Page 182 of Heir of Broken Souls

“Due to the knowledge of the power you possess, the trial will continue with your vision covered. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.” She turns to him. “Peter, does dark magic run through your veins?”

A grunt and a spit. “Yes, you insipid bitch.”

Queen Elena doesn’t so much as flinch as she moves on. “Phoebe, does dark magic run through your veins?”

“Yes,” she grits.

“Peter and Phoebe Maloone, did you or did you not commit the ultimately treasonous act of sacrificing one of your own in a death ritual in exchange of dark magic?”

At this, Queen Elena’s voice grows cold and detached, as if she’s bracing herself for the answer she doesn’t want to hear. The answer they all dread.

“Yes,” Peter whispers. “And it feltglorious.”

Her grimace makes a certain thrill shoot through him. “Phoebe, was your participation brought on by your brother’s manipulation or of your own free will?”

“Free will.”

Queen Elena’s voice rises, a rare showing of her temper. “And did you or did you not go on to sacrifice a family of four, one of which was a three-year-old little girl?”

The royals tense in the courtroom, disgust marring their features. King Damon links his fingers with Queen Elena’s, his touch seemingly steadying her.

“Yes,” Peter and Phoebe say in unison, not fighting this time.

“You wish to do so again.”

Peter can’t help but grin. She didn’t even ask a question this time. “Of course. There isn’t a feeling on this planet quite like it.”

King Damon stands from his throne, his body vibrating with tension.

“It is a law within the lands of Aloriah to only use pure magic of the elements given from Mother Gaia. You two have not only committed the ultimate crime of using dark magic, possessing it and wielding such a horrid power, but of actively seeking out innocents andkillingthem in cold-blooded murder for power.” He sneers down at the twins. “We hereby sentence you to exile.”

The royals rise, uniting as one behind King Damon.

“A prison is not going to contain the abomination that you have become, so the courts have come together to set forth an agreement that will not only be sanctioned today but will be upheld for the rest of your days.”

Peter’s eyes gleam with pure undiluted hatred.

“We, the royals of Aloriah, hereby sentence Peter and Phoebe Maloone to the prison world of Adora, where they will remain until the end of time, without any opportunity of parole.”

Shock thunders through the prisoners so forcibly they visibly recoil, their hands reaching out to one another. The moment they touch, darkness swirls between them.

King Damon launches a ball of fire directly toward their hands, not caring for their pained gasps as they break apart.

“You two have not only spat on your titles but you have actively gone against everything we as a Fae race stand for.” He narrows his eyes. “Your parents have agreed to the terms and have wished you be removed immediately. Everything you need to live out your days is well within the prison world, and all communication will be cut off the moment you step through the portal.”

“This is preposterous!” Peter bellows.

“You cannot kill innocents and walk away unscathed!” King Damon bellows. “You are an atrocity to the word Fae.”

King Joseph sneers, the fire king’s hands writhed in flames. “I hope you burn for what you have done.”

As one, the royals extend their hands, swirling their magic together until it forms a mirror, one adorned with beautiful golden trim artwork.

The guards behind the prisoners quickly flank the twins, cutting off the iron shackles from the floor and their feet but not their hands.