20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

J ax turned at Lincoln's voice and met the arrogant Alpha's gaze without flinching. He'd almost killed that bastard, but he wasn't on trial for that. Lincoln probably felt insulted by that decision if that coldness in his eyes was anything to go by.

"Lincoln. Hugo. New Finn."

A muscle ticked in the new member's jaw after being referred to by his deceased predecessor's name. He looked as young as Finn had been, but at least this new guy had the good sense to keep his eyes lowered and not react.

"You're about to pay for your crimes but you still feel the need to show your disrespect," Lincoln said, shaking his head as they walked further into the lobby.

"I'm sure you know my treatment of you didn't even make it on the list of things I have to pay for," he growled.

Lincoln's eyes flashed, but he held his gaze until Lincoln lowered his. At this point, if Lincoln started any shit, he would be in as much trouble as he was.

He turned to Hugo, the one who'd always been the more level-headed of the two, even after he'd slaughtered Finn. Before Layla had tried to kill him, he'd been the one he'd been relying on to tip things a little in his favour.

But he could see by how Hugo looked at his mate that that was all shot to shit now. He pulled Layla behind him and broke their eye contact. For one thing, Layla couldn't do that in the Circle's territory. For another, one wrong move and Hugo would be justified if he asked for a steeper sentence.

The Circle was known for being somewhat dickish with their sentences to start with.

"Since when have you started separating mates before a trial?"

He'd read of or attended one or two trials in his day. The accused were always allowed to mingle even if they were constantly watched. The Circle was just trying to fuck with him.

Lincoln's mouth curved into a smile even though he didn't meet his gaze.

"Since now. I'm sure you can appreciate our position. You killed one of us," Lincoln answered.

"I did you a favour. That little shit was a hothead, your weakest link."

Hugo's eyes flashed, and he looked in the Circle member's direction. He was being disrespectful to the dead, something Diedre had always told him not to do. But Finn would have got himself killed one way or the other. The new Finn was learning the job the right way. He kept his head down and did not try to challenge him when it was clear he was no match for Cain.

"You had no right to—"

"I have every right when you try to mess with my mate," he growled. "Bear that in mind with whatever shit you're trying to pull here."

"Your mate?" Lincoln snorted. "She's a useless human and not fit to stand in this room."

He was sure none of them had forgotten how Layla had grabbed Hugo by his throat with one hand and ordered them all to leave and never return. What game were they playing here? Either they hadn't reported that fact, or they would do something to Layla once they were separated. He'd seen the look in Lincoln's eyes as he had backed off and got back into his car. Having two people who could command him like that wouldn't sit well with him.

Or the last option, the one he was banking on, the Circle knew what Layla was and was chomping at the bit to get her under their thumb.

That wasn't going to happen.

Running away from the trial wasn't an option, and those fuckers knew that. But he wasn't going to let them separate him and Layla.

He grabbed Layla's bag from her hand and slung it over his shoulder.

"She wouldn't be here if she was just human," he said easily. "But if you insist on playing these games when I've already declared my territory's independence from you, Layla and I will find different accommodations for the night. Call me when you know what time we should be here."

He took Layla's hand and looked at the young boy with his luggage, waiting to escort him to his room. A wizard, if he wasn't mistaken. And the man behind the desk was an incubus. The Circle utilised every avenue they had to make themselves stronger.

"You can't do that," Lincoln said.

"Are you breaking your rules and detaining me before I've had a free trial? I didn't see anywhere on the agenda where we meet with our counsel, either."

"That must have been an oversight," Hugo answered through his teeth.

Or this wasn't going to be much of a trial at all.

Cain had been on alert from the moment they had passed through the wards at the entrance but he kept a tight hold on him. Outwitting the Circle required brains, not brawn. As much as the Circle loved to enforce their rules, they never wanted to be outed when they broke them.

"Perhaps you'll quickly remedy that for me at the desk? The helpful young man who checked us in doesn't seem to have the correct details."

Hugo lifted his gaze briefly, and that hatred he'd seen before was still in his eyes. It was going to be a long fucking trial.

Hugo looked back at the new Finn and nodded before their eager Third rushed past them to head to the front desk.

"It doesn't matter how you try to fight this. You lost the moment you killed Alpha Finn," Hugo said.

"We'll see."

He turned away from them to walk back to his desk, where the incubus was furiously putting together more paperwork.

"Forgive my error, Your Majesty," the man said, still with that same fucking smile.

He looked back at Layla. There was a frown on her face, and unease or suspicion rippled through their bond. He didn't have to worry that his mate would find herself in a demon's bed before the end of the night. Their bond worked right on that part, at least.

"If you require anything else, please call the front desk anytime," he continued.

And then the demon smiled at Layla. Layla moved back slightly as if she was disgusted. He didn't know if she'd done it subconsciously, but the slight frown on the man's face at the apparent rejection made him smile.

"I'm sure we won't need you. But thank you."

What had these freaks had in store for his mate?

He took the extra paperwork and looked back at the Circle members who were still in the same spot before he took Layla's hand and led her towards the hallway.

The guard was almost as big as he was, but he couldn't read what he was. He didn't move out of the way until Lincoln sighed and told him to let them through.

‘Shouldn't we have gone somewhere else if we had that option?' Layla asked quickly.

‘The Circle is everywhere, Layla. It doesn't matter where we sleep; they can snatch us from our beds if they want to. We can't fight them. We just have to make them believe they need us alive.'

Layla's eyes widened, her fingers squeezing his. He didn't want to scare her before the trial, but she had to understand why he said they were worse than Hunters. The Circle had access to the darkest magic, the vilest creatures and the most dangerous spells. It was a bad combination.

But the fact that they wanted his bloodline was the only reason they were alive. By the end of the trial, the Circle leash would probably be firmly back around his neck as punishment for all his sins, and Layla would be the icing on their depraved, rotten cake. They would make whatever deal kept them alive.

He followed the boy down a long, curved hallway. The glass walls allowed them unhindered views of the hotel's expansive grounds. It was out of the way of the noisy city with manicured lawns and woods around it, as well as a host of amenities for the guests to enjoy. Only super-wealthy humans frequented this little slice of heaven, and it probably had a mile-long waiting list. It said a lot about the Circle that they'd been able to commandeer it for the trial.

The bellboy unlocked a door near the end of the hallway and stepped aside for them to enter. He could sense the almost indiscernible waves from the cameras as they walked into the spacious, open-plan suite.

"You're free to walk or run in the gardens, but please be aware of the boundaries. All the information is in the pamphlet on the coffee table," the boy said as he put his bag on the glossy floor.

With that, he nodded and turned to walk away.

‘There are cameras in here. Don't say anything.' he warned Layla as the boy closed the door behind him.

‘I don't understand what's going on. Are we being tried separately?' Layla asked.

‘It seems so. But they have to allow us a chance to defend ourselves. They need us, Layla, for whatever reason. If they separate us, remember that.'

He released her hand and walked over to the glass wall that ran the whole length of the room. He doubted it was one-way glass. The Circle wasn't even trying to hide that they were watching everything.

‘I think you need to tell me everything, Jax. I can't be in the dark about this.'

‘You're right. I should have prepared you better.'

And he would have if he hadn't spent the night trying to calm his wolf.

He looked back out of the window and focused his senses. His improved eyesight allowed him to see the slight movement in the woods across the vast lawn. His ear picked up the light footsteps. Probably the Circle's sanctioned assassins. If things didn't work out the way he hoped, there would be a lot of bloodshed before the trial was over, and it would be almost impossible to escape.

"It's been a long drive," he said out loud. "Let's shower and order some food before we sleep."

Sleep was the last thing he would do when he was almost sure they had plans for them. It looked like it would be one hell of a night.