All eyes fell on me. I could almost feel the weight of their stares. It was difficult to breathe.

Lucas looked mildly surprised, which was roughly the most animated he’d looked in decades. He peered down the length of his nose at Bradford. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”

It was worth asking, I guessed.

Bradford nodded. “Yes. I want to bring him up before the Council to testify on my behalf.”

He was insane. He had lost what little bit if sanity he had left.

I stared at him, dumbstruck.

Me, of all people? He wants me to be a witness for him?

The other Elder members leaned in to mutter this over, and I could just about make out their words behind the hands they held over their mouths. They thought he was stalling.

So did I.

So would anybody with half a brain.

The case was hopeless, he was going to be executed.

Veronica held my gaze from across the table and shrugged just enough for me to see.

I did the same.

Lucas held up a hand, which signaled the rest of the Council to end their fervent whispering. “Let’s see where this is going. I have to admit, I’m curious.”

So was I.

He looked down at me, motioning for me to approach.

I gave one more glance at a concerned Veronica, before standing and walking to the head of the table. To their credit, the others kept from muttering among themselves as I passed.

My palms went clammy and my pulse raced.

I was fifteen again, and I had borrowed my father’s car without him knowing. Stolen the car was more like it—at least, it was to him. He’d forced me to stand in front of the rest of the clan’s Elders and endure his sharp, vicious tongue for a full thirty minutes. Thirty minutes that felt like thirty hours to me, as sweat poured down the back of my neck while they all watched. All because I took his car for a joyride because I wanted to impress a girl. Bradford had stood in the corner of the room, watching. Loving it.

Just like he loved watching me come up in front of the Council.

I reminded myself that I was no longer fifteen—hadn’t been for many decades—and I couldn’t be intimidated as easily as I was back then. Not only that, but I’d done nothing wrong in this case.

Lucas nodded to me, then turned to Bradford. “You may proceed with questioning.” He sat back with his hands folded, an expression of amusement on his face.

Bradford’s piercing eyes turned my way. “Vincent, is it true you were born into the Eastwing clan?”

“Of course. You know that’s true. Everybody in this room knows that’s true.”

“Is it true, too, that you were being groomed to lead the clan once our father relinquished control?”

“Yes. That’s also true.” Where was he going? I could see from the frowns on the faces of the Council that they were just as confused as I was.

“What happened when you made the decision to align with another clan?”

I paused before answering, feeling like he was trying to lead me into incriminating myself somehow and wanting to avoid falling into his trap. What trap could he be laying for me? I wasn’t sure, but I knew there had to be something.

“I left the Eastwing clan and pledged loyalty to the Everglades.”

He scowled. “Yes, of course, naturally. My question pertains more to what happened personally at that time. What were the consequences of your desertion?”

I chose to ignore his choice of words. “You stepped up to take charge of the clan.”

“Yes, I did,” he confirmed. “And when did our father die?”

“Six months later, or so they told me.”

“Correct. Six months. Six months in which I was forced to cram years of training and counseling, while you’d had the advantage of spending your entire life being groomed for leadership. Training which, incidentally, was only begrudgingly offered. Why do you think our father begrudged me my training?”

“Because you weren’t me and he never wanted you to lead the clan.” I never broke eye contact as I said it.

He was the first to look away.

“Exactly. I was given leadership of a clan, yet there wasn’t a day that went by in which I wasn’t reminded how unsuitable I was to lead. Our father was a bitter, hard man. Would any of you argue this?” He challenged each of the Council’s Elders, looking at each one in turn.

They all shook their heads.

“Therefore, is it beyond belief that I was woefully underprepared when it came time for me to step into his position?”

“What is the point of your argument?” Lucas asked, not unkindly.

“My point is, who could blame me for doing what I felt had to be done to keep control of the clan? Who could blame me for doing everything I could to fill in the gaps in my training? I had no idea how to make money, so I relied on a method which was tried and true. And what was the result? The Eastwing clan is stronger and more prosperous than ever.”

“This is a weak argument,” Lucas decided.

I was surprised when Bradford didn’t flinch—like he had been expecting that.

“I was also handed a clan in turmoil,” he continued. “My brother stepped down. No, he didn’t only step down. He didn’t even just desert the clan. He turned his back on us and joined up with our enemies.”

“Now, now.” Lucas’s tone was firm. “There’s no need to use such strong language.”

“That’s how we were raised,” Bradford argued. “That’s been the prevailing belief in both clans since the beginning. My brother went against literally everything we’re taught since the time we’re children—at least, in the Eastwing clan.”

“Taught? More like brainwashed,” I said.

He bared his teeth. “As if the Everglades aren’t poisoned against the Eastwings from the moment they’re old enough to hold a thought in their heads.”

“Your point?” Lucas prompted.

Bradford’s head snapped around in his direction, though his teeth were no longer bared. He wasn’t that stupid—Lucas might look ancient and slow, but looks could deceive.

“My point is, I spent the first several years scrambling to keep the clan under control. There were threats of mutiny coming from all directions. I was at a loss—I had literally no idea what to do to keep things in order. So, I had to do what was necessary to make as many of my members happen as I could. If that meant cutting corners or bending the rules to increase our strength, I did it.”

“Bending the rules?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “You blatantly violated the laws we’re charged to follow. Laws which were meant to keep the peace between our kind and humanity. Or did our father not teach you that?”

It was all a pathetic ruse, and I hoped the Council could see that. It was one thing for him to do what needed to be done in the beginning—I could almost understand that—but he’d been leading the clan for decades. What was his excuse for what came after things settled down?

“Thank you,” Lucas said, “but it isn’t up to you to remind Bradford of what the laws are. That’s what we’re here for.” He gestured to the other Elder members.

I bent my head.

Lucas turned back to my brother. “As for you, Bradford, while we shall take into account the circumstances of your coming into leadership, and how difficult that must have been for you, I cannot guarantee that your defense is strong enough to erase your years of disregard for our laws.”

He nodded. “I understand. I merely wanted my brother to take his share of the responsibility for the situation into which he forced me.”

“What?” I nearly roared. “I didn’t force you into anything! Blame me all you want, but it won’t exonerate you.”

I was a breath away from shifting. I could feel it. The lion roared inside me, begging for the opportunity to unleash its power and tear out my brother’s throat. Years of wanting nothing more fought against my good sense.

“You turned your back on us,” he reminded me. “I was left rudderless, completely unprepared, I had none of your training to fall back on. I was at another disadvantage, too. You took our clan’s secrets to the Everglades and used them as leverage to gain power.”

There was a murmur throughout the chamber.

I clenched my fists until my nails broke the skin on my palms. I could almost feel Marcus glaring at me from his chair. What was my brother trying to do? I should’ve known he wouldn’t go down easily. He must’ve known what was going to happen to him—there was only one fitting punishment for what he’d done. Did he want to be sure my life was as difficult as he could make it even after he was gone? Remind Marcus of how I’d stepped over him?

Lucas’s gaze was on me. I returned it with my head held high.

He said, “While I don’t believe that any of these points have a bearing on the case, it is critical that we keep in mind the way our choices create a ripple effect which can span many years. You did cause quite an uproar when you abandoned your place within the Eastwing clan.”

“Yes, I did.” I was willing to accept that.

“We spent many a month attempting to heal the wounds created in the wake of that decision.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“You knew what could happen if you chose to break ties with your clan.”

I nodded. There was no arguing it—and if there was, it wasn’t the time to bring up arguments. Not against Lucas.

“And yet you made that choice.”

A younger, less disciplined man would take his statement as judgment.

I knew better.

He was only stating the truth, speaking it out loud for all to hear. Reminding me that whatever happened within my clan was my doing.

“I did,” I replied evenly. “And I would make it again.”

A hush fell over the Council, and I wondered why it seemed as though I was the one on trial. I hadn’t gone against every law we’d set into place with the humans. I hadn’t alienated my child when she found out what went on under my leadership. I had never waged war—not unprovoked, at any rate.

“What do you have to say about the charges Bradford levels against you?” he asked. His watery blue eyes fixed me with a steady stare.

I looked over at my brother, glaring at me the way he had been since we were small. Always wanting to be the favorite. Never able to understand why he wasn’t, why he would never be.

I couldn’t have explained it as a child, naturally—kids aren’t equipped with that knowledge—but I understood it deep inside. Instinctively.

Just like he knew instinctively that our parents didn’t care for him. Some things don’t need to be said.

“I say what I’ve always said.” I raised my head a little higher. “My brother is wrong, and his accusations are baseless.”

He sneered. “You’re so full of yourself, it’s beyond comprehension.”

“Enough!”

We both jumped, startled, at the sudden power in Lucas’s voice.

He sounded like the man I revered in my youth. Even Bradford looked cowed.

The old man glared at him. “We haven’t brought you here to settle old family grievances this way. You weren’t brought before this Council to complain that your brother got the bigger piece of dessert after dinner.”

Light, derisive laughter filled the chamber.

Bradford’s gaze fell to the floor.

Lucas turned to me. “You may be seated.”

I went back to my chair with my head as high as ever, even as Marcus stared daggers at me.

Yes, I was sure that Bradford had only stirred the pot in a last-ditch effort to destroy my stability within the Everglade clan.

The smile he was barely able to hide when he glanced at Marcus, then at me, confirmed it.