring at Rebecca.
“Law.”
“Is.”
“Not.”
“A.”
“Weapon.” Each member of the Inner Court spoke a different word.
“Our.”
“Laws.”
“Are.”
“A.”
“Shield.” Once again, starting with Rebecca, then Ashby, followed by Nic, Kate and Sebastian, the Inner Court spoke a different word of the sentence.
“Whatever you’re doing, stop it!” Salsiby demanded.
“This.”
“Was.”
“Not.”
“His.”
“Fate.” Their voices no longer sounded like their own.
“This.”
“Man.”
“Has.”
“Done.”
“No wrong.” The voice that spoke through the Inner Circle was kind and gentle.
