Chapter 24

Paige

I t’s the day of the trial and I’m completely exhausted.

To keep my mind off of it, I busied myself. Awakening to an empty space where Varek should be, I drifted to the kitchens, seeking distraction in the rhythmic process of preparing food. As I worked, I discover that ruvash, a staple here, bears a striking resemblance to rice, both in texture and the way it’s cooked.

I threw myself in anything I could.

I spent most of my time with my friends, showing them around certain places in the glowhollows and telling them about my time here before we went back for them. Ryan was elusive, but Nicole and Lara loved sitting with me and chatting.

Maybe they could tell that I needed it, I’m not sure.

But it’s good to have friends here.

I even spoke with Draxel, who wrangled me as I was on my way to soak in the spring.

He asked me some rather pointed questions about how I can understand the Vrut language and why the other humans can’t. A question I still have no answers for.

He stalked off angrier than I’ve ever seen him after that conversation.

I visited Varek as many times as I could, but he refused to let me sleep down there. He would kick me out and tell me to get some rest, kissing me until my mind went blank and I foolishly listened to him.

But at night, when there was nothing else to distract from the intense anxiety that churned my stomach, I broke down.

I let myself feel all the pain and anger of being separated from Varek—or not knowing what the future might bring. It hurt just as bad as my chest before Varek and I completed the mate bond.

I sit up in the furs and brush my fingers through my hair. My arms feel tingly and I can’t stop bouncing my legs. At this point, I just want to get the trial over with—the waiting is almost too much to bear.

My eyes are heavy from exhaustion and dry from all the tears I’ve already shed when I finally leave our chamber.

In the main pathways, I see a few other males—some from the group of hunters that went out with Draxel the other day, some harvesters—heading to the Luminary. I’m beginning to recognize faces, even of the Vruts I haven’t met. I follow along behind them, my head hung, but I keep my distance.

How many of them know this is all my fault? If they are heading to the Luminary, they must know what for. They know about the trial and what awaits Varek.

But do they realize that Varek wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for me?

My mouth dries out as I round the corner into the Luminary, the council already standing in a line at the opposite end of the chamber. The beauty of the cavern—the ancient and sacred feel of it—isn’t the same. The carvings along the wall evidence the history of the Vruts. Their laws. Their loyalty to one another. The reason why we are here today.

I move to the side of the chamber and find a spot in front so I can see. I wrap my arms around myself, shifting my weight from one foot to the other as members of the clan file in. I avert my gaze from most, but was expecting at least Draxel to stand with me. My gaze darts around the room, making occasional eye contact with Kylor who stands with a blank expression on his face. I can’t read him and I feel like throwing up.

As the room gets louder, so does my beating heart in my ears. I roll my shoulders against the building tension, but it’s no use. I’m a wreck. I want to see Varek. I want this to all be over.

I want to go back and change everything.

Amongst the chaos, Nicole and Lara step inside, scanning the room for me. Suddenly, I can breathe a little better. Things feel a little lighter and I wave. Nicole beams with a smile. The two cross the chamber and join me.

Nicole drags me in for a hug. “Everything is going to work out.”

I want to believe her, but we’re both out of our depths here.

And she won’t even be able to understand what the council decrees.

“Thanks for coming,” I say to both of the women standing next to me. We should have all been together from the start. I see that now.

Lara swipes her hand like it’s no big deal.

A hush falls over the room as guards lead Varek in. A chain dangles between his wrists, shackling him like an animal.

My breath falters.

Nicole wraps her arm around my shoulder. His cheeks are sunken. His eyes a little more hollow than I see them in my mind.

He’s led across the chamber to stand next to the council, towering over Kylor. Elyra nods to Varek in respect, but she is the only member of the council to do so. Mydros has a smug look on his face as he takes in the appearance of my mate.

I take an unconscious step forward–as if the bond is dragging me in–but Nicole holds me back.

“Don’t be rash,” she whispers in my ear.

I want to run across the chamber and throw myself at Varek, tear the chains off of his wrists with my bare hands, and run away. He doesn’t deserve this trial, let alone being paraded around as some criminal. I hate the way the others stare at him. Mistrust, disappointment, and an air of disdain poison the air.

I almost choke on it.

Kylor raises a single hand and all conversations stop. The focus zeros in on the oldest member of the council as he points to my mate.

“Varek Shal’Vorr has betrayed our clan,” he says with authority, his voice firm and booming. “He explored the marshes to find an unknown ship had crashed close to the lands where the strids roam. Inside, he found his mate. Paige.”

Kylor sweeps his hand and points to me. All eyes in the room have me pinned, the weight immeasurable and suffocating.

But I only see Varek.

When we lock gazes, his chest fires up like usual—bright as ever. His lips twitch in the faintest of smiles and it takes my breath away. How can someone be so strong? So sure of what he wants?

Kylor continues. “The council instructed him to send Draxel to investigate if there were others of her kind. Draxel found five other females.”

Hushed whispers break out in the chamber as Mydros nods, seemingly pleased with the court of public opinion.

“But Varek Shal’Vorr hid this fact. He instructed Draxel to keep this knowledge a secret and did so himself, lying to the council and to all of you.”

Varek’s jaw clenches as he listens, the muscles on his chest bulging as he breathes in and out.

“By doing so, he gambled with the lives of five other potential mates for our kind. One of whom was stolen by the Thachiens, and another who still lies in a near deathlike state.”

Varek’s chin tucks, his amber eyes hitting the ground.

I can’t take it anymore. He’s not even fighting—not even standing up for himself. Yes, he made a mistake but it wasn’t just him. We both did.

I step forward but Nicole pulls me back. “What are you doing?” she whispers. I shrug her off.

“It’s not his fault!” I say. I raise my chin as high as it will go, or maybe I’m trying to keep tears from falling.

I’m not sure.

All eyes shift to me and Varek bristles, the chains shaking as he stirs against his restraints. He shakes his head no and points his chin back to where I was standing, a firm declaration that he does not approve of me speaking up.

Mydros’ eyes narrow on me, his young features pinched in annoyance. “You approach the council and deny the actions of your mate? Are you saying Kylor lies?”

I shake my head.

Mydros scoffs and waves me off. “Then be gone, female.”

Varek growls, puffing his chest as it flares bright. His shoulders ripple with anger as he stares down his fellow Highseer.

I look back at my friends who are as confused as can be, their eyes darting around to all the Vruts in the room. Mydros flicks his hand and a male hunter comes forward, stalking right up to me.

I shake my head. “No, wait. Let me explain!” I say.

The room erupts into chaos as the male shoves me toward the entrance and I stumble, but catch my footing just in time. Varek yanks at his shackles and roars at Kylor, the room erupting in shouts as they watch my mate act this way.

“Do not touch her,” Varek roars.

He tries to tear free and it takes multiple hunters to keep him restrained, kicking the back of his legs and sending him to his knees. My knees nearly give out with his and I reach for him.

“Varek!” I scream.

He grits his teeth and his chest flares bright green, the patterns glowing like they are on fire. The look in his eye is deadly and even the males around him seem to falter as the anger rolls off my mate.

Kylor raises a single hand, and the room goes silent.

I catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest.

Elyra lays a single hand on Mydros’ shoulder, whispering something private in his ear. The arrogant asshole seems to calm down, rolling his shoulders like he was just about to be thrown out and not me.

Kylor resumes speaking. “Those are the charges. But we have brought an audience today to hear you all. Paige. You would like to speak?”

Varek’s brows raise as he stares at the old man. This must not be traditional from the look on his face. It only seems right though, that someone may speak on behalf of the accused or at least add context to the situation. Before, was the council judge, jury, and executioner?

I nod and begin again. “What he did wasn’t his fault.”

Whispers break out around me.

All of this was because of me. Varek is strong. He’s moral. He cares about his people and he cares about me. Other than throwing me over his shoulder and dragging me here, he treated me with nothing but kindness. And being a Highseer is important to him.

If it weren’t for me, he would have put his people first. If the glows hadn’t appeared across his chest, choosing me as his mate, he would have brought every one of us before the council and his people without question.

I can’t let him bear this punishment alone. It goes against everything that unites us as a mated pair.

“When he found us in the ship, I told the other humans to hide. I thought if Varek took me, and only me, my friends might have a chance to escape this planet and go back to where we came from. I thought my life, all of our lives, were in danger.”

Eyes dart around the room as the Vruts listen to me speak.

“When Draxel told my mate that he had found the other women, I begged Varek to hide their existence. I begged him not to tell the council, or any of you, that there were more human females on that ship.”

The whispers get louder, more anxious as the air in the room grows thick.

I look around at those in attendance, yearning to see some kind of pity. Understanding. Something other than anger.

But I don’t.

I bite the inside of my cheek as sweat trickles down my spine. This isn’t going well.

“He agreed. We made a deal. He would keep their existence a secret if I—”

Varek blows out a defeated sigh and my shoulders slack.

“If I didn’t see him as my captor.”

Mydros chuckles.

I continue. “I swear I was afraid for my life. I thought at any moment, Varek or the rest of you would… kill me. When I made that deal, I didn’t intend to keep it. Varek did. He was honorable. And he made the deal because of the bond between us. Not because he wanted to betray you all.”

My voice breaks. I hadn’t wanted to see Varek as anything other than evil but at some point, all of that changed. At some point, he became everything to me.

I swallow hard against the needles prickling and tearing down my throat. The tears are there, threatening to fall, but I focus on Varek. My feelings for him.

“So, it isn’t Varek’s fault. It’s mine.”

I look Kylor dead in the eyes, blocking out everything else before I speak the next words.

“I would like to offer myself in exchange for him.”