Page 164 of Tempt

If I survive this, and if Rathyn’s loyalties are still undiscovered, I may send him to speak with Zynth. We may yet have another ally so long as he is promised to keep his position and be relieved of these duties.

Jyrion lets out the smallest sigh. “A charge of high treason does not afford you time to prepare a defense. As a once-sitting member of this council, surely you are aware of the rules.”

I feel Luca pushing at my mind, begging me to interpret what’s happening, but I cannot. Not yet.

“I am not prepared to defend myself,” I repeat. I do know the rules, and refusing to defend myself in the moment means that Jyrion can’t go forward with questioning.

At least, not with me.

“Remove the blindfold from the human companion,” he orders.

I strain against my cuffs for a moment, but they are unforgiving. My skin is aching, and I may now be bleeding, and I am helpless to do anything but watch as one of the guards pulls the mask from Luca’s eyes.

He blinks, and I can see pain written on his face as he looks around, nearly frantic. The doors open behind him, and the mood in the room shifts as several other Vyastil arrive. Leading the procession, as he would have been ordered to do, is Rathyn.

“Rathyn of the Dark Vale,” Jyrion says. The tone in his voice tells me that this is a test of loyalty, and I can only hope that Rathyn will hold. “You are called here to witness.”

Rathyn says nothing, but he nods once and then moves to the side, right in Luca’s eyeline. I see the moment when my VySytheh notices him. A line of tension ripples up Luca’s spine.

Rathyn gives him only a mere flicker of a glance before he turns his attention back to the council.

“The charges are as follows,” Jyrion says. “Inappropriate relationship to a human. The gratuitous display of emotion. Refusing breeding duties. Attempting to breed with a non-Vyastil, which could result in another forbidden hybrid. Tampering with historical evidence…”

I nearly make a noise at that one. He must have been setting me up in some manner, but I don’t know how. I hold my breath as he goes on.

“Collusion with the Tarek.”

My blood runs cold as Jyrion smiles. He knows. Maybe not everything, but enough. Was he having me followed, or was this something Luca managed to let slip when he and Jyrion were meeting?

I refuse to blame Luca for it. I had been keeping so much from him for so long. He couldn’t possibly have known what to keep a secret and what was safe to tell.

“Are you prepared to defend yourself against these charges?” Jyrion asks again.

I have three more refusals before the hearing will go forward with or without my consent. I flick my gaze over to Rathyn and then twist my body just enough that he can see my hand behind my back.

‘S A B I K.’

I do not look at him to know whether or not he’s able to read the letters of my hands. Jyrion is all-too familiar with sign language, so if he were to see us communicating in this way, he would know what we were saying.

But I’m not sure Rathyn is aware of this, so I make sure to keep my gaze far away from him.

I don’t know how much time it will take for Sabik to arrange a rescue. If he’s even able to do so. I have no idea what weapons or power or access to the capital they have. Everything they are using now is technology from the Vorthex, and the Vorthex have rarely been welcomed into our cities.

“I am not,” I finally answer.

Jyrion takes a breath. “That is fine. I will go ahead and begin to prepare my character witness.”

Not protocol, but I doubt anyone will challenge Jyrion, and it wouldn’t matter anyway. He has decided the outcome, and he is only doing this because he likes to put on a show.

The doors to my right open and I can’t help but glance over. For a moment I think it’s whoever Jyrion has summoned, but the look on his face says he was not expecting the figure who walks through the door.

It’s Vyrian. His eyes are wide, and he looks both confused and furious. “What have you done?” he demands.

Jyrion’s tail flicks. “Sit and be quiet, or I will have you removed. Though you really should stay, little brother. This will be a good lesson for you.”

I glance at Luca, but his gaze is fixed on the ground, and I know he’s doing it to try to control himself. The fear must be overwhelming. I want nothing more than to pull him into my arms, but I cannot.

Then suddenly he looks at me, and I see the determination and fight in his eyes.